| 1803 | July 31 | John Ericsson, builder of the USS Monitor, is born. |
| 1855 | June 14 | USS Merrimack is launched at the Boston Navy yard. |
| 1856 | February 20 | USS Merrimack is commissioned. |
| 1856 | February 25 | USS Merrimack is completed. |
| 1860 | February 16 | USS Merrimack put out of commission at the Norfolk Navy Yard. |
| 1861 | April 20 | USS Merrimack scuttled and burned at the Norfolk navy yard. |
| 1861 | July 19 | Senator James W. Grimes of Iowa introduces a bill to have an ironclad ship built for the war. |
| 1861 | August 3 | Senate Bill 36 authorizing the construction of an ironclad vessel becomes law. |
| 1861 | October 25 | Keel of the USS Monitor is laid down in New York. |
| 1862 | January 13 | Lieutenant John L. Worden is assigned to command the newly built USS Monitor. |
| 1862 | January 30 | USS Monitor is launched Brooklyn, New York. |
| 1862 | February 19 | USS Monitor makes its first trials in New York harbor. |
| 1862 | February 25 | USS Monitor is commissioned in New York. |
| 1862 | March 6 | USS Monitor leaves New York for Hampton Roads. |
| 1862 | March 8 | Battle of Hampton Roads (March 8-9) between the CSS Virginia and USS Monitor. |
| 1862 | March 8 | USS Monitor arrives at Hampton Roads, Virginia. |
| 1862 | December 31 | Famed USS Monitor sinks off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, while sailing to Beaufort, North Carolina. |