Posts fromDavid Krop

USS Monitor Center

Battle of Hampton Roads Weekend!!

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The Mariners’ Museum is once again hosting the Battle of Hampton Roads Weekend this Saturday, March 6! Drop by the museum at 10:00am to see costumed interpretors firing cannon (so loud it shakes the building), museum and NOAA experts giving lectures on the USSMonitor, CSSVirginia, and artifact conservation, listen to Civil War music, and participate in children’s activities. And don’t forget about the behind-the-scenes tours in the conservation lab. Tour space is limited so get to the museum early and sign up. We have something for everybody this weekend! Check out our website for more information:

//www.boxorats.com/calendar/family-event/battle-hampton-roads-weekend

USS Monitor Center

Turret Core Sample

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A while ago, conservators, archaeologists, shipyard employees, and a corrosion expert removed a core sample fromMonitor‘s revolving gun turret armor. Although long-term analysis is ongoing, yesterday we utilized a portable XRF analyzer to perform additional elemental analysis. We’ll let you know what our results are after we have a chance to review them. In the meantime, check out this picture. The 2″ metal disc is a section of the turret’s iron armor plating. It is resting on the XRF analyzer.

USS Monitor Center

Gun Carriage Rotation

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Outboard bottom

今天是一个重要的里程碑的努力conserve USS Monitor’s amazing artifacts. Almost 147 years after the iconic ironclad sank, conservators rotated the port gun carriage to its original upright position.

USS Monitor’s two custom-built gun carriages have been upside down since the ironclad sank on December 31, 1862. The gun carriages were discovered by archaeologists during excavations of the turret in 2002. The carriages were still secured to the 8-ton Dahlgren guns they supported during the Battle of Hampton Roads. Conservators and archaeologists carefully removed both carriages from the turret in 2004.Read more

USS Monitor Center

Surprise Inscription

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Erin continues to work on the previously mentioned brass valve, and she recently uncovered an interesting inscription. It says ‘Jas Gregory, 114 Cannon St, NY.’ Cannon Street is located in the Lower East Side, Manhattan, across the water from the Brooklyn shipyards. In 1893 the New York Times mentioned a fire resulting in injuries in a shop owned by a Mr. James Gregory at 106 Cannon Street. Mr. Gregory’s metal shop foreclosed in 1897. Take a look at the pics!

Image of valve with red arrow indicating location of inscription

USS Monitor Center

Worthington Pump Update

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We just received some interesting information from our intrepid volunteer Gerry. He has been researching our Worthingtons and recently had a discussion with somebody he considers the foremost expert on steam pumps. He confirmed thatMonitor‘s Worthington pumps are believed to be the oldest examples of Worthington manufacture. Further, they are probably the oldest direct-acting reciprocating steam pumps in existence! If you have any information that proves us wrong, please contact us — we’d love to hear from you.

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