Swedish immigrant John Ericsson designed and built the USS Monitor in early 1862, in response to reports that the Confederate Navy was preparing a huge ironclad ship to break the blockade in Cheasapeake Bay.

The result was the world's first combat between ironclad ships, the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia (Merrimac).

This exhibit features a full scale replica of the Monitor's famous turret and part of it's deck, along with a series of panels illustrating technical details of both ships and details of the epic battle.