Join us in celebrating with the dedicated staff of the CSS Neuse Museum, devoted volunteers, and Friends of the CSS Neuse Museum board members as we commemorate ten years of promoting local history. Attend our "Cheers to Ten Years: Anniversary Celebration and Living History" on Saturday, March 8, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. We warmly invite our community and all visitors to explore the new exhibits and interactive enhancements that have enriched the museum over the past decade.
Together, we will delve into the fascinating history of the CSS Neuse ironclad, the significant battles that occurred in eastern North Carolina during the Civil War, and how they influenced the lives of the residents of Lenoir County. During the program, historic interpreters and volunteers will be stationed throughout the museum to showcase their displays, enriching the content of the permanent exhibits. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions and engage with our interactive features, while families will appreciate using our scavenger hunt to explore the museum together! Additionally, visitors can examine and handle artifacts from the CSS Neuse Museum's teaching collection.
The museum will offer several lectures in the theater room, including:
• Presenter: Cliff Tyndall will present his book, "A Snapshot of Kinston and Lenoir County During the Civil War," at 11 a.m.
• Presenter: Jim Reifinger, Development of Small Arms, 1 p.m.
• Presenter: Matthew Young, The Crew of the CSS Neuse, 2 p.m.
A temporary exhibit, "The Toll of War" is on view on the observation platform of the mezzanine level. Curated by the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, the exhibit underscores the physical and emotional toll of the conflict on individuals who endured it. The exhibit will remain on display through March 27.
About the CSS Neuse Museum
The CSS Neuse is the only remaining commissioned Confederate ironclad above water. It was part of a new technology that the Confederacy used to combat the superior manpower and firepower of the Union Navy. Learn about this technological advance and warfare in eastern North Carolina at the CSS Neuse Museum. The Confederate Navy launched the CSS Neuse, attempting to gain control of the lower Neuse River and New Bern, but ultimately destroyed the vessel to keep it out of Union hands.
The CSS Neuse Museum is located at 100 N. Queen St., Kinston, N.C., and open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: $5/Adult: 18 - 64 years old, $4/Senior: 65+, $3/Child: 3 -17 years old. Ages 2 and under are free. As a Blue Star Museum program member, all active-duty military personnel with ID and their families of up to five members get free admission.
Please contact Rachel Kennedy at (252) 526-9600 x222 for more information. The CSS Neuse Museum is a part of the Division of State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.