Capturing New Views of USS Monitor Through High-Resolution Ocean Mapping

https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/notes/2026/capturing-new-views-of-uss-monitor.html

More than 160 years after it sank off the coast of North Carolina, the ironclad USS Monitor continues to tell new stories from the seafloor. In September 2025, researchers at Monitor National Marine Sanctuary partnered with engineers from Northrop Grumman to complete the highest-resolution scan of the historic shipwreck ever conducted—producing detailed imagery, three-dimensional models, and other digital data products that will soon be shared with the public.

Public Unveiling at The Mariners’ Museum and Park

The new digital products will be unveiled during a public event on March 7, 2026 at The Mariners’ Museum and Park, where visitors will be able to explore USS Monitor through interactive displays and visualizations. The event will highlight how emerging technologies are helping researchers study submerged cultural resources while expanding access to maritime heritage beyond the ocean floor.

By combining advanced mapping tools with NOAA’s long-standing stewardship of Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, the project demonstrates how collaborative science can deepen understanding of historic shipwrecks while connecting science, technology, and maritime heritage.