Shipwreck · Hatteras Island, North Carolina
USS Monitor
The Union ironclad that fought CSS Virginia at Hampton Roads foundered in a gale while under tow off Cape Hatteras on 31 December 1862, taking 16 of her crew. The upside-down hull lies in about 230 ft (70 m) of water and was located in 1973; it became the first US National Marine Sanctuary in 1975. Her turret, engine and Dahlgren guns were recovered in 1998-2002 and are conserved at The Mariners' Museum.
The Monitor lies inside the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Diving, anchoring and any disturbance of the site need a NOAA permit.
Open in the viewer from Cape Hatteras Lighthouse beach →
Quick facts
| Type | Shipwreck, ironclad warship |
|---|---|
| Lost | 31 December 1862 |
| Charted depth | 70 m (230 ft) below MLLW |
| Position | 35.0020°N, 75.4065°W |
| From Cape Hatteras Lighthouse beach | 30 km (19 mi), bearing 158° SSE |
| Source | NOAA ENC US3SC10M; Curated (NOAA AWOIS / NC DMF / NPS) |
How to see it
Underwater, so there is nothing to see from the shore. From Cape Hatteras Lighthouse beach, 30 km (19 mi) away, CoastFinder draws it below the horizon at its bearing and distance, with its charted depth.
Further reading: USS Monitor on Wikipedia.
Point your phone at the real thing. The CoastFinder app draws this shipwreck over your live camera view from any beach, pier or boat near Hatteras Island, with its distance and depth, and it works with no signal.
Nearby
- Empire GemShipwreck · 31 m · 7.0 km
- TenasShipwreck · 11.4 m · 8.9 km
- Diamond Shoal No. 71Shipwreck · 47.5 m · 11 km
- USS VirginaShipwreck · 31.4 m · 11 km
- USS New JerseyShipwreck · 98.7 m · 11 km
- NorlavoreShipwreck · 47.5 m · 11 km
Not for navigation. Positions and depths come from public charts and records, with their sources named above; they are for looking, not for piloting a boat.