(Please note the date has changed from March 20.) RiverBlast this year will feature some new activities for the living history crew and volunteers at Port Columbus. A new crew of 15 Civil War US Marines will be on hand to receive special training on the big Civil War naval cannon overlooking the Chattahoochee River. This will mean that the big gun will be fired six times on Saturday instead of the normal three. This most popular of Port Columbus activities has never been demonstrated that often.

Last year, part of RiverBlast was taken up with the commissioning of the USS Water Witch, the museum's new full scale ship, into the US Navy. This year, following its capture by the Savannah Squadron of the Confederate Navy in the summer of 1864, it is to be commissioned into the Confederate Navy. This special ceremony will take place on Saturday afternoon.

On Sunday, a special period style church service will be held on the deck of the ship at 11 a.m., followed by a demonstration of a period Naval landing party. A little known aspect of the war are the landings of the US Navy and their combat operations ashore. Come and see how sailors and marines trained for these special missions. More information to follow.