On the morning of March 9, 1862, the Union ironclad Monitor fought the Confederate ironclad Merrimack to a draw in the waters of Hampton Roads, Virginia. This battle became an iconic event of the civil war and in U.S. history. It has been revered and popularized from 1862 to the present day.
While there might not have been a clear winner in the battle–the Monitor certainly won in the world of advertising, entertainment, and consumer goods. People have used the image and idea of the Monitor in some very interesting ways:
Liver problems? Pills as strong as the Monitor could help you there.
Clothes too wrinkled? Try a Monitor iron!
Over the years, armchair warriors have been able to play card games, board games, and now computer games related to the Battle of Hampton Roads. Pea-shooting Monitors and motorized Merrimacks have been popular as well–the first appearing in the 1880s.
The substitution of iron for wood, ca. 1862
A. Dougherty, New York, NY, Manufacturer
Want to recreate the Battle of Hampton Roads at your card table? You could have as early as the summer of 1862 with this whimsical pack that features the Monitor, the Virginia, and other characters.
The Cumberland's Crew' with the Anime Boys
Play video
The Monitor
Companies discovered that the Monitor name could boost product sales–and since the name was not copyrighted, they put it on everything.
NO, REALLY. EVERYTHING.
If you wanted a strong brand identity that conveyed innovation or patriotism, just name it Monitor and you could sell more units or gain more customers. (Select an image to view more detail.)
This New York-based company, run by feminist “Nellie Bly” Seaman after her husband’s death, juxtaposed soft feminine graphics with images of the Monitor to sell their enamel and agateware pots and pans.
It doesn’t take much imagination to see the Monitor’s turret on top of this refrigerator! General Electric sold a million Monitor-top refrigerators while this model was in production (1927-1937). Buyers received a matching kitchen clock with their purchase, and could have matching salt & pepper shakers.
“Small but effective”–just like the Monitor–these little pills could apparently cure anything! Dr. Ray Vaughn Pierce of New York peddled pills and tonics. Ads for products used lots of imagery, appearing in newspapers, magazines, and even on the sides of barns. The Monitor ad was prevalent in 1892.
Learn about the world-famous Civil War ironclads, the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia, in the award-winning exhibition, Ironclad Revolution.
