{"id":239,"date":"2022-06-29T22:34:50","date_gmt":"2022-06-30T02:34:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marinersmuseum.org\/?page_id=239"},"modified":"2024-12-09T16:15:50","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T21:15:50","slug":"uss-monitor","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.marinersmuseum.org\/conservation\/uss-monitor\/","title":{"rendered":"USS Monitor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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When the sea claimed USS Monitor <\/em>in 1862, the world lost an irreplaceable piece of cultural heritage. Fortunately, 140 years later, one-fifth of the ship was recovered from the depths of the Atlantic. 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<\/a>, we are proud to be the stewards of this revolutionary vessel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

USS Monitor<\/em> represents the world\u2019s largest marine archaeological metals conservation project. More than 210 tons of material were excavated from Monitor<\/em>\u2019s wreck site, all requiring care. Among the historically significant objects recovered are Monitor<\/em>‘s revolving gun turret, two Dahlgren guns, and its steam propulsion engine. The Museum’s archaeological conservators tackle tons of challenges every day, working with materials ranging all over like iron, copper, wood, rope,  fabric, and rubber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Objects recovered from the USS Monitor<\/em> wreck site:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Turret<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Personal Effects<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Dahlgren Guns & Carriage<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Machinery<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Skeg & Hull<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Research<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Conservation involves looking for answers to lots of questions: What material is an object made of? How or why is it degrading? What can we do about it? Research questions help the Conservation team learn more about the artifacts and make wise treatment decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn More<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Turret<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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As the first of its kind ever to be installed on a ship, USS Monito<\/em>r’s 115-ton revolving gun turret represents a major technological advancement that changed the course of naval architecture and warfare. Since its recovery in 2002, the Museum has worked to preserve and stabilize the turret and the many objects recovered inside through conservation, the archaeological record, and 3-D modeling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Turret Project Highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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