The Model Room

The first stop on any visit to the museum should be the Model Room with its miniature copies of the buildings. The camp which was approximately 60 acres and contained a 16 acre parade ground for drilling the soldiers. Drum Barracks was named in honor of Lt. Col. Richard Coulter Drum, assistant Adjutant General of the Department of the Pacific, who provided major assistance in establishing the facility. The buildings were pre-fabricated in the eastern United States and shipped here around the Horn in South America; no Panama Canal then. It was believed there were not adequate building materials in the local area for a fort of this size. Building was begun in 1862 and completed in September, 1863 at a cost of approximately one million dollars. Each of the barracks held a company of soldiers, which was 100 men. The Camp was originally built for 500 soldiers and accompanying officers and horses.

Around the central parade ground were the hospital, enlisted men's barracks, and the laundress' quarters. The launderesses at the camp were often widows with small children who did the laundry for the soldiers stationed here. The camp had two stables, with a capacity of 300 horses and were usually filled to capacity. These stables were ideally located so that the ocean breeze would blow away the aroma.. except when the Santa Ana winds were active.

Camp Drum and the Quartermaster's Depot were supplying some 126 other camps with men, supplies and horses. Over 8,000 men passed through Drum Barracks on their way to camps as far away as Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah (which then comprised the Arizona Territory). The original flagpole of the camp was a single 60 foot tall piece of solid mahogany which was chopped up for firewood when the camp closed.

This military facility was used for Civil War operations from 1861-1865.

After the war this facility continued to be of use:

• 1865-71 - Troops were fighting Geronimo in Indian Wars in Arizona.
• 1871-73 - The camp was closed but the hospital remained in operation for two more years. It was considered the best Army hospital west of the Mississippi.
• After the close of the hospital, Banning went to Washington D.C. and had a bill passed so that the land reverted back to himself and B. D. Wilson. The buildings were publicly auctioned off for a total of $6,357.00...but the buildings purchased by anyone other than Banning and Wilson had to be moved.
• Banning bought most of the buildings, including the building housing the museum.
• B.D. Wilson bought the hospital and the commanding officers quarters and donated them to the Methodist Church, who began Wilson College in 1874, attended by the children of both Wilson and Banning. This was the first co-educational college west of the Mississippi, but unfortunately, it closed in the financial panic of 1875 (Los Angeles drought) after only two years.
• In 1890, the building housing the museum was used as a high school for the Wilmington township.
• In 1910, the High school moved and the property was sold to Mr. Cary, who gave his name to the street in front.
• The Junior Officers Quarters was then purchased by Thomas F. Keaveney for use as a private residence and boarding home.
• 1962 - The Junior Officers Quarters building was due to be torn down but Wilmington citizens saved it.
• 1977-80 restoration: the walls were removed down to frame, the wiring was replaced. Floors, banisters, doors and some door frames are original to the building.
• The framed map on the wall shows structures of the Drum Barracks in white superimposed over a 1988 map of the current streets in green and black.

 In the bookcase: