Situated just 16 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., Monitor National Marine Sanctuary protects the shipwreck of the famed Civil War ironclad, USS Monitor. The Monitor, while under tow to Beaufort, N.C., sank during a storm on December 31, 1862, and was not discovered until 1973. Today the sanctuary is managed by a staff of five full-time employees through a combination of education, archaeology, marine science and regulatory programs. The Monitor National Marine Sanctuary office is co-located with The Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia.

Recreational Opportunities on Federal Lands. Recreation.gov is your gateway to discover America's Outdoors and more! Discover which parks, forests, lakes, museums, and areas managed by federal agencies offer recreation opportunities near you or your destination. Explore your America with Recreation.gov! Experience your favorite activities or places and discover new getaways – your adventure beckons!

You'll find plenty of programs, events and activities at Virginia State Parks. Our 36 parks have thousands of campsites, hundreds of cabins, more than 500 miles of trails and convenient access to Virginia's major waterways. Beaches, picnic shelters, family lodges, meeting facilities, festivals, concerts, nature programs, cultural happenings... the list goes on and on. From Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, there's something for everyone at Virginia State Parks.