CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center

The CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center showcases the State’s largest historic artifact and state of the art exhibits. The remains of the CSS Neuse and the associated artifacts were relocated to a fully enclosed and climate controlled facility at 100 N. Queen Street on June 23, 2012. After years of planning and hard work the museum held its grand opening on March 7, 2015.

The CSS Neuse was a Confederate Ironclad that was used in the Kinston, NC area during the Civil War. The ship was built at White Hall (now Seen Springs, NC) in 1862 and was completed in Kinston in 1864. The Gunboat was involved in the Battle of Wyse’s Forks (just outside of Kinston headed toward New Bern) before being scuttled by her own crew on March 11, 1865. The ship was recovered from the Neuse River by a few local men with help from the community between 1961-63. The State of North Carolina acquired control of the CSS Neuse in 1964 and the site officially opened in 1966 at 2612 W. Vernon Avenue.