Confederate Museum in Columbus, TX

One of the oddest looking museums is located on the county courthouse square in Columbus, Texas. Run by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, this tiny museum pays homage to those local veterans of the Civil War and to all veterans of war who followed. What makes this place special is that the museum was once a water tower built of home-made bricks in 1883 by the local Masons. Later, when the water tower was no longer needed, the 500 gallon water steel tank was removed. The end result was a brick building that looked like a castle turret.

 

When Suzanne and I entered the Museum, we were greeted by a very friendly lady eager to share her knowledge of the exhibits on hand. Confederate era artifacts were neatly staged along the circular walls of the museum.  A small room at the back housed more artifacts and the exterior of the water tower. In this room, we found a dated stone memorial honoring the Masons and their completion of the structure. 

A circular stairway led to the second floor exhibits where more civil war era artifacts resided. Old uniforms and other clothing, pictures and a variety of artifacts have all been carefully preserved. The highlight of the museum was viewing a three barrel shotgun. As a hunter and gun aficionado, I was really intrigued with this rarity.  I wished I could handle this odd-looking gun but unfortunately it was behind glass.

The museum may be small in size but the impact on me was enormous. The Castle in Columbus provided the backdrop for the most important chapter of my book “The Second Coming-The Republic of Texas” where the main character Rick Remington finds the lost Treaty of Vicissitude hidden in the museum. Once again Suzanne and I find ourselves amazed as we travel Texas Thru My Back Door!