New 3D Images Reveal Wreck of Iconic Civil War Ship USS Monitor

The wreck of the USS Monitor, a pioneering Civil War ironclad that sank in 1862, is now a thriving underwater ecosystem.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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More than 160 years after the USS Monitor sank off the coast of North Carolina, new 3D images and digital illustrations are offering a detailed look at the iconic Civil War ship that helped shape naval technology and marine architecture in the 19th century. The Monitor, the U.S. Navy's prototype ironclad warship, is now a reef filled with fish and other marine life, located some 240 feet beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean near the Outer Banks.

Why it matters

The USS Monitor was a groundbreaking vessel that revolutionized naval warfare during the Civil War. Its wreck site has become an important underwater archaeological site that provides insights into 19th century shipbuilding and technology, as well as the evolution of the shipwreck into a thriving marine ecosystem.

The details

The 3D images and digital timeline developed by NOAA and Northrop Grumman offer a detailed look at the Monitor's history, from its construction in 1862 to its sinking in a severe storm later that year and its current state as an underwater reef. Advanced sonar technology and an autonomous underwater vehicle were used to produce high-resolution scans of the wreck site, which archaeologists say is in "fantastic shape" despite sitting at the bottom of the ocean for over 160 years.

  • The USS Monitor was launched in January 1862 from Greenpoint, New York.
  • The Monitor engaged in the historic Battle of Hampton Roads against the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia in March 1862.
  • The Monitor sank in a severe storm near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on New Year's Eve in 1862.
  • The wreck of the USS Monitor was discovered by researchers in August 1973.
  • The Monitor wreck site was designated as the country's first national marine sanctuary by NOAA.

The players

USS Monitor

The U.S. Navy's prototype ironclad warship that helped shape naval technology and marine architecture in the 19th century.

CSS Virginia

The Confederate ironclad ship that the USS Monitor was designed to counter during the Civil War.

NOAA

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which manages the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary and collaborated on the new 3D imagery.

Northrop Grumman

The defense contractor that worked with NOAA to develop the interactive digital timeline and produce high-resolution scans of the Monitor wreck site using advanced sonar technology.

Tane Casserley

A maritime archaeologist with the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary who commented on the condition of the wreck.

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What they’re saying

“It's difficult to visit. It's very deep. There's only so much we can do as scuba divers. But now we got this.”

— Tane Casserley, maritime archaeologist (WAVY-TV)

What’s next

The Monitor National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA will continue to explore and study the wreck site, using the new 3D imagery and scans to enhance their understanding of this important historical artifact.

The takeaway

The wreck of the USS Monitor has evolved from a vessel of war to a thriving underwater ecosystem, showcasing how historical shipwrecks can become valuable marine habitats and archaeological sites that provide insights into the past while inspiring future innovation.