So, we headed the hour to Newport News, home of the Mariners Museum. This is a wonderful museum that we visited once before, in about 2009 or so. She is the home of the "recently" raised turret of the Civil War Federal ironclad warship, the Monitor. Sunk in the mid 1860's the turret was discovered off the Hatteras coast of NC in the early 1970's. Raised in about 2002, the turret is in a special water bath to remove salt and keep it from decaying further at this time.
You know you're going to a maritime museum by the waaaay big ship's propeller at the entrance. I've left the car in the picture for size perspective.
It is all an interesting story that I will make quite short. If you are interested, I suggest you visit one of the two (or both) websites. It's really pretty interesting.
http://www.americancivilwar.com/tcwn/civil_war/Navy_Ships/CSS_Virginia.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hampton_Roads
The USS Merrimac had been burned and left behind when Virginia authorities took over the Norfolk Navy Yard after its evacuatuation by Federal forces. The Confederate States raised and remade the steam frigate into an ironclad war ship and renamed her The CSS Virginia. She was a mighty force that was able to take down and sink the Federal wooden ships. The only part of the CSS Virginia that was above water was the slopped iron top 1/3 of the ship. A huge battle - the Battle of Hampton Roads - ended in a draw after the CSS Virginia sunk several large Union ships but was unable to defeat the ironside Union ship, the Monitor.
Eventually, as the war was ending, the CSS Virginia was blown up and sunk by the Confederate army to keep the Union from taking possession of her. This depiction and...um...description of the "Rebel Monster Merrimac" was posted in Union newspapers.
The fate of the Monitor was much worse - out to sea off Cape Hatteras when a sudden, severe storm hit, she sunk, taking many lives with her. When her turret was raised and cleaned, the remains of 2 sailors were found in the turret.
The turret is now in a salt water bath - perhaps for another 10 years - as she is carefully cleaned and examined. Here is the actual top of the turret.
One of her cannons is also in water, as she is carefully preserved.
One fact that I didn't know was that during the Civil War, aerial reconnaissance was common. Both Union and Confederate hot air balloons were sent up to give information to each side. Drawings of the conditions below, of course, was all they could do. Here is an example of a drawing done from a hot air balloon on one of the information gathering missions.
I enjoyed the museum; Luke found many areas of interest, especially those events or inventions that significantly influenced the course of history. He was particularly interested in the late 1700's/early 1800's Napoleonic era naval history, including Admiral Nelson's famous battles, about which he's read a number of books. This large panorama is of the Battle of Trafalgar. Sorry, but I managed to take the picture and place Luke over Admiral Nelson being wounded in the battle,
It was a nice day. TOMMOROW looks like a good day to finally head north!
1 comment:
Enjoyed the info. Have a good trip.
Post a Comment