Recovering the Turret of the USS Monitor

CAPE FEAR CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE FEATURES THE STORY OF THE RECOVERY OF THE USS MONITOROn March 12, the Cape Fear Civil War Round Table will host Doug Kesling—a member of the team that raised the turret and other artifacts of the iconic USS Monitor from the waters off Cape Hatteras, the “Graveyard of the Atlantic,”—will tell the story of the amazing and historically important achievement.On December 31, 1862, USS Monitor was caught in a storm and sank 16 nautical miles off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, in more than 230 feet of water. It is believed the vessel went down stern first, turning over so that its revolutionary 120-ton revolving gun turret separated and became pinned under the ship on the seafloor. Monitor’s remains were discovered in 1973, confirmed in 1974, and in 1975 the wreck was placed under the jurisdiction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with the establishment of the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.Archaeological investigations and recovery of small objects began in the 1970s and into the early 1980s. The first artifact found was the turret’s red signal lantern – the last thing the crew saw before the ship sank beneath the waves! Other artifacts recovered included wood fragments, a glass jar full of relish, and Monitor’s anchor. In 1987, recognizing these artifacts needed a home, The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, Virginia, was designated as the repository for their management and curation.Doug Kesling, from UNCW's Center for Marine Science (1990-2011) served as the mission coordinator and Diving Safety Officer for the self-contained, NOAA civilian diving team operation during a 12-year period. Doug is a native of the “Birthplace of Aviation”—Dayton Ohio. Dayton, of course, was the home of the Wright Brothers who first achieved manned flight in Kitty Hawk on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Doug attended Wright State University in Ohio and received a bachelor's in nursing got a masters in liberal studies from UNCW. He learned to dive in Ohio and worked extensively with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Department of Commerce.The March 12 meeting begins at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30. Come and hear the story of the recovery of the Monitor. As usual, the meeting will be held in Elebash Hall at the rear of St. John’s Episcopal Church at 1219 Forest Hills Drive in Wilmington. The centrally located meeting place is near Independence Mall. The church parking lot and entrance to the meeting room is easily accessed via Park Avenue off of Independence Boulevard. All are welcome. For more information about membership, check out the Round Table’s website at www.cfcwrt.org/ See you there!