The result of more than fifteen years of research, Ironclad Down is a treasure trove of detailed information about one of history's most famous vessels. Describing the fascinating people-Stephen Russell Mallory, John Mercer Brooke, John Luke Porter, et al.-who conceived, designed, and built one of the world's first ironclads as well as describing the ship itself, Carl Park offers both the most thoroughly detailed, in-depth analysis to date of the actual architecture of the Virginia and a fascinating, colorful chapter of Civil War history.