Drum Barracks Civil War Museum

Drum Barracks Civil War Museum California's Premier Civil War Museum

former Union Army Headquarters during the Civil War The land was sold to the Army by Phineas Banning, and B. D.

The Drum Barracks Civil War Museum - California's Premier Civil War Museum - is housed in the last remaining wooden building of Drum Barracks, named after Adjutant General Richard Coulter Drum, head of the Department of the Pacific. This facility served as the Union Army headquarters in the Southwest (Southern California and the Arizona Territory) from 1861 - 1871. Drum Barracks, which was first c

alled Camp Drum, served as the main staging, training and supply base for military operations in the Southwest, and occupied approximately sixty acres of land with an additional thirty-seven acres near the harbor. Wilson, who each received one dollar, with the agreement that the land would revert back to them after the camp was closed.

Thank you to all the historians and educators who contributed to today’s Living History Saturday with lectures and displ...
05/09/2026

Thank you to all the historians and educators who contributed to today’s Living History Saturday with lectures and displays.

We are happy to welcome interpreters from the First Native California Cavalry, Company D, for today’s Living History Sat...
05/09/2026

We are happy to welcome interpreters from the First Native California Cavalry, Company D, for today’s Living History Saturday. Drop in to talk to them between 10:30 am and 1 pm, and learn about Spanish-speaking soldiers who served at Drum Barracks during the Civil War.

Free Lecture, Saturday, May 9 at 12 pm. Drum Barracks Research Library. “The Tragic Story of the Doomed Empire of Maximi...
05/08/2026

Free Lecture, Saturday, May 9 at 12 pm. Drum Barracks Research Library. “The Tragic Story of the Doomed Empire of Maximilian and Carlota: The Emperor and Empress of Mexico, by Al Cota Moch.”

As the American Civil War was being fought in the US, France was trying to establish an empire in Mexico, installing Austrian Archduke Maximilian and his wife Charlotte, a Belgian princess, as Emperor Maximilian and Empress Carlota of the Second Mexican Empire. Maximilian and Carlota arrived in Mexico in 1864. Mr. Moch will talk about the doomed empire, as well as diplomatic relations between Abraham Lincoln, General McClellan, and the French Royal House of Orleans.

First come, first served seating, no reservations required. Library will open for seating at 11:40 am.

05/07/2026
Join us this Saturday, May 9, as we welcome Living History Interpreters from the First Native California Cavalry, Compan...
05/07/2026

Join us this Saturday, May 9, as we welcome Living History Interpreters from the First Native California Cavalry, Company D. Four companies of Spanish-speaking soldiers were formed for the Union Army in California. Find out about their contributions to the Civil War and their time at Drum Barracks. Drop by anytime between 10:30 am - 1:00 pm to speak to our Living History Interpreters. Free, walk-ins welcome!

Photo captions: (Left) Pablo De La Guerra, Salvador Vallejo and Andreas Pico. (Right) California Lancer, by William H. Meyers.

Drum Barracks Civil War Museum will be closed to the public Tuesday, May 5th.
05/04/2026

Drum Barracks Civil War Museum will be closed to the public Tuesday, May 5th.

Come learn about Civil War artillery at our Living History Saturday event. Tomorrow, 10:30 am to 1:00 pm. Free, no reser...
04/10/2026

Come learn about Civil War artillery at our Living History Saturday event. Tomorrow, 10:30 am to 1:00 pm. Free, no reservations required!
Saturday, April 11, 2026

Museum tours offered at 10:30 am and 12:30 pm only. Taking a tour is not required to meet our artillery soldiers.

Drum Barracks Civil War Museum
1052 North Banning Blvd.
Wilmington, CA 90744

Do you want to become a Drum Barracks Volunteer? Our FREE training class starts Saturday, April 11. Call or email our of...
04/10/2026

Do you want to become a Drum Barracks Volunteer? Our FREE training class starts Saturday, April 11. Call or email our office to sign up, or stop by the museum library Saturday at 9:00 am. Walk-ins welcome!

Drum Barracks Civil War Museum
1052 N. Banning Blvd.
Wilmington, CA 90744

It is estimated that 40,000 women served as nurses during the Civil War. Visit us on Saturday, March 14, to find out abo...
03/13/2026

It is estimated that 40,000 women served as nurses during the Civil War. Visit us on Saturday, March 14, to find out about the amazing contributions women made to Civil War medicine and healing. Our living history interpreter will be on-site from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm. Tours of the museum will be offered at 10:30 am and 12:30 pm. You do not need to take a tour to talk to our interpreter and learn about Civil War nurses.

Living History Saturday programs and museum tours are free. Donations are appreciated, but not mandatory.

Drum Barracks Civil War Museum
1052 N. Banning Blvd.
Wilmington, CA 90744

Address

1052 N Banning Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA
90744

Telephone

(310) 548-7509

Website

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