It was certainly the most important naval technological development of the 19th century worldwide. John D. Broadwater, manager of the Monitor sanctuary, said the legendary ship was fading fast. It's taken us a long time to work up to the word crisis. You don't want to do the Chicken Little thing. But I think we honestly have a crisis on our hands.
Every season counts.
We have to assume that any season could be our last. The Monitor was a marvel of technology when first sent to sea. Still, she was but one of a growing number of ships clad in armor plating, though clearly the best of her kind and arguably the most advanced fighting ship of her day. Among her innovations were the world's first revolving naval gun turret and one of the first propellers. Low in the water, the Monitor also had one of the first flush toilets on a ship and was apparently the first to have all crew members quartered below the waterline.