RiverBlast 2009 Schedule
(Subject to Change)

Saturday, April 4, 2009
11:00 a.m. 1863 Commissioning of the USS Water Witch
1:30 p.m. Pike Drill
2:00 p.m. Ironclad Battle on the Chattahoochee River
2:30 p.m. Musket Drill
3:00-5:00 p.m. Boat Rides
3:00 p.m. Gatling Gun Firing
3:30 p.m. Cannon Firing
4:00 p.m. RiverBlast! Ends

6:00-7:30 p.m. FREE: Presentation: Columbus' Newest City Landmark: The Adventures and History of the USS Water Witch (In Museum Center Gallery)

Sunday, April 5, 2009
9:00 a.m. Cannon Firing
10:00 a.m. Reenactors' Church Service time
11 .m. - 1 p.m. Boat Rides
12:30 p.m. Gatling Gun Firing
1:00 p.m. Cannon Firing
1:30 p.m. Cutlass Drill
2:00 p.m. Ironclad Battle on the Chattahoochee River
2:30 p.m Pike Drill
3:00-4:00 p.m. Boat Rides
3:00 p.m. Gatling Gun Firing
3:30 p.m. Musket Drill
4:00 p.m. Cannon Firing
4:00 p.m. RiverBlast! Ends


Attention Reenactors!

The registration form and tentative schedule are now available for Civil War Navy and Marine reenactors who are interested in participating in this year's RiverBlast! event and USS Water Witch commissioning ceremony. Use the links below to download the form and schedule, and don't forget to check out the Living History blog for information specific to reenactor participation in this year's event.

Registration Form - If you have Outlook or a similar mail program installed, you may fill this form out on your computer and email it in - it's that easy! If not, you can still fill it out electronically and fax or mail it, or print a blank form and fax or mail it in.

Port Columbus Fax: 706-324-7225
Port Columbus Address: 1002 Victory Drive, Columbus, GA 31901

RiverBlastLivingHistoryScheduleTentative.pdf

New Living History/Reenactor Blog

There is a new source for Reenactor/Living Historian information for this year's River Blast and USS Water Witch commissioning ceremony. Follow this link to the blog - we will update it regularly...

Registration form and tentative schedule are coming soon!

River Blast Family Weekend!
Commissioning of the USS Water Witch!
April 4 & 5, 2009
11:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.
Celebrate the newest landmark in Columbus, the USS Water Witch steamship, with a fun filled weekend of living history, activities, games, boat rides and more for families and kids. Watch re-enactors and living historians from around the Southeast participate in the first Civil War Style ship commissioning since 1865. A special Gatling Gun demonstration is set as well as an 1860's stereo 3-D camera and photography set up. Be the first to board the USS Water Witch and come have a blast!

Features naval reenactors from around the nation

Themes bring Civil War naval history to life

Recent themes:

• Tragic aftermath of the boiler explosion on the CSS Chattahoochee and the return of the burned victims to Columbus in 1863.


• "Finding Your Sealegs" where visiting youngsters actually "signed up" for a stretch in the Port Columbus Navy and received training in all aspects of sailor life from cutlass and musket drill to signaling with flags and foodways.

RiverBlast is held in March/April and is a signature event of the National Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus.

Labels: civil, navy, reinactment, war