#ussmonitor

On August 5, 2002, nearly 140 years after the sinking of the historic Civil War ironclad, USS Monitor, Monitor's gun turret was raised 240 feet from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.

During this act to recover the significant Civil War naval artifact, US Navy divers discovered the remains of the Monitor crew that were also recovered with the ship’s turret. The two sailors were later buried, with full military honors, at Arlington National Cemetery.

The Battle of Hampton Roads from March 8-9, 1862 was the first engagement of ironclad warships during the Civil War.

On this day in history, the USS Monitor arrived in Hampton Roads with orders to protect the Minnesots, which had run aground during an earlier confrontation with the CSS Virginia. Though the battle ultimately ended in a draw, the clash between these two ironclads would go down as one of the most consequential battles in naval history.

Announcing: Valor in the Atlantic Expedition

Beginning May 15, the public can join NOAA scientists and partner researchers as they explore the shipwreck of USS Monitor, natural reefs, and the maritime cultural landscape off the North Carolina coast.

The two week mission–titled Valor in the Atlantic–will use state-of-the-art underwater drones and other technologies to explore notable sites surrounding America’s first National Marine Sanctuary. The Global Foundation of Ocean Exploration is providing much of the technology for the mission, which will be live streamed in real-time to the public from NOAA Ship Nancy Foster.

Collaborating with dozens of museums, aquariums, educators, and other organizations, the broadcast will showcase nationally significant sites located in the waters off the North Carolina coast and their biological communities to students, educators, scientists and the public, literally bringing the wonders of these ocean treasures to life.

The mission will run May 15 through May 25, 2022 as weather and dive conditions permit.

We are ready to dive in! 💦

Tune into the Valor in the Atlantic mission, taking place in Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. The NOAA ship, Nancy Foster, has departed and the mission is scheduled to end on May 25, 2022. This is the first in-depth, multidisciplinary survey of the iconic Civil War ironclad, USS Monitor, and surrounding shipwrecks since the 2002 expedition. What will we find this time?

Visit the Valor in the Atlantic livestream:

This year is already flying by!

Tomorrow begins a month of learning and celebrating black history and all month we will be sharing some of our favorite stories! Check out this month’s signature series article that includes stories of courage and heroism in your sanctuaries. The first story is a little known story of bravery surrounding the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary!

Read about it here: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/50/depths-of-courage.html

Educator Alert!

As part of our 50th anniversary campaign, we have been launching a series of new resource collections. In this new era of ocean conservation, we encourage formal and informal educators and other interested people to take advantage of the robust educational materials available in each topically-based collection. This month, we have launched a collection covering SHIPWRECKS. NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries staff study, interpret, and protect shipwrecks as places to explore, discover, and appreciate our country’s maritime legacy. Shipwrecks are a key aspect in understanding the maritime heritage of the United States and can help us learn more about our past. These shipwrecks not only help Americans learn more about our country’s past, but provide education, tourism, and recreational opportunities as well.

Dive into the collection here: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/teachers/shipwreck/

People come from far and wide to learn about the USS 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳.

But people aren’t the only ones who like to visit the magnificent wrecks in and around the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. These Atlantic spotted dolphins were seen in the sanctuary during a research trip last summer. They love to play in the wake of moving vessels and sometimes it seems like they show off just for the cameras…🤔

Learn more about the wrecks of Monitor National Marine Sanctuary here: monitor.noaa.gov