USS Monitor

Civil War · naval innovation · ironclad

Revolutionary iron ship. The USS Monitor was the first ironclad warship ever built for the U.S. Navy, completed in early 1862 during the American Civil War. Its armor-plated design made wooden ships seem old-fashioned overnight.

Spinning turret genius. The Monitor's greatest invention was its revolving turret, a spinning tower on top that held the ship's guns and could rotate to aim in any direction. This design was so smart that it became the model for warships built for decades to come.

Famous battle match. On March 9, 1862, the Monitor fought the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia in the Battle of Hampton Roads. Neither ship could sink the other, but this battle proved that the age of wooden warships had ended forever.

Designed by inventor. A clever American inventor named Theodore Timby designed the Monitor's special turret system. His invention was copied so quickly that an entire class of warships became known as 'monitor' class ships.

Led a revolution. The USS Monitor showed the whole world that ironclad warships were the future of naval warfare. Many countries rushed to build their own iron-plated ships based on the Monitor's successful design.