National Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus, Civil War naval history museum in Columbus, Georgia, US

The National Civil War Naval Museum occupies a 40,000-square-foot building at 1002 Victory Drive in Columbus. Its centerpiece is the 180-foot hull of the ironclad CSS Jackson, displayed under a contemporary canopy. Also on view are remnants of the CSS Chattahoochee, a rowboat from the USS Hartford, full-scale sections of other Civil War warships, and a large exhibit of naval flags.

The museum opened in 1962 at 202 4th Street as the James W. Woodruff, Jr., Confederate Naval Museum, named for its financial backer. In 1970 the two salvaged gunboats were listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It moved in March 2001 to a new eight-million-dollar building at 1002 Victory Drive and took its present name to cover both navies.

The museum displays naval flags, weapons, and personal items from sailors on both sides, showing what daily life was like aboard the ships. These objects help visitors understand how different the experiences were for those serving at sea.

The museum occupies a 40,000-square-foot building at 1002 Victory Drive, its home since March 2001. The 180-foot hull of C.S.S. Jackson and the C.S.S. Chattahoochee remains sit in the main gallery, with the battle experience theater and the ironclad simulator nearby. Allow time for the flag exhibit "Ramparts to Topmast" as well.

The museum holds four surviving Brooke rifled naval cannons cast at Confederate iron foundries in Selma, Alabama: two 7-inch rifles, one 10-inch smoothbore and one 11-inch smoothbore. The 11-inch piece is the largest surviving Brooke artillery piece.