USS Monitor Legacy Program: USS Michigan, The US Navy’s First Iron Ship

USS Michigan: The US Navy’s First Iron Ship Presented by John V. Quarstein, director emeritus of the USS Monitor Center The Industrial Revolution enabled the construction of iron-hulled warships that were stronger, larger, and easier to maintain. Laid down in 1839, USS Michigan was the U.S. Navy’s first iron-hulled vessel, built to protect Lake Erie from piracy and foreign threats. Its innovative design laid the foundation for later iron warships, including USS Monitor. Register to attend in person on our website: marinersmuseum.org/event/uss-michigan/ Image Credit: USS Michigan renamed Wolverine painted white. From Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.