In this blog post we’ll continue the discussion about one of USS Monitor’s gun cleaning tools, and the conservation treatment it has undergone.

The small craft collection contains a diverse variety of vessels ranging in size, shape, function, and source culture. Because the Museum’s small craft originate from such a variety of contexts, each boat comes to the Museum with its own quirks and challenges resulting from its history of use. To get a better understanding of the collection, its condition issues, and its needs, it is necessary to evaluate each small craft, one-by-one.

Learn more about the treatment and analysis of a Ship’s Medical Chest from c.1860. The results of analysis will be used to inform safe handling and storage of the chest.

After a quick trip to the conservation lab, this makeshift muzzle was photographed and seen in a whole new light- literally. A series of images were taken of the label with varying infrared filtration to hone in on just the right wavelengths to best see ‘through’ the old varnish.

See how we made secret Valentine's using invisible ink!

We’ve spent quite a bit of time over the last year or so researching treatment options for the Princess Carolina timbers that have acidic areas.

The Mariners' Staff Photographers share their favorite photos they created for The Mariners' Museum and Park in 2020.

Kress Conservation Fellow shares details on the timber work and leather work in the conservation of Princess Carolina, a transatlantic trading vessel.

The archaeological conservators worked together, separately, to finish work on all of the USS Monitors' rope fragments.

Analysis is an important part of conservation because identifying specific materials in an artifact helps us better understand how an artifact degrades, its history, and much more. For La Isabel, we were interested in learning more about two specific materials: wood and fibers.