At least part of the cost of the two ironclads in Charleston was funded by "The Ladies Gunboat Society," that leads to visions of ironclad bake sales.
There is a replica of the Albemarle in Plymouth, NC
http://www.visitplymouthnc.com/ThingsTo ... s.asp?ID=5
John Porter, the CSN's chief designer, drew up the plans for a "standard" ironclad design for construction throughout the Confederacy.
http://www.historynet.com/css-albemarle ... il-war.htm
I have a good book on the Albemarle and I'll chack on copper plating. She was indeed built of "railroad armor."