Hampton, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

USS Monitor

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, August 9, 2025

1. USS Monitor Marker

Inscription. Launched in January 1862, the USS Monitor successfully fought in the Battle of Hampton roads on March 9 and sank on December 31 the same year. One-hundred and twelve sailors and crew served on this remarkable iron-clad vessel, which ushered in the age of modern naval warfare with its revolving gun turret.

In 1975 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration designated the USS Monitor wreck as the nation's first national marine sanctuary. In 2002, when the turret was recovered from the sea floor off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, the remains of two sailors were discovered inside.

This memorial, dedicated on the 150th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Monitor, honors all the men who served on this historic Civil War vessel and the 16 brave men who lost their lives that stormy December night.

Dedicated December 2012

Erected 2012.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is March 9, 1862.

Location. 37° 1.097′ N, 76° 20.06′ W. Memorial is in Hampton, Virginia. It can be reached from Cemetery Road south of Marshall Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Marker is in

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Hampton National Cemetery on the grounds of Hampton University. Visitors much check in with their vehicles at the guardhouse on Norma B. Harvey Road to access the cemetery. Memorial is at the back (south end) of the cemetery. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 1 Cemetery Rd, Hampton VA 23669, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is on the Peninsula

and in Coastal Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Union Soldiers Monument (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cemetery (about 400 feet away); A National Cemetery System (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hampton National Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Ultimate Sacrifice (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hampton VAMC National Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Academy (approx. ¼ mile away); Samuel Chapman Armstrong (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hampton.

Also see . . . Hampton National Cemetery. National Cemetery Administration (Submitted on September 4, 2025.)

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, August 9, 2025

2. USS Monitor Marker

In context. The cemetery entrance is in the distance beyond the flagpole. The Union Monument is the large obelisk at center distant. The USS Monitor memorial is in the center foreground, mounted at an angle on a stone backing.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 168 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 3, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.