Speaker John V. Quarstein, Director Emeritus

USS MONITOR Center & The Mariners’ Museum and Park

The Rosetta Stone of the Civil War: Major General Benjamin Franklin Butler’s first 30 days on the Virginia Peninsula introduced tremendous changes to the Civil War’s purpose and tactics. Butler’s Contraband of War decision changed the conflict into a war about freedom, while his defeat at Big Bethel proved that the Civil War would become a long and costly battle for the American truth.

Bio

John V. Quarstein served as the director of the Virginia War Museum for 30 years until he retired in 2008. He is the director emeritus of the USS MONITOR Center at the Mariners’ Museum and Park. Quarstein is the author of 21 books including his award-winning MONITOR BOYS. He presently resides on Ft. Monroe, Virginia in the Historic Chamberlin Hotel.

John’s recent Passion Project is preservation effort of the Rebecca Vaughan House. This structure is the last dwelling where enslavers were killed during the 21-23 August Nat Turner’s Rebellion. I have created a historical trail relating to this event and have included a brochure about the project.