I am still not sure whether they just kept the tank drained for the two months or if they drained it and refilled it each day.
This turret was significant as it marked the first time in history that a warship could fire in any direction without turning the whole ship. Ships up until then relied on cannons in mass along the sides (broadsides) of the vessel. Any change of direction required the whole ship to move. Plus, the guns on the other side could not be made to bear on the enemy.
Even the first Confederate ironclad the Monitor fought, the CSS Virginia, relied on guns in broadside.
The turret and other parts of the Monitor (the hull was left in place as it was determined to be too fragile to attempt moving it) were raised in 2002 and immediately moved to the Mariners Museum where it was kept in the giant tank of water ever since.
Had the salt-soaked iron been allowed to dry out quickly, it would rust and disintegrate. Officials estimate that it will be another 15 years before it can be permanently dry displayed.
More to Come. --Old B-R'er
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Showing posts with label Mariners Museum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mariners Museum. Show all posts
Saturday, September 3, 2011
USS Monitor's Turret Tank Drained-- Part 1
From the July 19th Virginian-Pilot "USS Monitor's tank drained for public display" by Teresa Annas.
This past July and August, the tank in which the innovative turret of the famous ship had rested while destructive salt was removed was drained for some real up and personal work.
Visitors to the Mariners Museum in Newport News, Virginia can watch from a viewing platform above it, only now, they get a much better view of it since the water has been drained. (I had really hoped to get a chance to see the turret out of the water, but was unable to get there on my August trip.)
You can also view it online.
A small decorative star-shaped piece of metal was found, perhaps a kurb.
Workers in the now-drained tank said it smelled like decaying sea life in the turret, but after awhile, they barely notice the aroma.
Gary Paden is an objects handler and was gently nudging, hour-after-hour, a wrought iron stanchion from the nine-foot tall turret. (At this point, I was wondering what a stanchion was.) It turns out the stanchions rimmed the roof of the turret and held up a canvas awning for shade during the summer. (If the turret is upside-down, I wonder how they got at the stanchion.)
The stanchions need to be removed and treated separately.
(I sure would have been happy to volunteer for this job. Talk about your history!)
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
This past July and August, the tank in which the innovative turret of the famous ship had rested while destructive salt was removed was drained for some real up and personal work.
Visitors to the Mariners Museum in Newport News, Virginia can watch from a viewing platform above it, only now, they get a much better view of it since the water has been drained. (I had really hoped to get a chance to see the turret out of the water, but was unable to get there on my August trip.)
You can also view it online.
A small decorative star-shaped piece of metal was found, perhaps a kurb.
Workers in the now-drained tank said it smelled like decaying sea life in the turret, but after awhile, they barely notice the aroma.
Gary Paden is an objects handler and was gently nudging, hour-after-hour, a wrought iron stanchion from the nine-foot tall turret. (At this point, I was wondering what a stanchion was.) It turns out the stanchions rimmed the roof of the turret and held up a canvas awning for shade during the summer. (If the turret is upside-down, I wonder how they got at the stanchion.)
The stanchions need to be removed and treated separately.
(I sure would have been happy to volunteer for this job. Talk about your history!)
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
Monday, January 31, 2011
USS Monitor Engine, It's the Real Deal-- Part 2
The work on the concretion is slow and tedious at best with every effort being made to avoid damaging the engine in any way. So far, they have stripped more than two tons of the stuff off in the first week's work.
The Monitor sank on Dec. 31, 1862, in a storm off North Carolina's Cape Hatteras.
"This is a technological marvel. It was cutting edge for its day. But what's really neat is revealing all the wheels, oil cups, valves and other parts that the Monitor's crew used to operate the engine," said conservation project manager Dave Krop.
The Monitor's vibrating side-lever engine was much smaller and more compact than engines on steamers of the era.
You can go to the USS Monitor Center to keep updated. Make sure you check out the blog.
Glad Some Parts of the Ship Will Be Saved. --Old B-R'er
The Monitor sank on Dec. 31, 1862, in a storm off North Carolina's Cape Hatteras.
"This is a technological marvel. It was cutting edge for its day. But what's really neat is revealing all the wheels, oil cups, valves and other parts that the Monitor's crew used to operate the engine," said conservation project manager Dave Krop.
The Monitor's vibrating side-lever engine was much smaller and more compact than engines on steamers of the era.
You can go to the USS Monitor Center to keep updated. Make sure you check out the blog.
Glad Some Parts of the Ship Will Be Saved. --Old B-R'er
USS Monitor Engine Returns to Civil War Appearance-- Part 1
From the December 10, 2010, Daily Press.
The last time anyone set eyes on the engine the way it looks today was back on Christmas Eve 1862, a total of nearly 148 years ago.
Back in 2001, the engine, turret and other parts of the Monitor were brought up from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. The years had produced a thick layer of marine concretion. Sand, mud and corrosion had combined with minerals to cover every feature of Swedish-born John Ericsson's ingenuous 30-ton machine.
For the past nine years, the engine sat in a tank receiving a desalination treatment.
Earlier in the week, conservators at the Mariners Museum and USS Monitor Center drained the 35,000 gallon tank and began the intensive removal of the 2-3-inch concretion with hammers, chisels and other hand tools.
Remove That Crud!! --Old B-Runner
The last time anyone set eyes on the engine the way it looks today was back on Christmas Eve 1862, a total of nearly 148 years ago.
Back in 2001, the engine, turret and other parts of the Monitor were brought up from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. The years had produced a thick layer of marine concretion. Sand, mud and corrosion had combined with minerals to cover every feature of Swedish-born John Ericsson's ingenuous 30-ton machine.
For the past nine years, the engine sat in a tank receiving a desalination treatment.
Earlier in the week, conservators at the Mariners Museum and USS Monitor Center drained the 35,000 gallon tank and began the intensive removal of the 2-3-inch concretion with hammers, chisels and other hand tools.
Remove That Crud!! --Old B-Runner
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