Battle of Hampton Roads Commemoration Day

Spend an action-packed day with us as we partner with the NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary to commemorate the 161st anniversary of the Battle of Hampton Roads! Come hear about the epic ironclad clash between USS Monitor and CSS Virginia and how the power of technology brings stories of the iconic USS Monitor and its artifacts to life.

The commemoration is part of a multi-year celebration of USS Monitor milestones with NOAA. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, the first designation of its kind in the US.

About the event: Join us as we partner with NOAA for a multi-year celebration of USS Monitor! In addition to commemorating 161 years of the historic ironclad clash between USS Monitor and CSS Virginia, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary –  the first designation of its kind in the US.

Meet the Mariners’ team and NOAA representatives! Gain insight into the epic battle, hear inspiring stories of Monitor, and enjoy hands-on history through science and technology!

💣 Fun, interactive activities:

• Observe 3D printing of select Monitor artifacts, and touch the iconic replica pieces.
• Get a closer look at the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, a living marine habitat, through virtual reality.
• Collect clues to a scavenger hunt, and solve for a prize.
• And more!

💭 Meet the Mariners’ team and NOAA representatives in the USS Monitor Center to hear about the epic battle, learn the inspiring stories of Monitor, and more:

• Get a behind-the-scenes look at USS Monitor Collection Storage.
• Observe the sounds and sights of a full-size recreation of Monitor’s famous Worthington steam pump with Will Hoffman, director of conservation and chief curator at The Mariners’.
• See what our resident scientist Molly McGrath, PhD is “cooking” up in the Conservation Clean Lab.

⚓ Lecture

After USS Monitor
Explorers Theater • Time: 11 a.m.

Presenter: John V. Quarstein, director emeritus of the USS Monitor Center

Hear how the success of USS Monitor influenced the surge to build more monitors, and their continued impact into the 20th century.

About the lecture: 

The success of USS Monitor during the Battle of Hampton Roads prompted the Union to greatly expand the construction of monitors. Some classes, like the Passaic-class, were significant improvements over Monitor. Other classes, such as the Casco-class, were abject failures. While all monitors had some serious limitations, they could be mass-produced making it possible for monitors to be placed everywhere, aiding in strangling the Confederacy into submission. The US Navy would use Civil War-era monitors into the 20th century.

✍ Book signing with JVQ at 12 p.m.

Come meet John V. Quarstein, author of 20 books including The Monitor Boys and CSS Virginia, and is the winner of the 2012 Henry Adams Prize for excellence in historical literature. 

Many of John’s books are available for purchase at the Museum Gift Shop or online. Members receive 10% OFF Gift Shop purchases with a code. Email Membership@MarinersMuseum.org to get your Member discount code. Not a member? Become one today.