The Excavation, Conservation, Storage, and Display of Rubber Artifacts Recovered From the USS Monitor (1862)

Abstract

In joint research efforts between the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Navy, and the Mariners' Museum, more than 50 rubber artifacts have been recovered from the rotating gun turret and steam engine of the USS Monitor. These rubber items include a glass jar seal, a comb, uniform buttons, and pipe gaskets. Waterlogged rubber artifacts from a highly saline environment present a unique opportunity for examining current conservation issues such as handling, treatment, and storage of rubber objects manufactured during the Civil War. Research into conservation treatments, such as chemical cleaning and electrophoresis, was conducted to determine the efficacy of specific methods to remove chlorides and corrosion products. Oxygen-free storage, using the Mitsubishi RP System, was elected as a preventive conservation step. The opening of the USS Monitor Center, a state-of-the-art laboratory and exhibition gallery for objects from the Monitor, has afforded the opportunity to increase public awareness of conservation processes through interactive exhibits and laboratory viewing stations.