Welcome to Drum Barracks

Located in Wilmington, California, Drum Barracks Civil War Museum is housed in the last remaining original wooden building of the 22 structures built as a military post during the Civil War in the Los Angeles area. Drum Barracks, named after Lt. Col. Richard Coulter Drum, Adjutant General of the Department of the Pacific in San Francisco, served as the Union Army headquarters for Southern California and the Arizona Territory from 1861-1871. Please enjoy exploring our past and our present.

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Docent Training 2020

Become a volunteer at the greatest Civil War site in Los Angeles!  Attend four volunteer training classes Saturday, March 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 9:00 am - 11:30 am.  Volunteers must attend all four classes (or make-up classes) in order to graduate.  Enjoy lectures on historic preservation and California's role in the Civil War, get a behind the scenes peak at artifacts and exhibitions, and learn to share your Civil War knowledge with visitors.  Classes are free and are only offered once per year, so don't delay.  Call (310) 548-7509 to reserve your place in our 2020 class.

School Tours

The Drum Barracks Civil War Museum offers two educational programs designed specifically to engage students. It is our goal to provide a memorable tour for the hundreds of schoolchildren who visit us and instill in them an understanding of life during the Civil War. The Drum Barracks Civil War Museum, Drum Barracks Garrison & Society, staff, and volunteers are dedicated to providing an entertaining yet educational experience for schoolchildren. For more information click here.