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CNN Live Today

Interview with John Hightower

Aired August 06, 2002 - 13:35   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Scientists and seamen are celebrating the success of a deep-sea salvage operation, the world's first revolving gun turret has been hauled to the surface after nearly 140 years on the ocean floor. It was a key feature in the sunken Civil War vessel, the USS Monitor.

For more on this, we are joined by John Hightower, president and CEO of the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, Virginia. He joins us live from Virginia Beach -- good to see you, sir.

JOHN HIGHTOWER, PRESIDENT, MARINER'S MUSEUM: Good to be here.

PHILLIPS: Well, let's talk about this gun turret. Give us a little background on why this is so exciting for all of you at the museum.

HIGHTOWER: It has got to be one of the most exciting days in the history of the Mariner's Museum. This gun turret is the really signature icon of the famous ironclad USS Monitor, which fought the duel of Hampton Roads with the CSS Virginia, probably better known as the Merrimac, and fought to a draw, but in a single day rendered all of the navies of the entire world obsolete. And it was a fantastic invention by its maker, John Ericsson, because the turret revolved on a platform. You didn't have to maneuver the ship into position in order to fire the guns.

PHILLIPS: So how did this revolving gun turret affect the outcome of the mission here, and this battle that ensued?

HIGHTOWER: Well, the first battle of Hampton Roads, of course, it protected the Union blockade of the Southern ports. And really was essential to the outcome and the swift outcome of the Civil War. The mission of bringing the turret up off of the ocean floor is another whole piece of this amazing history, and the Mariner's Museum is lucky enough to have the turret presented to it in a formal ceremony on Saturday, this coming Saturday, when it can be seen by the public at the Mariner's Museum.

PHILLIPS: So basically, it was the support system for the cannons then, is that right?

HIGHTOWER: Yes, it was. And the two cannons, there were just two cannons in the turret, great 11-inch Dahlgren guns that carried a real wallop, and could fire a distance of about two miles. But the shells of the Monitor just careened off the casemate (ph) siding of the CSS Virginia and that's -- that was why it was so remarkable, because it was a draw, and yet it changed naval history forever.

PHILLIPS: Wow. So what else can you learn from this? I mean, are you -- can you sort of go back and see maybe how technology has evolved, maybe something that they were on to at this time, contributed to what we see gunners with nowadays?

HIGHTOWER: Oh, real good question. The low profile of the Monitor we have seen repeated in generation after generation of navy fighting ships, not the least of which are the submarines of today's navy, with their minimalist profile on the water. And the Monitor sure qualified for that. There was something like 250 inventions on the Monitor, 45 of which were in the turret itself.

PHILLIPS: Gosh. John Hightower, president and CEO of the Mariner's Museum at Newport News, Virginia. When will folks be able to come and see this at your museum?

HIGHTOWER: As soon as we get it into this ruddy big tank, where it will sit, pickling for 12 to 15 years. It'll be in a solution of sodium hydroxide, sort of drawing the corrosive salts out of the metal so that it can be stabilized and put on permanent display.

PHILLIPS: Wow. It will be interesting to follow the preservation process. John, thank you so much. Fascinating piece of history there. You are lucky to have it.

HIGHTOWER: We certainly are.

PHILLIPS: Thanks.

HIGHTOWER: Come to Newport News and see the Monitor turret.

PHILLIPS: Hey, I will take the invitation, John, believe me. I love military history. All right. John, thanks so much.

HIGHTOWER: Wonderful.

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