The Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History will host the upcoming exhibition: “Monitor & Virginia: Ironclads at War,” on display from January 30-May 3. Developed by the Museum, this exhibition will open on Thursday, January 30, at 6pm, with a free public lecture, “An Ironclad Mystery: Faces in History,” by Texas A&M University Nautical Archaeology Program’s Dr. C. Wayne Smith. His presentation will discuss Monitor artifacts, naval records, early photographs, and the artistry of facial reconstruction—and will be followed by an open reception with refreshments and gallery viewing.The Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History will host the upcoming exhibition: “Monitor & Virginia: Ironclads at War,” on display from January 30-May 3. Developed by the Museum, this exhibition will open on Thursday, January 30, at 6pm, with a free public lecture, “An Ironclad Mystery: Faces in History,” by Texas A&M University Nautical Archaeology Program’s Dr. C. Wayne Smith. His presentation will discuss Monitor artifacts, naval records, early photographs, and the artistry of facial reconstruction—and will be followed by an open reception with refreshments and gallery viewing.
Dr. Smith holds the conservation chair for the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, and he also directs the Archaeological Preservation Research laboratory (APRL). APRL is a research laboratory within the Department of Anthropology at Texas A&M, which works closely the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation, the Center for the Study of First Americans and the Department of Anthropology.
Materials on display will include selected items from a number of private collections and displayed publicly for the first time to commemorate the 152nd Anniversary of the Battle of Hampton Roads, March 8-9. Artifacts, photographs, and interpretative text will captivate visitors with details of the battle, the importance of these vessels as feats of naval engineering, and stories of the lives of men who commanded and manned them.
The Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History is committed to promoting science, and cultural and natural history with the integration of art in exhibits and educational programs. This exhibit was made possible in part through Hotel Tax Revenue funded from the City of College Station through the Arts Council of Brazos Valley. The Museum is open to visitors Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-5pm. For more information about exhibits and other displays, events, programs and activities, contact the Museum at (979) 776-2195 or visit www.brazosvalleymuseum.org.
