#USSMonitor

[noaasanctuaries]

On August 5, 2002, nearly 140 years after the sinking of the historic Civil War ironclad, USS Monitor, Monitor's gun turret was raised 240 feet from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.

During this act to recover the significant Civil War naval artifact, US Navy divers discovered the remains of the Monitor crew that were also recovered with the ship’s turret. The two sailors were later buried, with full military honors, at Arlington National Cemetery.

Next week, NOAA will be conducting the first in-depth, multidisciplinary survey of the iconic Civil War ironclad, USS Monitor, since this remarkable expedition. Join us on May 15 as we continue to explore the Monitor and surrounding historic shipwrecks during the Valor in the Atlantic project in partnership with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration.

[steamship-historical-society]

#OnThisDay in 1862, in the first battle between ironclads, USS Monitor and CSS Virginia engage in close combat in Hampton Roads, Va. Neither side could claim victory, but it eventually ends the era of wooden ships. Many steam engines of the time had vertical pistons that required a lot of space and made them vulnerable to enemy fire because they were partially above the waterline. However, the USS Monitor's 30-ton, 400 horsepower engine had pistons that moved horizontally, reducing the height of the engine and allowing it to be mounted below the waterline. Image: Monitor’s crewmembers cooking on deck in the James River, Virginia, 9 July 1862. The African American crewman in the right foreground is Siah Carter, a former slave who escaped from the Shirley Plantation in Charles City owned by Hill Carter a Confederate Army colonel in May 1862. He boarded a small boat with the intention of reaching the ironclad USS Monitor at anchor nearby in the James River. Photo by James F. Gibson, courtesy of the Library of Congress. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Photo # NH 73688. #otd #didyouknow #civilwar #blackhistory #blackshiphistory #ussmonitor #ussvirginia #ironclad #steamengine #maritimeengineering #war #usnavy #navy https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca5AbDnMwu1/?utm_medium=tumblr

[possumcollege]

That's what #4shipsfanart wanted, right?

[sciencetoastudent]

One of my favorite events in naval history: where wooden ships instantly became extinct. #civilwar #militaryhistory #history #americanhistory #civilwarhistory #calendar #todayinhistory #thisdayinhistory #battle #war #ussmonitor #cssvirginia #cssmerrimack

[itsyaminibaghel]

What is Battle of the Ironclads?

John A.B. Dahlgren was a cannon designer for the US Navy Ordnance Department; he designed the famous cannon that helped decide the War between the States. Two of his famous Dahlgren 11" cannons were the only armament on the USS Monitor when it fought the CSS Virginia (AKA Merrimack)  on the 9th of March, 1862, the first battle between ironclad warships.

The battle between the Monitor and the Virginia, was considered a tactical draw, but both sides were so impressed with the battle their prospective naval yards were contracted to build more ironclads. The world had seen the end of the days when "the ships were of wood and the men were of iron".

Read more

[noaasanctuaries]

The Battle of Hampton Roads from March 8-9, 1862 was the first engagement of ironclad warships during the Civil War.

On this day in history, the USS Monitor arrived in Hampton Roads with orders to protect the Minnesots, which had run aground during an earlier confrontation with the CSS Virginia. Though the battle ultimately ended in a draw, the clash between these two ironclads would go down as one of the most consequential battles in naval history.

Image description: A diver explores the wreck of the USS Monitor, located in the depths of Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: NOAA

[noaasanctuaries]

Announcing: Valor in the Atlantic Expedition

Beginning May 15, the public can join NOAA scientists and partner researchers as they explore the shipwreck of USS Monitor, natural reefs, and the maritime cultural landscape off the North Carolina coast.

The two week mission–titled Valor in the Atlantic–will use state-of-the-art underwater drones and other technologies to explore notable sites surrounding America’s first National Marine Sanctuary. The Global Foundation of Ocean Exploration is providing much of the technology for the mission, which will be live streamed in real-time to the public from NOAA Ship Nancy Foster.

Collaborating with dozens of museums, aquariums, educators, and other organizations, the broadcast will showcase nationally significant sites located in the waters off the North Carolina coast and their biological communities to students, educators, scientists and the public, literally bringing the wonders of these ocean treasures to life.

The mission will run May 15 through May 25, 2022 as weather and dive conditions permit.

[noaasanctuaries]

We are ready to dive in! 💦

Tune into the Valor in the Atlantic mission, taking place in Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. The NOAA ship, Nancy Foster, has departed and the mission is scheduled to end on May 25, 2022. This is the first in-depth, multidisciplinary survey of the iconic Civil War ironclad, USS Monitor, and surrounding shipwrecks since the 2002 expedition. What will we find this time?

Visit the Valor in the Atlantic livestream:

[noaasanctuaries]

This year is already flying by!

Tomorrow begins a month of learning and celebrating black history and all month we will be sharing some of our favorite stories! Check out this month’s signature series article that includes stories of courage and heroism in your sanctuaries. The first story is a little known story of bravery surrounding the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary!

Read about it here: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/50/depths-of-courage.html

Image description: USS Monitor wreck now teams with marine life, from the permanent encrusting algae to great whales just passing through. (NOAA)

[noaasanctuaries]

Educator Alert!

As part of our 50th anniversary campaign, we have been launching a series of new resource collections. In this new era of ocean conservation, we encourage formal and informal educators and other interested people to take advantage of the robust educational materials available in each topically-based collection. This month, we have launched a collection covering SHIPWRECKS. NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries staff study, interpret, and protect shipwrecks as places to explore, discover, and appreciate our country’s maritime legacy. Shipwrecks are a key aspect in understanding the maritime heritage of the United States and can help us learn more about our past. These shipwrecks not only help Americans learn more about our country’s past, but provide education, tourism, and recreational opportunities as well.

Dive into the collection here: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/teachers/shipwreck/

Image Description: U-701, sunk by the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II sits partially buried on a sandy bottom in 110 feet of water. (Steve Sellers/NOAA)

[noaasanctuaries]

People come from far and wide to learn about the USS 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳.

But people aren’t the only ones who like to visit the magnificent wrecks in and around the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. These Atlantic spotted dolphins were seen in the sanctuary during a research trip last summer. They love to play in the wake of moving vessels and sometimes it seems like they show off just for the cameras…🤔

Learn more about the wrecks of Monitor National Marine Sanctuary here: monitor.noaa.gov

Image description: A pair of Atlantic spotted dolphins play in the wake of the RV Shearwater during a survey near the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Mark Losavio/ NOAA

[noaasanctuaries]

Interested in history?

The USS Monitor Center, the official visitor center for Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, has over 50,000 square feet of interactive gallery exhibits, artifacts, and replicas that bring the story of Monitor and its crew to life!

Learn more: https://monitor.noaa.gov/visit/visitor-centers.html. (Photo: The Mariners' Museum. Image description: USS Monitor full-scale replica, outside The USS Monitor Center.)

[noaasanctuaries]

Today we are commemorating Juneteenth, the day (June 19, 1865) when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom -- two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This day promotes and cultivates knowledge and appreciation of African American history and culture across our nation.

NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary is home to USS Monitor, an ironclad ship built to lead the Union Navy during the Civil War. As important as it is to learn about the technical marvel this vessel came to be, it is vital to honor those that served aboard USS Monitor during some of our Nation's most historic hours. The men of the USS Monitor served with distinction and only by working together could this crew survive the horrors of war. Among the 62 man crew, we know of eight African American men who worked aboard USS Monitor. Their names were William Nichols, Siah Hulett Carter, William Scott, Robert Howard, Robert Cook, Edward Cann, Daniel Moore, and William Jeffrey. (Photo: NOAA. Image description: Archive image of the crew of USS Monitor, 9 July 1862.)