Rare Civil War-era Cannonball on Display by Christian Shepherd - City News Group, Inc.

Community Calendar

FEBRUARY
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
View Events
Submit Events

Rare Civil War-era Cannonball on Display

By Christian Shepherd, Staff Writer
January 14, 2015 at 05:23pm. Views: 65

The Lincoln Memorial Shrine has received a nine-pound cannonball, originating from the years 1861 to 1865, to add to its collection of Civil War era artifacts and history. While the cannonball will not be the first piece of artillery ammunition to be added to the Lincoln Memorial Shrine, the plug, size and weight of the cannonball led the staff at Lincoln Memorial Shrine to believe that it is an explosive cannonball, the first of its kind to be put on display at the shrine. The cannonball was discovered in San Joaquin Valley and its donation to the shrine was orchestrated by Doug Westfall, who has been instrumental in the collection of other artifacts for the Lincoln Memorial Shrine, including a German-American manuscript from a soldier in the Civil War. Don McQue, director of the Lincoln Memorial Shrine and the A.K. Smiley Library, will be leading research on the cannonball alongside A.K. Smiley Library Archivist Maria Castillo. McQue believes that the cannonball was “lost in transport” on the way from a Civil War fort in either San Diego or the Drum Barracks in Wilmington to a San Bernardino outpost. McQue will also be reaching out to the California State Library and the California Military Museum to help solve the mystery of the cannonball’s presence, in the hope that it could help tell the untold story of California’s involvement in the Civil War and its divided history. Part of that history, according to the American Civil War Society, was San Bernardino County’s dense population of relocated southerners who did little to hide their loyalties to the south. The presence of the southern sympathizers in California strengthened the secessionist movement as a whole. Military troops from the Drum Barracks however, had the responsibility of keeping California in the Union and protecting a large portion of the southern California population during the war, according to the Drum Barracks Civil War Museum. The cannonball will be on display alongside the shrine’s other Civil War weapons, ammo and military artifacts. For more information, please visit www.lincolnshrine.org.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: CalKIDS

By Vanessa Vizard, Contributing Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:48pm. Views: 114

An event staff member assists an attendee at the CalKIDS check-in table, helping her register and sharing information as community resources are made available.

Photo Courtesy of: City of Moreno Valley

By William Cortez, Community Writer

February 10, 2026 at 03:03pm. Views: 486

A job seeker speaks with a representative at a Business & Employment Resource Center (BERC) booth during a career fair, where employers share information and resources with attendees in a bright indoor venue.

Photo Courtesy of: ChatGPT (AI-generated)

By Ruby Stephenson, Contributing Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:48pm. Views: 131

AI-rendered image: Community members, families, and children gather outside the boarded entrance of Moreno Valley Mall, where signs posted on the doors read “Mall Closed,” illustrating the impact of a temporary shutdown on local residents.

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:48pm. Views: 120

CSHS Athlete of the Week: Abubacarr Saidy

Photo Courtesy of: Elci Photography

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:48pm. Views: 176

“Chuck” William Cecil and his wife, Beverly Cecil, stand proudly with Johan Gallo, Grand Terrace Cars & Coffee's coordinator, as they are recognized for their long-standing dedication and support of Grand Terrace Cars & Coffee

Photo Courtesy of: Congressman Pete Aguilar

By Carl M. Dameron, Contributing Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:48pm. Views: 119

House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar represents the 33rd Congressional District of California. He is the keynote speaker at The Democratic Luncheon Club of San Bernardino’s 32nd Annual Banquet and Installation of Officers.

Photo Courtesy of: City of San Bernardino, Instagram: IE Voice

By Ruby Stephenson, Contributing Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:50pm. Views: 243

A bright red and gold dragon costume weaves through a crowd of smiling adults and children at an outdoor festival, as performers lean down to interact with attendees during a lively dragon dance.

Photo Courtesy of: Designed by Freepik

By Charmaine Mislang, Community Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:48pm. Views: 185

Two students stand in a library, looking down at an open book together, with shelves of books visible in the background.
Over the past year, Redlands Unified has relied on Administrative Regulation 1312.2 – Complaints Concerning Instructional Materials, a policy adopted by the Board of Education on Aug. 19, 2025, to guide how concerns about library and instructional materials are reviewed.

Photo Courtesy of: VA Loma Linda

By Stephen K. Robinson, Contributing Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:49pm. Views: 179

Exterior view of the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Medical Center, a large beige multi-story building with blue window accents. Three flagpoles displaying the American flag and military service flags stand in front of the entrance, surrounded by landscaped grass, rocks, and a small water feature.

Photo Courtesy of: Youtube: SBS Probation

By William Cortez, Contributing Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:49pm. Views: 175

An indoor workshop scene shows teaching artists, M. Ahofi and J. Lee of PMHU, seated and playing guitar and cello, while others observe in the background. The photo is depicted with a blue, on-screen banner reading, “Mapping Progress: Project: Music Heals Us.”

Photo Courtesy of: ChatGPT (AI-generated)

By Tracy Calentti, Contributing Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:49pm. Views: 178

An AI-rendered image showing a person wearing a hood and gloves removing a property tax payment envelope from a blue mail drop box during low light conditions.

Photo Courtesy of: Jsmithwikigt, Wikipedia

By Charmaine Mislang, Community Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:49pm. Views: 176

City of Grand Terrace images from top, left to right - Grand Terrace City Hall, Blue Mountain Trail, Northeast City Entrance, Historical Plaque, Veterans Wall of Freedom.

--> -->