North Carolina Historic Sites

Glimpses into two of our nation's most pivotal wars can be found in one historic site within the city of Kinston. Here you will explore the celebrated life of Richard Caswell, the first governor of the independent state of North Carolina. You will also see up close the remnants of the ironclad gunboat CSS Neuse, a product of the Confederate navy's ill-fated attempt to regain control of the lower Neuse River and retake the city of New Bern during the Civil War.

CSS Neuse History

• Background
• The Life of the CSS Neuse
• The Destruction of the Neuse
• Armament
• Crew Members
• Drawings of the Vessel
• The Existing Hull Remnant (65KB)
• A Scale Model
• Historical Gallery
• R. H. Bacot Letter (52KB)
• R. H. Bacot Drawings (47KB)

CSS Neuse Recovery & Preservation

• The Salvage Operation
• Weapons Found Aboard the Neuse
• Preservation Methods
• A New Home

The Site Today

• Governor Caswell Memorial
• The Neuse Today
• Other Websites
• Honors for the CSS Neuse Website

What's New

• Neuse-Caswell Teaching Packet
• Exhibits at the Governor Caswell Memorial

Upcoming

• May 19: Lecture: "Wood, Iron, and Time: 50 years of Evolving Preservation on Maritime Artifacts"
  Location: Neuse Regional Library
  Saturday 2 - 3:30pm.
  
  Leslie Bright will discuss how preservation techniques have changed in the last fifty years. Wendy Welsh will talk about work being done on the Queen Anne's Revenge and how those techniques have evolved even further. CSS Neuse site staff will detail why, in light of these advances, it has been so important to move the Gunboat to a fully-enclosed, climate-controlled building. This program is co-hosted by the Neuse Regional Library. For more information call the Neuse Regional Library at (252)527-7066, or contact us at the CSS Neuse at (252)522-2091, or by email at cssneuse@ncdcr.gov, or on Facebook at "Css Neuse."
• June 9: The Troops Come Marching
  Saturday 10am - 4pm.
  After the fall of New Bern to the Union, the 26th North Carolina re-equipped and re-manned in Kinston. Join us as the site hosts a living history event to commemorate the occasion, and kick-off the summer "Second Satudays" series. Admission is free. (Donations are always welcomed, and help provide programs throughout the year.) For more information please contact us at (252)522-2091, or at cssneuse@ncdcr.gov, or on Facebook at "Css Neuse."

CSS Neuse & Gov. Caswell Memorial Information

• Map & Directions
• Local Weather
• Special Events
• Facilities

Contact Us

CSS Neuse State Historic Site
(and Gov. Caswell Memorial)
2612 W. Vernon Ave. (U.S. 70 Bus.)
P.O. Box 3043
Kinston, N.C. 28502
Phone: (252) 522-2091
Fax: (252) 527-7036
Email: cssneuse@ncdcr.gov

Hours of Operation

Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (last guided tour begins at 4 p.m.)
Closed Sunday and Monday

Visitors should call ahead as hours sometimes must change unexpectedly. Large groups should call ahead for tour arrangements.

Admission

No admission fees. Donations are accepted and appreciated.