It was March 9th, 1862, when a cheesebox on a raft fought right off the shores of Fort Monroe in the first battle where iron met iron. USS Monitor, the nation’s first ironclad, engaged the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia in the Battle of Hampton Roads in a valiant attempt to save the Union.
Join Shannon Ricles, education and outreach coordinator for Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, to learn about the Monitor, the battle, the sinking, the discovery, and how it became the first national marine sanctuary. Hear about the recovery expeditions to bring up some of the most iconic artifacts, learn how they are being conserved, and where you can view them today.