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N.C. Maritime Museum at Southport Examines
"Blockade Running: A Necessary Evil"

The blockade runner Modern Greece

SOUTHPORT, N.C. -- President Abraham Lincoln called for a blockade of all ports within the seceded states April 19, 1860. An exhibit examining the stealthy vessels and skillful captains who worked to circumvent that strategy will open at 6 p.m. Oct. 5, at the N.C. Maritime Museum in Southport.Blockade Running: A Necessary Evil will discuss the successes and failures of the blockade and its effect on the Lower Cape Fear.

An exciting launch of the exhibit will be the entertaining program, Run the Blockade, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Participants will be blockade runners attempting to "run the bar" and arrive safely at the museum with collected Confederate cargo.

Just as in 1863, the fastest, bravest and craftiest captains will take the prize! Each blockade runner participating in the collection of cargo via foot, bike, golf cart or auto, will carry the banner of a known blockade runner.

Each found article will represent the history of the Lower Cape Fear, ending with a coin to purchase a dram at the museum's grand opening of the Blockade Running exhibition.

After returning to the Maritime Museum at Southport, refreshments will be served and participants will receive prizes "of great value." At that time the free exhibit, Blockade Running: A Necessary Evil, will be unveiled. The fee for the blockade running activity is $25 for nonmembers and $20 for Friends of the Museum. Participants must pre-register at (910) 457-0003.

For additional information please call (910) 457-0003. The N.C. Maritime Museum at Southport showcases the history and heritage of the Cape Fear region, with exhibits on the Civil War, shipwrecks, hurricanes, pirates and more. It is located at 204 E. Moore St. in Southport, and part of the N.C. Maritime Museum system of the Division of State History Museums, within the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.