Visitors receive rare chance to view historic USS Monitor turret at Mariners' Museum and Park
The turret is being drained through March 8 as part of conservation efforts at the Mariners' Museum and Park, allowing visitors an up close unobstructed view of the historical artifact.
The 115-ton revolving gun turret was the first of its kind to be used in combat, representing a major technological advancement for the navy. The USS Monitor then spent almost 140 years off the coast of Cape Hatteras after being sunk in 1862 during a storm.
Eventually in 1973, the wreckage was discovered, and in 1975 was designated as the nation's first National Marine Sanctuary under NOAA, who, in 1987, selected the Mariners' Museum and Park to be the principal repository for the warship.
The turret was not discovered until August of 2002, where it was then brought to the museum, where conservation efforts still persist to this day. As part of the conservation effort, the turret is periodically submerged in 90,000 gallons of alkaline solution.
During the draining process this week, the conservation team will work to inspect the turret in the hopes of creating a planning process to flip the turret, which has been upside down since its discovery in 2002.
'Every time we drain the tank, the turret remains as impressive as the first time I saw it,' Mariners' Director of Conservation Will Hoffman said. 'To be able to see its scale and know the impact that it had on world history makes being part of its conservation and preservation both extremely rewarding and humbling.'
According to museum staff, the best time to view the historic artifact will be on March 8 during the Mariners' annual Battle of Hampton Roads Commemoration Day, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.
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