Charles Pendleton’s Civil War Museum
Museum aims to educate about African Americans in the fight, history and the overall conflict
VICKSBURG - Charles Pendleton has spent his life collecting antique guns and ammunition, but it wasn’t until he visited a Civil War gun show that he became interested in the war that consumed Vicksburg during a siege by the Union Army in 1863. Pendleton began researching the Civil War’s origins, its soldiers on both sides and the eventual outcome with Reconstruction. It was slavery—or sometimes the lack of the mention of slavery—in history books and at gun shows and museum exhibits that gave him pause, especially one particular document, that of a seven-year-old girl sold from her family for $350. “I was fired up with that,” Pendleton said. “I have daughters who are in their 20s who are still dependent on me. I couldn’t imagine this young girl being taken away from her home, from everyone she knew.” Armed with knowledge, Pendleton decided to give his vast gun collection a home, plus other important artifacts, while telling a comprehensive history of the Civil War, opening the Vicksburg Civil War Museum in the spring of 2021. The goal of the non-profit museum is for visitors to embrace the history of the country’s most divisive time period, to understand all sides of the conflict and to learn about the contribution of African Americans in the fight. Among his displays are letters of secession from all -26- | ExtendedWeekendGetaways ~ March, 2022
Southern states, medical instruments, uniforms and artifacts from the daily life of soldiers such as coffee pots, games and musical instruments. The museum includes a slave cabin, examples of slaves picking cotton and other slave artifacts. Pendleton’s artillery shell collection and firearms, what he believes is the largest collection of Civil War guns in Mississippi, fill up museum display cases. The museum is located at 1123 Washington Street, in the heart of downtown Vicksburg in what was formerly the Corner Drug Store. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission is $7 for adults, $3.50 for ages 7-12 and free to ages 6 and under. For more information, visit VickburgCivilWarMuseum.org or call (601) 218-5526.
The museum is part of Vicksburg’s City Attraction Passport, a helpful visitor’s guide that allows visitors to collect stamps from participating attractions. After five stamps are recorded, visitors may return their passport to the Vicksburg Visitors Information Center (52 Old Highway 27) for a free #VisitVicksburg T-shirt. For more information, go to www. visitvicksburg.com/passport. These days, Pendleton is hosting his own gun shows. His Civil War/Old West Relic Show will be held Feb. 18-19 at The Vicksburg Commons. “I am sure that I am the only black person in the world to host a Civil War show,” he said with a laugh.
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