Date Created: c. 1862
Description: Many ammunition boxes of all sizes, as well as box fragments were recovered from within the powder magazine of the U.S.S. Cairo. This box is held together with pegs. There is illegible block stenciling on one side.
Date Created: c. 1862
Description: An assortment of jewelry was discovered. Found among the jewelry was this cluster of lavender beads on interlocking rings.
Description: This pipe was found in the forward starboard compartment of USS Cairo. Perhaps, during all of the excitement, it was dropped by one of Cairo's two boatswain mates, either 27 year-old Richard Lymont or 25 year-old Charles Smith.
Description: This bucket was most probably used by Cairo crewmen to perform their morning duties of scrubbing and swabbing the deck.
Date Created: c. 1862
Description: Bullet mold for .44 Caliber weapons. There are two cavities, one for round ball, one for conical bullet.
Description: Even candles with wicks survived the ill-fated ironclad. Candles were made of spermaceti.
Description: Men shoveled coal from the Cairo coal room into this coal scuttle to use in the smaller pot-bellied stoves.
Date Created: c. 1855, c. 1700, c. 1861
Description: The wide array of coins reflects the varied backgrounds of men aboard the Cairo. The following coins were recovered: Irish Half Penny George III with a hole in harp on one side, a Portuguese 80 Reis dating back to the late 1700's, A large English Penny, Queen Victoria dated 1855, A U.S. silver...
Description: Small Confederate flag presented to a large cannon called "Widow Blakely.” Flag bears 11 stars on field, should be 13 but 2 have been torn out leaving a hole in the blue field. A letter accompanied the small Confederate flag. The letter was written by D. R. McCutchen to his wife telling her...
Description: Fifes recovered from U.S.S. Cairo provided entertainment and amusement during the long, days for the 175 member crew.
Description: One of only two remaining boiler fire door's that were recovered from U.S.S. Cairo. Originally there were five firebox doors affixed to the firebox below the fire tube boilers.
Description: This firing mechanism or gun lock is from a 32 PDR (Pounder) Cannon. The navy locks recovered from the Cairo are the type patented by E. Hidden. The gun lock was designed to ignite the charge by the blow of a piece of metal known as the hammer.
Description: The spine of a French grammar book was recovered, leading historians to believe that at least one Cairo Sailor was a student of French.
Date Created: c. 1866
Description: This medal belonged to William T. Rigby. It carries the inscription, "Grand Army of the Republic, 1861, Veteran, 1866"
Date Created: c. 1862
Description: These Ketcham grenades were discovered aboard Cairo. The grenade has an open hole in one end. The plunger shaft fitted in this hole. They were used in siege operations at Port Hudson, Vicksburg and Petersburg. During the Civil War, hand-grenades were still in the early phases of development....
Date Created: c. 1850s
Description: This wooden hairbrush back was recovered from Cairo without its bristles.
Date Created: c. 1861
Description: Many of these square bladed knives used for cutting rope were found on board the Cairo.
Description: Lighting devices of all kinds were found on the vessel. This lamp has been identified as a Petticoat hand lamp.
Description: This lamp globe still retains a sooty covering on the inside from the last time that it was used aboard Cairo.
Date Created: c. 1862
Description: The crew used name stencils to mark their clothing and other personal belongings. Those found aboard Cairo were hand carved and rectangular in shape.
Date Created: c. 1862
Description: A variety of these locks found. They were used for locking mess chests as well as personal chests.
Date Created: c. 1850s
Description: A small can of blue paint with a hand-made paddle cut from a cigar box top.
Description: This album features Southern generals, including "Stonewall" Jackson, Robert E. Lee, Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart, Joseph Eggleston Johnston, James Longstreet, and John Hunt Morgan.
Description: This graduated pill tile was used to measure and prepare ointments and pills for the U.S.S. Cairo crew.
Date Created: c. 1851
Description: Not included in the original blueprints for constructing the City Class Gunboats, these heavy square iron flaps were called Pilot House Flaps. They were added to the gunboat to protect the gunboat's pilots from snipers. Straps were riveted on each side and an iron bar went through holes in the...
Date Created: c. 1862
Description: Both pistols are double action. In a double action revolver, squeezing the trigger pulls back the hammer both to cock the gun as well as serving to release the hammer. In contrast, a single action revolver requires the hammer to be pulled back by hand before each shot.
Description: Two pocket watches were recovered. This watch is in a round brass case. The face, glass and hands are gone. Some of the inner works are still intact. A small handle remains on top for a chain.
Description: According to records, the safe had been broken into prior to raising operations. It was empty when recovered.
Date Created: c. 1862
Description: The safety lamp was used in the powder room of the Cairo to light the magazine. It was placed inside of a box that was part of the magazine bulkhead. It was lined with soldered sheets of copper, and when in use had a few drops of water in it. To throw as much light as possible into the magazine...
Date Created: c. 1851, c. 1862
Description: There were three types of shoes found on board the USS Cairo. The storeroom contained an unused style of Navy issue shoes. The Navy shoes were black leather high tops with leather strings; soles were three layered and heels four layered. Hobnails were used on the sole and heel. These shoes were...
Date Created: c. 1862
Description: Signal board recovered from Cairo's pilot house. Copper wires ran to the engine room to work the brass bell. A horse shoe was found nailed to the bottom of the signal board, presumably for good luck, however it was nailed upside down letting all of the luck run out.