The Mariners' Museum and the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary

Description of the Wreck of the Monitor

    The Monitor lies upside down with the port stern supported by the turret, which is also upside down. A large portion of the stern armor belt was missing when the wreck was discovered. The propeller and the rudder assemblies were present, although extensive damage to the area was apparent. Scientists who examined the photographic evidence concluded it was unlikely that the kind of damage visible at the stern, particularly the destruction of a large section of armor belt, was caused by the sinking alone. It was also unlikely that natural deterioration could account for the damage. Conversations with the navy confirmed that depth charging had taken place during World War II in the area where the Monitor was located. Enough information was provided by the navy to suggest that much of the observed damage was probably the result of human activity rather than the sinking or natural deterioration.

    In the vicinity of the turret, deck plates have been dislodged. Behind the turret the deck has separated and armor plates hang suspended by deteriorated fittings. Forward of the turret, armor plates are generally in their original position.

    Structurally the remains of the turret appear in excellent condition. The turret is oriented so that the two gun ports are under the wreck. The gun ports remain closed by heavy wrought-iron pendulums that protected the ordnance and gun crews from hostile fire and that were dogged in position except while in combat. Wood bucklers that covered gun ports while the ship was under way are missing, although the pendulums that held them in place were observed intact, protruding from holes in the ports. A test excavation within the bottom of the turret in 1993 revealed that the floor has deteriorated and the turret is filled with sand.

    Machinery located in the after extremity of the lower hull appears to be in a good state of preservation, although obscured by fouling organisms. The lower portions of Ericsson's complex vibrating-lever engine are visible above the sediment that has accumulated on the overhead. The remains of the governor and the water condenser or freshwater distillation plant have been observed on the port side. The serpentine-spoked wheel that changed the relationship of valves in the main steam chest to provide forward and reverse has been observed forward of the engine. On the starboard side of the engine, a stairway with five steps has also been observed. Aft of the stairway and adjacent to the armor belt on both the port and starboard side of the engineering space, donkey engines and associated pumps or blowers were identified.

    The boilers appear to be in good condition, although they appear to have separated from the foundations, rupturing some of the piping. Inspection plates, firebox doors, and access to ash pits have all been observed. Inboard of both the port and starboard armor belts, coal from deteriorated bunkers located adjacent to the boilers obstructs passage from the galley to the engineering space aft of the boilers.

    The midships bulkhead has collapsed, as has the lower hull forward of the bulkhead. Displaced frames, stanchions, and plates are visible in the wreck. Immediately forward of the midships bulkhead and inboard of the port armor belt, a large rupture has been observed in the deck. Exposed deck beams and planking show extensive shipworm damage. Material from deteriorated storage cabinets adjacent to the armor belt, portions of the bulkhead plating, and remains of cabinetry have all been observed in that area. Adjacent to the damaged area, armor plates have separated from the wooden deck structure.

    At the bow, the anchor well and the mechanism inside are clearly visible. The anchor chain can be seen on the starboard side of the anchor well, leading across the starboard side of the wreck and into the sand below.

    With the exception of a missing section at the stern, the port armor belt is intact and provides support for most of the wreck. The starboard armor belt is visible for approximately 20 feet at the bow before it disappears into the sand that covers the starboard side of the wreck. Data from an excavation on the Monitor in 1979 and from other shipwreck projects suggest that the starboard side, protected from the elements by its covering of sand, is in better condition than the visible portions of the wreck. The starboard stern is party visible above the bottom and a section of the armor belt is missing from that area as well.

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The Monitor Today

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Chronology of the Rediscovery of the USS Monitor
NOAA-Sponsored/-Permitted Expeditions to the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary
The Monitor Collection