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The Mariners' Blog

Latest Posts

  • The River, The Reverend, and The Revival

    • Black History
    • Collections
    • Cultural Heritage
    • Photography

    Our Curatorial Team explores the powerful image of a baptism captured in 1914 on the James River in Newport News, VA, shedding light on the deep, enduring connection Black Americans have had with water. Through this historical photograph, we reflect on the rich cultural and spiritual ties to water that have shaped African American history, and how these traditions continue to influence and resonate today.

  • The Battle of Drewry’s Bluff

    • Civil War
    • Military Conflict
    • USS Monitor

    The Battle of Drewry’s Bluff was a dramatic Confederate victory. Richmond was under immediate threat of being captured or at least shelled and destroyed by the Union flotilla, but the cannoneers at Drewry’s Bluff prevented the capital from capture.

  • Little Mariners, Big Potential: Fostering Growth in Early Childhood Education

    • Education

    At The Mariners', one of our top priorities is serving school-aged children. In response to demand, we’ve recently expanded our focus to include PreK students by creating a new Early Childhood Educator position and implementing several enrichment programs crafted to engage our youngest learners.

  • The Pontoon–Hydroplane Boat: A Motor Boat Built on Airplane Principles

    • Collections
    • Cultural Heritage
    • Photography

    Is it a boat? Or an airplane? Perhaps both. Thomas Lake's patented pontoon-hydroplane boat is a testament to the imaginations of past inventors whose ideas paved the way for future vessels.

  • You Say Merrimack, I say Virginia

    • Civil War
    • css virginia
    • Military Conflict
    • USS Monitor

    History lovers have been transfixed for decades by the clash of the ironclads that erupted at the Battle of Hampton Roads. But one question remains unanswered for many: Why do some people refer to CSS Virginia as Merrimac? And what's more: Why is Merrimac sometimes spelled with a "k" at the end and sometimes without?

  • The Congress of Vienna and British Offshore Balancing Strategy  

    • history
    • Military

    Should the US Grand Strategy continue its commitment to European security, or should it be focused elsewhere? Foreign policy and national security experts have debated that question since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. We dive into the history of Offshore Balancing to determine whether this national security strategy is a feasible modern-day solution.

  • Holiday Happenings at The Mariners’

    • Holiday

    Have you been scouring the internet for family-friendly holiday events? Are you searching for meaningful ways to give back to your community? Did you run out of gift ideas for your loved ones? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, look no further — head to The Mariners’ this holiday season!

  • Deserting USS Monitor

    • Civil War
    • Military
    • USS Monitor

    USS Monitor was the strangest warship many sailors had ever seen. While all the enlisted men were volunteers, as soon as some arrived on board, they immediately deserted to “parts unknown.” When the ironclad was repaired in the Washington Navy Yard, the sailors were granted liberty. Many did not return. Not only was Monitor unseaworthy, it was also very uncomfortable, prompting many to desert.

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