For Students

Students map aftifacts — Students map artifacts from a mock shipwreck. Photo: Monitor Collection

Hey kids! If you are interested in the USS Monitor, marine life, or just fascinated by shipwrecks, this is the place for you!

Did you know that the USS Monitor is one of the most famous warships of all time? That it was the Union's first ironclad and was built in only 100 days? That it sank off the North Carolina coast in 1862 during a violent storm? That it sits in 240 feet of water and acts as an artificial reef? These are just a few of the fun facts and information you can learn by exploring the activities below. So dive on in and have a good time exploring!

The USS Monitor and NOAA: A Look Through Time Video

Travel back to 1862 in this educational video to learn how the USS Monitor turned the tide of the Civil War. Learn about the discovery of the shipwreck in 1973, the site's designation as the first national marine sanctuary, and the recovery of major iconic artifacts and how they are being conserved today. Included are efforts to identify two Monitor sailors' remains and their burial at Arlington National Cemetery. Funding for this video was provided in part by NOAA & The Preserve America Initiative.

Watch the video on YouTube

USS Monitor Legacy

Kids be sure to click on the link above to check out the USS Monitor Legacy website for exciting information about the USS Monitor and its crew.

NOAA Live! Webinar Series: USS Monitor: Heavy Metal on the High Seas

Learn the history of the USS Monitor and how NOAA works to protect its legacy and honor the men who served on it.

Fun Activities for All Ages

The Civil War in Review Crossword Puzzle

Use the knowledge you learned about the Civil War to complete the crossword puzzle.

Monitor Bingo

Test your knowledge of the USS Monitor and try to answer all the questions in a row or diagonal to win at this Bingo game.

Test Your USS Monitor Knowledge

See how many correct answers you can get on this crossword puzzle.

Tour the Wreck of the USS Monitor

Monitor National Marine Sanctuary protects the wreck of the famed Civil War ironclad, USS Monitor. Explore Monitor as it exists today through this interactive map.

Careers in Marine Science

Unlock secrets in the deep ocean, track rapidly moving storms, operate state-of-the-art environmental satellites, chart the nation's waterways, formulate models to forecast climate trends, protect and preserve our living marine resources. It is all in a day's work at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – a career that makes a world of difference!