Exhibits

The Bay At War
A Storytelling Exhibit

From 1861 to 1865, as America was wracked by Civil War, the Chesapeake became the focus of attention for gunboats, smugglers, privateers, and the water-borne movement of mighty armies, shoreline artillery fire and tidewater guerrillas, of blockade-running oystermen and the unsung sailors of the Union's Potomac Flotilla. The Civil War was one of the most dangerous and stressful periods in the long and colorful history of the Chesapeake. The Bay was rarely livelier and its role in the outcome of the War was a crucial one.

"The Bay At War" exhibit examines the effects the Civil War had on the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, and Eastern Shore areas of Virginia. The story is told using a variety of exhibit vehicles that include a 15-minute overview film, dioramas, models, interactive activities, artifacts, and video-based oral histories.

Diorama depicting action between Union gun boats and Confederate batteries on the Rappahannock River just outside Port Royal

Closeup of USS Thomas Freeborn, one of many gunboat models on display

Interactive map allows visitors to locate specific action that occurred in the area

"Survival on the Home Front" section contains a diorama, oral history kiosk, and numerous artifacts, plus an interactive mural that lets visitors find out more about how and where citizens hid valuable items from the Yankees

The Union gunboat USS Monticello, which took part in the "Battle at Pop Castle" as explained with the use of a diorama

Close up of diorama used to illustrate the various types of deck cannons used on gunboats

The "Ships and Sailors" section with information on both the Union and Confederate navies, plus a list of local African-Americans who served in the Union Navy

The "Closet Museum" contains numerous "weapons" of destruction

The "Communication" section provides information on how the armies and navies communicated with one another; also in this area is a model of an observation balloon also used in the communication process

Smuggling goods was very important to the Confederacy; "Raiders and Smugglers" contains a 3-dimensional map showing routes smugglers used to take goods from Virginia's Eastern Shore to the Western Shore

Lancaster High School art students created storyboards explaining the capture and destruction of Union steamer Harriet De Ford by Confederate raiders; incident ended in Dymer Creek -- a short distance from the museum - just before end of war

Displayed for first time is diary written by Captain Henderson, who took part in the Harriet De Ford incident, was captured, and sent to Point Lookout prison camp

The Steamboat Era Museum of Irvington, VA, is currently conducting an exhibit in conjunction with the Mary Ball Washington Museum and Library in nearby Lancaster Courthouse, VA. The Steamboat Era Museum's exhibit is entitled "The Bay at War." "And Then They Came Ashore" is the companion exhibit at MBWM&L. Contained on this page is information about "The Bay At War - A Storytelling Exhibit."

Also visit the Mary Ball Washington Museum and Library for more about in-land activities during the Civil War in our region!

An image from our opening exhibit, "Lifeline of the Chesapeake."

Diorama--Steamboat at Irvington Wharf
Diarama designed and constructed by Bill Wright, Bob Butler, and George Frayne

Images from our second exhibit, "Properly Attired"

Fashions of the Steamboat Era

Tambour Embroidery

Overnight to Baltimore

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