Gratuitous Civil War Geekery Posting

Coolness. It's the USS Monitor Center, newly opened down in Newport News. There's a very enthusiastic write-up in OpinionJournal this morning:

I've visited great military and maritime exhibits from Paris, France, to Parris Island, but the USS Monitor Center is the most remarkable, informative and downright exciting history-museum experience I've ever had, with just the right combination of art, artifacts and technology. Curator Anna Gibson Holloway, her museum colleagues and the other consultants and collaborators are to be congratulated, including John B. Hightower, the museum's recently retired president and CEO, who oversaw much of the project. And the exhibition's Web site, www.monitorcenter.org, is a model resource.

SOOPER-SEKRET MESSAGE TO THE MISSUS: Honey, I think it's time the gels starting getting some hands-on learning about naval history. Hint, hint.

UPDATE: Bryan at Sanctuary reminds me about the H.L. Hunley replica at the Charleston Museum. I gather that as the original Hunley is gradually cleaned and reconstructed, more exhibits about this fascinating Confederate submarine will be opened.