Condenser Tank Work Posted by
David Krop
05.11.09 @ 9:35am
This week apprentices from Northrop Grumman's Apprentice School are modifying the Monitor's condenser treatment tank by installing a watertight door. This activity will take a week or two and is visible on our web cams. Conservators will begin extensive deconcretion, electrolysis, and disassembly of the condenser once the watertight door is installed. Check our webcams for progress.
Turret Time Posted by
David Krop
05.04.09 @ 10:15am
Conservators are back in the turret tank! Come visit The Mariners' Museum to see conservators removing concreted sediment and molding/casting archaeological features inside Monitor's gun turret. The tank will be drained Monday - Friday from May - July. Stop by for an amazing view of this historic piece of naval history.
Birds-eye view of conservarors in the turret tank.
CSS Virginia Dahlgren commemorative inscription Posted by
Erin Secord
04.30.09 @ 8:28am
Conservators are treating a Dahlgren gun from the CSS Virginia (Merrimack). On loan from the Navy, the gun will be placed on display at The Mariners' Museum CSS Virginia Courtyard.
The first step is to remove the black paint and red primer and replace it with a thinner, more protective coat of enamel paint.
Surface cleaning has revealed the commemorative inscription on the gun's breach. The inscription records the gun's action against the USS Cumberland and USS Congress during the Battle of Hampton Roads. Notice how the person who inscribed the word MERRIMAC ommitted the K.
Monitoring Monitor Artifacts Posted by
David Krop
04.23.09 @ 8:09am
The Conservation department of The Mariners' Museum is responsible for treating over 1,500 artifacts from the USS Monitor. Not every artifact can be treated simultaneously so it is important to monitor their condition to ensure stability. Each week, a trained intern or staff member performs the Wet Storage Monitoring Survey and tracks solution levels, pH, temperature, corrosion potentials, current and voltage, etc. Staff members make appropriate corrections when problems in artifact storage or desalination are identified.
Conservation intern Leanna examining the packing seal while performing the wet storage monitoring survey.
What's been goin' on.... Posted by
Erin Secord
03.25.09 @ 10:49am
We've been busy removing the concretions from a bunch of artifacts the past few weeks. Here's Gary using a hand-held torch to remove concretion from a most mysterious conduit...
