The Confederate ironclad that fought in Hampton Roads on March 8-9, 1862 had a mixed armament of shell guns, rifled guns, hot shot guns, howitzers, and a ram. This ship was designed to destroy Union wooden warships using these weapons, and successfully did so on March 8. Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen Russell Mallory and Naval Scientist Lieutenant John Mercer Brooke were two of the masterminds behind the outfitting of the well-equipped ironclad. 

When planning this year’s Gallery Crawl I decided to include a station focusing on a well-known seafaring tradition: the line crossing ceremony. If you’re asking yourself “what the hell is a line crossing ceremony?” and are planning to attend the Crawl let me just say you are in for a real treat!

Enjoy a fun round-up of our photographer's favorite photos from 2022!

Learn the amazing story of the British Royal Navy’s fortification and occupation of Diamond Rock, a small island off the coast of Martinique, during the Napoleonic War.

At the onset of the Civil War, General Winfield Scott noted that a Union victory could be achieved by controlling the Mississippi River. Scott believed the entire Mississippi Valley could be controlled using only 12 to 20 gunboats and 60,000 soldiers. More resources would eventually be needed; however, the Federals ultimately enabled, as President Abraham Lincoln said, the ‘Father of All Rivers to flow unvexed to the sea.’

Who was Marcus Garvey? Learn more about his significance not only to Black history and the world, but specifically to Newport News.

A look back at the 1783 eruption of the Lakagígar fissure and Grímsvötn volcano in Iceland and its effect on several European cities in the winter of 1783-1784 and the world’s climate.

Brigadier General Ambrose E. Burnside’s invasion of the North Carolina inland seas was a major success. In seven days, Burnside, with the support of Flag Officer L.M. Goldsborough’s naval forces, had captured Currituck, Albemarle, Roanoke, and Croatan Sounds. This placed Burnside’s army in a position to capture his next objective, New Bern, North Carolina.

Just hours away from reinforcing Ft. Sumter and hours away from saving Gosport Navy Yard, USS Pawnee eventually became a valuable blockader. This steam screw gunboat was involved in several major operations with the Atlantic Blockading Squadron, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and South Atlantic Blockading Squadron until the war’s end.