I have to make a note of technological importance before I get into the details of my day. One of the things that irks me about my otherwise wonderful camera is that it has to be plugged into the computer to transfer photos over. If I forget to eject it and turn the camera off, the battery becomes drained very quickly. Plus, I’ve been known to forget the transfer cord. It would be so much easier to be able to put the memory card directly into the computer.
The problem is that Apple is always ahead of its time and the 17″ Macbook Pro does not have a slot for memory cards but rather an ‘Express Port’. That port is versatile and can hold a number of cards that do different functions. One of those cards is a memory card reader. I couldn’t justify buying the card just to transfer my camera pictures over. But now I have a wand scanner and a cell phone with memory cards, too, so in the interest of saving my sanity from cord overload, I went ahead and got a card for my Express port that can read memory cards
. The card was just $10. The last time I looked at getting one they were $50, so please don’t call me cheap. 😉
Below are the photos transferred over to my computer in this method. I am never going back to cords; this is so much easier!
So today. I glanced through all my tourist info material for the area and determined that whatever was open on a Sunday was only open noon to five. So I decided to pick an activity that could occupy the whole afternoon rather than trying to squeeze in a bunch of things. I’d been wanting to drive the James River Bridge on my own, so I decided to look up Newport News attractions on Trip Advisor and see if anything fit the bill.
The number one attraction was the Mariners’ Museum. The comments were consistent: amazing and so much to see that most didn’t have time to do it all. Add to that my interest in the topic and my desire to see the USS Monitor‘s turret and this was an activity tailor made for my day. Oh, and I found a coupon for $1 off admission in my Newport News guidebook!
The Mariners’ Museum is actually several museums. There is a section devoted to maritime history in the Chesapeake region. The main attraction is the exhibit about the USS Monitor. I won’t pretend to being an expert on this part of US history, but I knew what I was getting into. The USS Monitor was an ironclad Union ship that went head to head against the Confederate CSS Virginia during the American Civil War. The battle was a draw, but it changed naval warfare. There is a lot more to the story than that, but I definitely went in knowing more than the average visitor to the museum. There is also a section about cartography, the Battle of Trafalgar, the American Cup, and the Titanic. Next are two model ship exhibits. Next to last, there is an impressive collection of boats from around the world. Finally, there are some exterior exhibits, including a replica of the USS Monitor, and a lovely 5 mile trail around Lake Maury.
I arrived around 12:30 and by the time I felt I’d seen everything it was 4:30!!! I decided to go for a brisk walk around the lake to make up for being indoors all afternoon. That walk was a balm to my soul, scented with honeysuckle and oh-so-pretty.
There was way too much information today to do justice to the museum. I’ve put some information below the pictures, but you’ll have to do your own research for more details. Or come to Newport News and see this incredible museum for yourself!
While I studied the American Civil War in university, I have to say that having read Gone With the Wind gave me more context to the history of this part of Virginia. I don’t think you need to know anything going in to appreciate the museum, but if you don’t and find yourself interested, you might not have time to get through all the material.
random “my boy is hilarious” pic
James River Bridge
James River Bridge
James River Bridge
James River Bridge
Newport News
Mariners’ Museum
lovely grounds
I first encountered this type of lighthouse at Heceta in Oregon
I first encountered this type of lighthouse at Heceta in Oregon
18th century drafting tools
18th century drafting tools (shark skin case)
no ship building guilds meant innovation could flourish
the legendary Blackbeard, a pirate
map of the region showing Chesapeake Bay
we have yet to invent a machine that can shuck oysters as effectively as does a human
oyster shuckers stood in these boxes
oyster shuckers stood in these boxes
clams are left in clean water for two weeks to remove impurities before being brought to market
wooden ship innards
ironclad innards
when a commercial ship enters Chesapeake waters, it must surrender command to a local experienced commander who climbs up one of these ladders
when a commercial ship enters Chesapeake waters, it must surrender command to a local experienced commander
heading up to assume command
an 1897 log book, “Crew all well and employed”
May 18th, 1897
notice the date, 128 years from when the US became independent
giant ship’s wheel
combine your automobile tour with a pleasant steamer trip
this steamer trip menu looks delicious
varsity rowers had to wear a special uniform and there were strict rules for girls
typical boat school boys would have rowed
satellite image of the Chesapeake region
I was impressed that this image was taken in the ’80s
USS Lancaster Eagle Figurehead
USS Lancaster Eagle Figurehead
entering the USS Monitor exhibits
the first artifact found was the anchor
the first artifact found was the anchor
letter from a USS Monitor officer to his wife
he begged her for a picture until she sent him this one
entrance to the exhibit about the Monitor in pop culture
news article claiming the Monitor was fine, when it soon floundered into the depths of Cape Hatteras
the name Monitor was used for advertising
Welcome to the world of Monitor madness
points about a GE refrigerator; I like the “electric, so modern” comment
all about this innovative fridge design
refrigerator with the mechanism located at the top and with legs “for easy cleaning”
more about the Monitor Top fridge
funny cartoon: “a bad day on a boat is still better than a good day at work” “you must really hate work”
scenes from this movie were played
scene from Hearts in Bondage
information about a lovely mixed-medium painting
“The Battle of Hampton Roads”
one of the Monitor’s nicknames made me laugh, “cheesebox on a raft”
the fates of the Virginia and Monitor
I thought this effect of walking over water was neat
just one gorgeous exhibit after another
a Korean turtle ship, perhaps the first ‘ironclad’
about the turtle ship
it was only after the Industrial Revolution that enough metal could be produced to clad ships in iron
The first ironclad? (ie. the turtle ship)
life aboard ship was crowded and segregated
ironclads meant the end of close naval warfare where enemy ships were boarded
“I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free.” A. Lincoln
Agriculture vs. industry. This was the most basic difference between the south and north.
the south was aristocratic while the north favoured free enterprise
the south felt that the states had more rights while the north felt that the Union should take precedence
was slavery right or wrong?
slavery was a hot political issue
“the incommunicable experience of war”
Gosport Navy Yard
Gosport Navy Yard
the Blockade
the strategic significance of Hampton Roads
escape Virginian slaves were deemed contraband of war and not returned to their owners after Virginia seceded
Gosport Navy Yard
Gosport Navy Yard
this fun interactive exhibit had us designing our own ironclad
I used what I’d learned from the exhibit and built the perfect ship on my first try!
will it float?
about my ironclad
more about my ironclad
I picked big armaments
I used what I’d learned from the exhibit and built the perfect ship on my first try!
I used what I’d learned from the exhibit and built the perfect ship on my first try!
I used what I’d learned from the exhibit and built the perfect ship on my first try!
I used what I’d learned from the exhibit and built the perfect ship on my first try!
the USS Awesome!
I used what I’d learned from the exhibit and built the perfect ship on my first try!
I used what I’d learned from the exhibit and built the perfect ship on my first try!
I used what I’d learned from the exhibit and built the perfect ship on my first try!
it took 100 days to build a warship
giant propeller
doctor’s cozy quarters
the Monitor had a lovely interior
rosewood, black walnut, damask, lace…
cozy
the USS Monitor had flush toilets!
both north and south claimed victory, but it was a draw
giant ship’s wheel
enlisted crew schedule
enlisted crew schedule
the food wasn’t always palatable but, “a good apatite makes up for that. Mustard too.” LOL!!!
mustard and salt bottles
archaeology of the Monitor’s turret
replica of the Monitor’s turret, as it was found
replica of the Monitor’s turret, as it was found
human bones
replica of the Monitor’s turret, as it was found
an upside down time capsule
replica of the Monitor’s turret, as it was found
replica of the Monitor’s turret, as it was found
looking out to the replica of the Monitor
replica of the mechanism that made the turret spin
two bodies were found in the turret
this ring was on the hand of one of the skeletons; it had no identifying marks
about the gold ring
this spider-like device pulled the Monitor’s turret out of the ocean
about the “spider”
about the “spider”
the “spider”
standing on the deck of the Monitor replica
standing on the deck of the Monitor replica
standing on the deck of the Monitor replica
lovely grounds
lovely grounds
standing on the deck of the Monitor replica
I wonder if he would have worn a shirt had he known what would happen to this photo!
the Monitor’s engines were horizontal so the ship did not need to be so tall as others
glass plate showing the engines
more about the engines
since the living quarters were underwater, the ship needed flush toilets
the assistant surgeon had trouble with the head and turned it into a fountain!
the assistant surgeon had trouble with the head and turned it into a fountain!
the mechanism that spun the turret
shrunk down plan of the Monitor
shrunk down plan of the Monitor
below the replica of the Monitor
you can see the turret (sort of) in the lab
new discoveries in the lab
you can see the turret (sort of) in the lab
you can see the turret (sort of) in the lab
I’m sorry that I’m a couple of weeks early for this exhibit
about the art of cartography
a 17th-century map of the world (no Antartica)
about the map
EXPLOITING new worlds
for the KING (LOL)
Le cap. Jacques (James) Cook
Le cap. Jacques (James) Cook
The Nelson Touch
qualities of a great leader
another gorgeous exhibit
surgical kit
surgical instruments (shudder)
list of equipment (in French)
a group of sheep led by a lion can win, but a group of lions led by a sheep is likely to lose
another lovely exhibit
inside the ship
I am at the hotel again tonight and will be going home in the morning after checking out since my room isn’t available past tomorrow. However, there are other vacancies now this week, so I have reserved another room for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. I am thrilled seeing as the next closest hotel to my friend’s place is in Suffolk, meaning an extra half hour from the rig. This hotel is just over an hour away.
