Among the historically significant objects recovered are Monitor‘s revolving gun turret, two Dahlgren guns, and its steam propulsion engine. More than 210 tons of material were excavated from Monitor’s wreck site, all requiring care. USS Monitor represents the world’s largest marine archaeological metals conservation project. These one-of-a-kind artifacts now reside within the Batten Conservation Complex at The Mariners’ Museum and Park, where they are undergoing conservation. In partnership with NOAA’s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, we are proud to be the stewards of this revolutionary vessel. Fortunately, 140 years later, one-fifth of the ship was recovered from the depths of the Atlantic. The Center also tells the story of the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia.When the sea claimed USS Monitor in 1862, the world lost an irreplaceable piece of cultural heritage. The USS Monitor Center is the definitive national authority and repository for the original recovered artifacts, and for all other materials, research, and programming related to the history of the famous Civil War ironclad warship that revolutionized naval warfare. This dramatic $30 million, 63,500 square foot facility enthralls families with exciting exhibits, bringing students face-to-face with history, housing state-of-the-art conservation labs, and offering historians rich resources for research. Marking the 145th anniversary of the historic clash between the Civil War ironclads USS Monitor and CSS Virginia, The Mariners’ Museum and its partner, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) opened the doors on March 9, 2007, to one of the premier Civil War attractions across the nation-the USS Monitor Center. The creative interpretation of original artifacts, combined with personal letters and other archival materials, is an award-winning and awe-inspiring combination at the U.S.S.

Center monitor