Civil War program Saturday at CSS Neuse
By From staff reports
Published in News on March 6, 2016 1:45 AM
History will come to life on Saturday, March 12 at the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center with a commemorative living history focusing on the final days of the gunboat. The program will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with living history demonstrations and lectures throughout the day.
Spinning, time keeping and steam engine models will be included in the living history demonstrations. The focus on military and civilian life during the Civil War also will employ the hands-on teaching collection. There will also be Children's Corner with sailor coloring sheets and paper dolls. A special display of sailor rations at 12 noon and rope making at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. are planned also.
Wade Sokolosky will lecture on the "Battle of Wyse Fork" at 10:30 a.m. Visit http://civilwarnorthcarolina.com for information on Sokolosky; for information on his new book about Wyse Fork visit http://civilwarnorthcarolina.com/current-projects. Historian Andrew Duppstadt will lecture on "Final Days of the Neuse," at 1 p.m. and Holly Brown will present "In Their Own Words - Personal Stories from the Crew" at 2:30 p.m.
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 Civil War Interpretive Center. The Confederate Navy launched the CSS Neuse in an attempt to gain control of the lower Neuse River and New Bern, but ultimately destroyed the vessel to keep it out of Union hands.
For additional information, please call 252-526-9600. The CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center is located at 100 N. Queen St. in Kinston, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is adults $5, senior/active military $4, students (ages 3-12) $3, Ages 2 and under are admitted free.