PS 110 - The Monitor School

THE GREENPOINT MONITOR MUSEUM
"ROAD SHOW"
April 2, 2004

Presented At:

P.S. 110 - "THE MONITOR SCHOOL"

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George, a graduate of PS 110,
learned about the USS Monitor at PS 110 just like
his grandmother, mother and father. They also were
graduates of "The Monitor School".

Do you know what powered the United States Navy's
ships when John Ericsson came to America, in 1839?
WIND.
Yes, the US Navy was still using wooden sailing ships
whose sails depended on the wind for power.

In the 1850's the US Navy included some wooden steam powered frigates
which also had auxiliary sails, but the older wind powered frigates
with their deep draft were still in use.

During the Civil War John Ericsson designed the USS Monitor
which was different from any ship in the Union Navy.
John Ericsson's USS Monitor had a steam engine, shallow draft,
turret, propeller, and was an ironclad.

The Confederate ironclad the CSS Virginia was destroying the
Union's Fleet of wooden sailing ships.

The ironclad USS Monitor saved the Union Navy at
Hampton Roads, Virginia, on March 9, 1862
during the first battle between ironclads.

The USS Monitor's turret has been adapted through the
years with the development of US Naval technology.
John Ericsson would be very happy to see
the turret of the US Barry.

On December 31, 1862 the USS Monitor sunk in a storm.

After many years of searching, in 1973 the Monitor was discovered
16 miles off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina under 230 feet of water.
It lay upside down with the turret under the ship.
The two 11 inch Dahlgren guns were still inside the turret.

In order to protect the Monitor, the site was designated
as the nation's first marine sanctuary on January 30, 1975.
The site is managed by the National Oceanic &Atmospheric Administration.
Over the years artifacts have been recovered from the Monitor
including her turret, steam engine, anchor, propeller, lantern
and miscellaneous smaller items belonging to the crew.

During Expedition 2002, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration together with the
US Navy recovered the USS Monitor's turret for
preservation and future display.

In recognition of The Greenpoint Monitor Museum's efforts
to establish a home for the Museum in Greenpoint, Brooklyn,
officers of the Museum were invited to participate in
NOAA's recovery efforts.

Janice shows class the Expedition 2002 teashirt.

Janice shows the class the flag from Salvage Barge Wotan.

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THE GREENPOINT MONITOR MUSEUM
P.O. Box 220378
Brooklyn, New York 11222-0378
718-383-2637