Drum Barracks Civil War Museum Best Keep Secret By Photographer and Contributor Simie Seaman
Did you know that there was a Civil War Museum located in Wilmington, California?
Though many do not realize that California was involved in the Civil War, the Drum Barracks played a very important part the conflict. At the time, the government was unsure as to whether California would declare itself for the North or the South, as the state was about equally divided in its sympathies. The southern half of the state around Los Angeles was pro-secession; leading the government to determine it needed a presence in the area.
The museum feature many items from this era, including an operable Gatling Gun. As of 2025 a new Armory Display had its Grand Opening. The new Armory Room exhibition was a multi-year project made possible by the City of Los Angeles and the Drum Barracks Garrison & Society. It began in 2019. Thomas T. Tatum was a major donor of both artifacts and funds. All curatorial work on the project was done by staff members of the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks. Drum Barracks Civil War Museum Director, Tara Fansler, served as lead curator and project manager. In 2019, Guadalupe Pena served as curatorial assistant, leaving in 2020 when she promoted to full-time curator at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum. In 2025, Ms. Pena was able to return to Drum Barracks to assist with the installation of large artifacts, and to help ready the exhibition for opening. In 2022, Malcolm Morris joined the project as curatorial assistant. Over the course of the project he has developed into a bona-fide expert on Civil War weaponry.
The exhibit includes Cavalry, Artillery Soldiers’, Officers, and Infantry weapons. The Armory Display and installation was made possible with the help of the following:
Jack Babbitt, Jr.
Banning Museum
Joan Genthe
Drum Barracks Garrison & Society
Earl B. Gilmore Foundation
Los Angeles Maritime Museum
City of Los Angeles, Department of Recreation & Parks
The Drum Barracks Civil War Museum is a facility of the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation
and Parks and is operated in cooperation with Drum Barracks Garrison and Society.
The Drum Barracks is located at 1052 Banning Blvd, Wilmington, California. For information on tours contact: 310- 548-7509.
Bio
Simie Seaman, enthusiast amateur photographer, history buff and collector of beautiful things. Simie is President of the Wilmington Historical Society.
email:simieseaman368@gmail.com
310-835-8177