Today, I decided to take it a little easy, so I just went to the Mariner’s Museum in Newport News. I was drawn here initially, because they actually have parts from the U.S.S. Monitor, which is the U.S. Navy’s first ironclad vessel. It brought several ideas together that would change naval warfare, such as a low profile, and guns in a turret that could fire in any direction, regardless of the ships orientation. The museum was pretty cool, because they discussed maritime practices and tools from man’s first sea voyages till today. I am proud to say, that this museum actually gives credit to non-European cultures, such as the Polynesians, Chinese, Arabs, and Africans. They also have models of many ships, either actual ships, or examples of a type of ship. These models are built there at the museum, and apparently you can watch the model maker at work. They had a model of the first aircraft carrier (vintage Civil War, carried an observation balloon and had equipment to fill it with lighter-than-air gas). One hall was devoted to the Monitor vs. Merrimac fight, the first battle between ironclads in the world. This included full size models of at least portions of the two ships.
Clockwise from top: Two cannon that were part of the defenses of Havana, Cuba while Spain controlled it (manufactured in the early 1500’s); an actual cannon from the C.S.S. Virginia (commonly called the Merrimac), it was hit by a round from the U.S.S. Congress, I believe, and replaced that night, before the battle with the Monitor; what it may have looked like if you were watching the finishing touches of the construction of the C.S.S. Virginia; the actual turret of the Monitor; a replica (I’m guessing life-size?) of the U.S.S. Monitor.
Getting back to the turret, I know it’s not much to see, but it did spend about 150 years under the ocean. It will sit in this tank, probably for years, having the salt and other chemicals leached out of the iron, so that when they are done, it can be in the air without crumbling away. Otherwise, we would lose this historic treasure. I hope I can come back and see it when it is ready to display.
I then went to dinner at a place called “Harpoon Larry’s Fish House and Oyster Bar”. I decided to splurge a little and ordered the shrimp and grits. They were very good (sorry, no pictures, I know you’re heartbroken). I then decided to do something very out of character for me, I ordered dessert. They had Key Lime Pie, which my server assured me was made with real key limes. I don’t know, but it was very good.
Happy Road-Tripping!
Ramblings of a Wandering Man 