Battle of Hampton Roads Commemoration Day
Saturday, March 7, 2026
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. • The Mariners’ Museum and Park
Free for Members • Included in $1 Admission
Dive into history as we partner with the NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary to commemorate the Battle of Hampton Roads. Meet our Mariners’ Team and NOAA representatives during this action-packed day of engaging, educational, and family-friendly programming highlighting naval history, innovation, and STEM learning.
Exciting experiences:
- Experience Cutting-Edge 3D Data: Witness the first public unveiling of high-resolution sonar imagery of the Monitor shipwreck, three-dimensional digital reconstructions of USS Monitor from 1862 — and what it looks like today as marine habitat. This new data will transform how we visualize, study, and protect America’s famous shipwreck.
- Become an underwater robot! Use sonar and mapping technology to reach USS Monitor in an exciting life-size floor game game
- Solve an engineering puzzle: match pattern blocks to build USS Monitor, its iconic turret, and its cannons in this activity crafted for early childhood learners
- Dive into Virtual Reality: Go for a virtual swim through the shipwreck with a Monitor 360 headset
- Explore the galleries: Meet our Mariners’ Team as they share the powerful stories behind the Museum’s priceless artifacts.
- Pilot an Undersea Explorer: Test your skills as a deep-sea pilot by taking the controls of a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).
- Embark on a Scavenger Hunt: Complete a special Monitor-themed scavenger hunt and win a special prize when you’ve conquered it!
- Tour the Wet Lab (1 p.m. to 3 p.m.): Walk through our state-of-the-art wet lab to see where Monitor’s iconic gun turret and other recovered artifacts are currently undergoing conservation. (Must sign a waiver in the Museum lobby; ages 10+ only)
Go to our webpage to learn more: https://www.marinersmuseum.org/event/battle-of-hampton-roads-commemoration-day/
