My day started with a man named Fred Wise, who dropped one cannonball after another into my hand. They were heavy! I didn’t need more than two examples to learn that. Then he put an old musket in my hands. It was heavy, too. It gave me pause; I’d never thought about how hard daily life for Civil War soldiers was. Rough. Heavy. Grueling. The Crooked Creek Civil War Museum in Cullman, Alabama opened my eyes. And I would have missed the experience had we not pulled off a back road that had a simple “Civil War Museum” sign at the end of the driveway.
The museum was little more than a labor-of-love; an eclectic collection of paraphrenalia that Fred has collected over the years. Most of it has price tags on it, in case you wanted to buy one of the “exhibits.” But it makes sense. That’s how Fred got most of his merchandise, and he freely and eagerly puts it in your hands.
First, we went inside Fred’s adjacent house for coffee. He had more collectibles in there. His house was as busy and cluttered as the museum, and he was more than happy to show us anything that caught our eye.
Like Confederate flags. Confederate uniforms. Horse saddles with holes in them so that soldiers didn’t have to get off their horses to relieve themselves.
This wasn’t a museum full of battle dates and dioramas. This was a collection of antiques gleaned from other Civil War enthusiasts. Even I was fascinated by all the memorabilia as I tried to balance my coffee mug and musket at the same time Fred was putting a Confederate cap on my head. Fred is one of those characters you hope you’ll meet when you’re on the back roads of Alabama: quirky, outspoken, hospitable, and thoroughly entertaining.
Yep. That’s Fred.
Equally interesting was the Bed & Breakfast sitting on his property. He paid $30,000 to have the 1800 homestead taken apart, numbered, transported to his property and re-assembled. We poked around inside and all agreed that it would be a unique experience for sure — if you didn’t mind being in Fred’s front yard where museum-goers, Boy Scouts, and paranormal investigators often stopped by. It reminded me of the night I spent inside a museum exhibit in Belgium. Equally strange, but much less creepy.
Fred’s Crooked Creek land may be haunted. After all, it’s settled on a battle site where Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest and Union Colonel Abel Streight fought for several hours before going on to engage in the Battles of Hog Mountain and Day’s Gap in April, 1863. Ghost hunters have come many times with their equipment. The Boy Scouts who regularly camp on the land are probably more interested in finding shells or bullets around the old rifle pit sites. I was most interested in that Bed & Breakfast. Dare I say that the Crooked Creek Civil War Museum has something for everyone?
Admission to the museum and grounds (and Fred’s house?) is $5.00 at the door. But the experience of spending time perusing all that Fred’s collected? Priceless.
Are you a Civil War buff?
Browsing The Atlas 
Now that’s what you call a labor of love! I remember learning about the Civil War in elementary school and being drawn in by the stories of various battles and how it affected everyday people. Being a soldier now is tough I’m sure, but probably has got nothing on what it must have been like back in the day.
I know!! When I think about them trudging along on foot, carrying all these supplies (granted, some on wagons or horses), hungry, tired, and cold, I honestly don’t know anyone survived it. I wouldn’t have lasted a day.
My sort of museum – a local collection which doesn’t need interaction to be enjoyable. As to the US Civil War I suppose I’m aware of the causes, the main actions, the result. But the UK and Ireland have had their share of Civil Wars too. Indeed the islands of Jersey and Guernsey threw in their lots with opposite sides during the English Civil War, which might explain one or two things…
I think it explains a lot. 😉
This sounds like such a quirky and interesting place! Definitely a unique southern experience.
A one-of-a-kind experience, for sure. I’m still curious about a B&B stay there. Don’t be surprised if someday if there’s a post someday about that.
It’s always amazing what the back roads have in store for you. Our family farm is in Richwood Ohio, which is near Engagement Ohio. Which is to say about halfway between Dayton and Marion and definitely in the middle of nowhere. Mom has been embedded out there long enough to know where half a dozen of these by enthusiast / for enthusiast museums are. However, Fred’s looks particularly nice, extensive and well curated. the fact that he put in a bed and breakfast is that much better. Sounds like a fun visit to really get a feel for the area.
That’s what is was exactly! “A fun visit to really get a feel for the area.” I think everyone in the county knows Fred and has been out to his place.
Can’t say I know much of American Civil War but this place is so full of history!
Yes. Fred presented it in such a fascinating way. I have trouble paying attention in museums full of display cases and placards. But holding things in my hand and hearing the stories behind the objects made much more impact on me.
Love this quirky little museum! Horse saddles with holes… interesting concept, but wouldnt the pee just go all over the horse?! Haha Im a little confused 😛
Yes. Exactly! It would go all over the horse. But the bigger question to me is: they’re men. Why go through a hole at all???
This is an interesting museum worth exploring for those into history and wars! I would particularly interested in seeing the antiques. I don’t know about staying at the bed and breakfast onsite though knowing that it is probably haunted!
Wow so much historic things in the museum! I don’t really haunted places so I would likely steer clear of Fred’s Crooked Creek!