Memorial Hall has several permanent exhibits. We do accept traveling exhibits and have loaned artifacts to American Association of Museums accredited museums on occasion. We also have rotating exhibits, thanks to the generosity of private collectors. In addition to individually themed displays, we have the following exhibits on display now:
Jefferson Davis Family
Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, died in New Orleans in 1889. His body was interred at Metairie Cemetery near New Orleans for four years until it was moved to its
present location at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. Prior to burial, Davis laid in state at Memorial Hall for one and a half days, and more than 60,000 people came to pay their respects. The stage where his body lay is
now a place of reverence and a shrine to Jefferson Davis and his family. Varina Davis, wife of Jefferson, donated many of her family's belongings and momentos to Memorial Hall stating, "My heart is in the New Orleans Memorial
Hall. There I feel I owe my most affectionate gratitude, and to this place I sent my dearest relics." The Jefferson Davis stage includes Jefferson Davis' evening clothes, top hat, cane, saddle, bible, and a crown
of thorns given to him by Pope Pius IX. It also houses the Mardi Gras jewels and dress of his daughter, Winnie. Winnie was often referred to as the "Daughter of the Confederacy," as she was born during the Civil War. She
was a frequent visitor to New Orleans and reigned as Queen of Comus, a prominent Mardi Gras organization, in 1898.
Secession of Louisiana from the Union
Louisiana was the sixth state
to secede from the Union, but it did not take such drastic action without careful consideration. New Orleans was the state's and the South's largest and richest city and served as an international port. The city had hoped to remain
neutral in the event of a Civil War. However, when Louisianans elected Southern rights' proponent Thomas O. Moore governor, and the nation elected "liberal" presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln president of the United
States in 1860, Louisiana abandoned all hopes of neutrality. The secession of South Carolina fueled the fires of secessionists here, as Louisiana seceded from the Union on January 26, 1861. More than 56,000 of her able bodied men
fought for her cause. On display are several artifacts from that era of secession. These include a Louisiana secession badge, an original copy of the Louisiana Ordinance of Secession, photographs of patriotic soldiers and
citizens, and uniforms and accoutrements used by militia soldiers at the outbreak of the conflict.
Louisiana Native Guard
Antebellum New Orleans possessed a unique population of well-educated free black people of European descent called "free people of
color". Many of these free people of color were Creole skilled artisans and professionals. By January 8, 1862, this free black community had enough pride and willing men to form a regiment of Confederate soldiers called the
Native Guard. Although denied the ability to fight in combat, these men were used to defend the various entrenchments around the city. When the Crescent City fell into Union hands in April 1862, many of these soldiers chose to
reorganize and volunteer for the Union. At the battle of Port Hudson, Union Native Guard soldiers from New Orleans were the first black troops to see major battle action in the Civil War. The Louisiana Native Guard
display reflects on a long overlooked aspect of the Civil War showing rare photographs of black Confederates, black "contrabands" of war, their Union commanders at Port Hudson and an identified Native Guard canteen.
Union Gen. Benjamin "Beast" Butler
Abraham Lincoln's first politically appointed general, Benjamin Franklin Butler, was sent to New Orleans to oversee the Union occupation of the city. For the
next eight months he ruled the city with such an iron hand that he became its most infamous and hated citizen. General Orders #1 (Martial Law) and #28 (the infamous Woman Order), the hanging of the Southern patriot William Mumford,
who had torn down the US flag, the imprisonment of numerous uncooperative citizens and the pilfering of the city's assets helped create the legend of "The Beast." This exhibit displays a segment of the U.S.
flag torn down by Mumford, a set of silver spoons stolen by Butler, political cartoons of Butler and a rare lithograph of "Fleurs du Sud" (Flowers of the South). This artwork of an arrangement of strategically positioned
flowers in the likeness of the Confederate First National flag was an attempt by New Orleanians to covertly display their patriotism within their Federally occupied city.
Memorial Hall Foundation - Confederate Civil War Museum
929 Camp St. New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 523-4522 phone (504) 523-8595 fax
Copyright © 2001 Memorial Hall Foundation
