Age of Sail to Civil War
This section focuses on imagery during the age of sail to the Civil War. Serving from the War of 1812, African Americans were subsquently placed on a limit by various Secretaries of the Navy of only five percent of all new recruits. With the Civil War, the Navy needed more manpower and African Americans helped to fill the ranks, with many serving in rates other than cooks and ship's stewards.
A ship model of the side-wheel, double-ender gunboat, USS Miami, one of the ships shown below, is on display in the Civil War section in Building 76 at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy.
Other resources:
Downloadable African American Pamphlet
NHHC African American Experience
Image: NH 60783: USS Miami (1862-1865). Members of the crew on the forecastle, circa 1864-65. NHHC Photograph Collection.
