Due to the sanctuary's offshore location and USS Monitor's depth, it can be difficult for the majority of the public to visit Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. However, through the sanctuary's activities, curriculum and immersive experiences, you can experience Monitor's rich history. At our official visitor center, The Mariners' Museum and Park, located in Newport News, Virginia, you can view hundreds of recovered artifacts and historic documents; observe the turret, steam engine, and other large artifacts under conservation; walk on a full-size Monitor replica; explore the USS Monitor Center; and more.
If you're visiting the Outer Banks in North Carolina, several partnering museums have exhibits that tell the sanctuary's story. The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras, North Carolina, offers exhibits on the sanctuary's research and artifact conservation efforts. If visiting the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island be sure to catch a live dive show at the Graveyard of the Atlantic tank that houses a one-third scale model of Monitor. If you are visiting the southern part of the state, check out the exhibits at the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort, where you will also find one of the Monitor Trail signs dedicated to the discovery of the Monitor shipwreck.
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