Civil War Shipwreck: Photos of the USS Monitor

Live Science ^ | Feb 13, 2013 | Staff

[lbryce]

Here are some amazing images taken of the USS Monitor in the early 1860's.

Ready for Action

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Sixteen men were lost when the USS Monitor went down in a storm off Cape Hatteras on Dec. 31, 1862, while it was being towed. The sunken ship was discovered in 1974 resting upside down on the ocean floor in about 235 feet (71 meters) of water; efforts to salvage artifacts from the site began in 1998.

Here, a line engraving, published in "Harper's Weekly", 1862, depicting the ship "Ready for Action" after her pilothouse was modified with angled armor plating around.

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Onboard USS Monitor
Credit: U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph
Courtesy of Library of Congress

Crew members cooking on deck, in the James River, Virginia, 9 July 1862. Photographed by James F. Gibson. This view looks forward from the port quarter, with the port side blower hatch in the foreground, the two smokestacks in the middle distance and the turret beyond. The sailor standing atop the turret is holding a telescope.

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On the deck
Credit: U.S. Naval Historical Center.

A photo from July of 1862. On the deck of the USS Monitor, looking forward on the starboard side. The large dents in the gun turret's armor are scars from Confederate heavy guns. The Monitor was a low-lying, floating fortress. Only about 18 inches of the ship appeared above the waterline.

More at the site

[lbryce]

Only a handful of absolutely fascinating pictures taken in the 1860's of the USS Monitor. for history buffs, these images send a chill down your spine.

[exnavy]

Amazing history!

[Right Wing Assault]

[R. Scott]

http://www.jamesriverarchitects.com/monitor-center.html

[IronJack]

Monitor suffered a nobler fate than her famous rival ...

[exit82]

This is where you can see the original Monitor’s turret.

There is also a full size mock-up of the Monitor, and displays about the CSS Virginia and the famous naval battle.

A beautiful setting, in Newport News VA—highly recommended.

[exit82]

This is where you can see the original Monitor’s turret.

http://www.marinersmuseum.org/

There is also a full size mock-up of the Monitor, and displays about the CSS Virginia and the famous naval battle.

A beautiful setting, in Newport News VA—highly recommended.

[jsanders2001]

Got to wonder how loud it must have been in the turret room

[bmwcyle]

It is a really great display. Allow all day to see everything. You will enjoy it.

[Travis McGee]

Fabulous museum, it’s a must-see!

[IMR 4350]

What?

Would you mind speaking up a little bit.

[Bottom_Gun]

I was there back in 2002, 03 shortly after they had brought her in. Had a wonderful day there..lots of photos of the kids having fun!

[Kirkwood]

The designation ‘USS’ did not come into use until 1907.

http://www.navweaps.com/index_tech/index_ships_list.htm

If someone had called it the USS Monitor during the war, it would have been thought strange.

[wbill]

I don't think that I'd want to be in that turret when it was hit with cannon fire.

I'd imagine it would be like standing inside a ringing bell.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Here is a page from the book 1861-1865: TOLD IN PICTURES by Irving Werstein that I bought forty eight years ago. Notice how roomy they make the Monitor look.

/P>

I also have a page on the USS MONTAUK, mentioned on the show KILLING LINCOLN.

[Cvengr]

Got to wonder how loud it must have been in the turret room

Especially when one of those dent-forming shells struck the exterior, 'ringing' their bell.....

[wetgundog]

Turret had a grated “roof” so smoke, noise, and vibration was somewhat vented upward. Still must have been noisy, for sure!

[Rebelbase]

How many more years does the Monitor turret have to sit in the restoration bath?

[Right Wing Assault]

Only the deaf or those aspiring to be deaf need apply. Those guys must have been a wreck after a battle.