Drum Barracks Civil War Museum

We really had to take 2020 day by day, but we did our best. The year started out full of hope, and big plans, and that is how we are ending it. Despite the challenges we got a lot accomplished behind the scenes and we look forward to sharing with you in 2021. Stay safe and have a Happy New Year!

Let’s end the year by looking at the last two building in our Lost Buildings of Drum Barracks series, the Senior Officers’ Quarters and the Commanding Officer’s Quarters. A late 1860s Army report said, The Officers’ Quarters are the finest on this coast-too roomy indeed, for economy & comfort. After the camp closed the land was returned to business partners Phineas Banning and Benjamin Wilson, and the buildings were auctioned off. Wilson donated the hospital and commande...r’s quarters to the Methodist Church for a co-educational college, which began operation in 1874. The Commanding Officer’s Quarters was used as the college boarding house. Although the college closed in 1875 the neighborhood around the buildings was known as College Hill for decades afterwards, and the Commanding Officer’s Quarters stood until 1917. Three photographs show the dilapidated state of the Commanding Officer’s Quarters in the early 20th century. Illustrations and drawings by architect William Lockett for, The Lost Buildings of Drum Barracks, published by the Historical Society of Long Beach in 1975. #drumbarracks #drumbarrackscivilwarmuseum

For this Military Monday let’s learn more about James Curtis, who served 28 months at Drum Barracks. James Freeman Curtis II was born December 19, 1825, in Boston, Massachusetts. Curtis was the longest tenured commander of Drum Barracks during the Civil War and was responsible for securing Catalina Island for the Union. In his letter of November 1863 to Major Henry Hancock, the Army’s first interest in Catalina Island was revealed. Curtis wrote that Catalina may soon be... of commercial importance. Curtis supervised inspection of the island, chose the troops to man it, approved the selection of the Isthmus for the garrison site, which he thought ideal for artillery to cover both harbors, and sent over a twelve-pounder field gun. In January 1864, Curtis personally visited the island and reported back to generals in San Francisco that, A harbor as safe as Catalina upon a coast almost destitute of them would be eagerly seized by any maritime enemy unless occupied by forces of the United States. Curtis was promoted to Colonel in 1864 and discharged in November 1865. In 1867, he was retroactively promoted to Brevet Brigadier General. Post-war, he served as Police Chief and City Marshal of San Francisco and then moved to Idaho where he became Secretary of State in 1892. He died March 1, 1914, in Boston, Massachusetts. Drum Barracks neighbor, Salvador Herrera (pictured with wife Rosie), painted a faithful portrait of Curtis which now hangs in the Model Room of the museum. #drumbarracks #drumbarrackscivilwarmuseum

Happy Holidays from Drum Barracks Civil War Museum! We missed spending this holiday season with you. Please enjoy some photos of Christmas events from years past.

You won’t want to miss this! Our very own Brian Chavez will be delivering a talk to the Pasadena Civil War Round Table titled, Ranchos, Regiments and Reconnections: The Transformation of Californio Identity in Civil War-Era California. Tonight, November 24, at 7:15 pm. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO LISTEN TO THIS ONLINE PRESENTATION:... http://pasadenacwrt.org/next_presentation #civilwarhistory #losangeleshistory #lahistory #californiahistory

Today is the 157th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, and the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It has come to be known as Remembrance Day. It is a Drum Barracks tradition to join with the Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans General W.S. Rosecrans Camp 2, to celebrate Remembrance Day on or around November 19, by having Abraham Lincoln deliver the Gettysburg Address, followed by a wreath laying ceremony, and readi...ng the names of soldiers who died while in service at Drum Barracks. We are sorry that we could not gather together this year, but please enjoy these pictures from last year’s event, and join us now as we honor and remember the soldiers who volunteered to fight for the Union and died in service at Drum Barracks. Private Henry C. Argo Private Jesse Bell Private Jose Canedo Private Willoughby Cook Private John Cooper Private Lewis N. Crane Private John Daker Private Verongo Feliciano Private Moses Franey Sgt. Francisco Gomez Private James Hallinan Private William H. Hammond Private George Highket Private Edward B. Loring Corporal James Maxey Private Bernard McClune Private William C. Moniear Private Pablo Olivas Private Jeremiah Parker Private Henry Ralph Private Jose Antonio Reyes Private Samuel P. Sargent Private Gregorio Torres Private Feliciano Verdugo Private Daniel Ward Lieutenant Matthew H. Ward Private Edward Welch Private Samuel Warren Private John Yates We honor their sacrifice. We remember them. #drumbarrackscivilwarmuseum #drumbarracks #gettysburgaddress #civilwarhistory #civilwarsoldiers #remembranceday