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Post by cwbuff on Apr 19, 2007 11:21:35 GMT -8
I went to the new Monitor exhibit at the Mariners Museum in Newport News, VA. It is an excellent exhibit. They have the actual turret, guns and carriages and the engine in tanks trying to "wean them" off of the water. In addition, there is a full size mock-up of the Monitor outside that you can walk on. Even though it is not the actual ship, it was an awesome feeling walking on that deck. Inside the museum, there are additional displays of items recovered from the ship and a "battle theater" that puts you in the action. If you are in this area, I highly recommend seeing it.  |
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Post by 101ABN on Apr 19, 2007 18:24:22 GMT -8
I'd love to see it.
A few years ago we went to the CSA museum in Richmond. They had the propellor shaft from the CSS Virginia o n display.
Pretty awesome to be in such close proximity to the remains of either of these historic warships.
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Post by MrDoublel on Apr 20, 2007 6:50:33 GMT -8
I saw the Monitor exhibit back in Dec '04 while in shcool at Ft. Eustis. Those Dahlgrens are massive (20 tons each I think) and seeing the turret. If you look through the pothole in the preservation tank you can see the dent in the turret that is seen in one of the pictures taken of her after the fight with the Virginia.
Also, I reccomend seeing the Hunley if you are in the Charleston area. She's also submerged in a leaching tank.
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Post by Sailor on Apr 20, 2007 20:50:53 GMT -8
Mrs Sailor and I took in the new MONITOR exhibit about a week after it opened. You're right CW, it's amazing. I took in the exhibit 3 or 4 years ago, they still had the propellor and shaft in a leaching tank at the time and ALL the preservation tanks were outdoors. Not certain but I think they built the new buildings around them.
Did you notice that they have the cradle used to bring up the turret on display in the courtyard between buildings? The Navy didn't scrap it.
The MONITOR mockup was built over at the Newport News Shipbuilding yard, I think in the welder's school using donated materials. According to the local fishwrap they built it in pieces and trucked it to the site.
Now, if they can just recover VIRGINIA's ram from what's left of USS CUMBERLAND ... Unless some poacher got it, it's still on the bottom of the harbor.
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