The Spanish merchant vessel El Nuevo Constante, wrecked off the coast of Louisiana in 1766.

In 1979, a shrimper accidentally snagged three large copper disks in his nets. This led to the discovery of a partially buried shipwreck in about 19 feet of water. The state claimed ownership of the wreck, and the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism, issued a contract to Coastal Environments, Inc. to conduct professional excavations and historical research on the site.

This archaeological project produced a wealth of information about the ship and the events leading to its loss. The site represents one of the most significant historical shipwrecks ever discovered in Louisiana state waters. This paper will focus on the discovery in retrospect, and the search for the Corazón de Jesús y Santa Bárbara, a vessel wrecked during the same storm believed to be located off the coast of Louisiana or southeastern Texas.

The aim of this paper is to present the research carried out at Kingstown Harbour (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) on the wreck of the Junon. In the framework of multi year project carried out by AAPA and University of Antilles on naval wrecks in the West indies the 2023 field work focused on the Kingstown Harbour shipwreck. Initial analyses confirm the identification of the remains as those of the Junon, a French frigate built in 1777 at Rochefort and lost in October 1780 during the Great Hurricane.

Analysis of the remains studied during the various missions shows that this was a French naval ship lost in the late 18th century. These elements clarify the site’s layout. Finally, the archival data provides evidence not only of identification but also of the context of the shipwreck. This project enabled the French State to claim the flag’s right over the wreck.

Centerboards - wooden or metal boards that pivot down into the water from the bottom of a sailing ship - increase the lateral resistance of sailing vessels while not permanently increasing their draft of water, allowing vessels to sail closer to the wind in deep water and still enter shallow bays, harbors, canals, and rivers. Centerboards gained popularity in the Great Lakes starting in the early 1800s. But while vessels with a single centerboard were common, previous fieldwork by the Wisconsin Historical Society suggested that sailing vessels with double centerboards were unusual. Dedicated research using historical records, archaeological studies, and the results of shipwreck exploration throughout the Great Lakes revealed that double centerboards were far more common than once believed. Thus far, research has revealed 26 double centerboard ships that once sailed the Great Lakes, including the known wrecks of 17 double centerboard vessels sunk beneath the waters of the inland seas.

Expansion of the of the United States’ Mid-Atlantic oyster industry led to the creation of new vessel types. Variations of oyster boats were developed to enable dredging in the deep waters of the Chesapeake Bay. During the Oyster Boom of the late 19th century, the bugeye type became a favored dredging vessel and over 600 of the boats served the Mid-Atlantic oyster fishery. By the early 20th century, the majority of bugeyes were abandoned as motorized craft became popular. The Bessie Lafayette was one of the few bugeyes that survived into the 1930s and was abandoned at Mallows Bay, Maryland. This paper discusses documentation of the remains of a wooden vessel likely belonging to Bessie Lafayette.

This presentation will examine the conversion of the 1861 New York-built civilian ferry, Nuestra Señora de Regla, into the Union Navy gunboat Commodore Hull. Processes associated with its post-war conversion back into a ferry renamed Waccamaw (based in Wilmington, North Carolina), and its final deposition off Eagles Island, North Carolina will also be explored. The primary goal of this presentation is to examine how and why this vessel was chosen and adapted for naval use, reverted to a civilian ferry post-war, and then ultimately abandoned. An analysis of the vessel’s features and use-history provides insight into how the United States Navy created a massive blockade which spanned from the Potomac River to the Rio Grande. Furthermore, an examination of Waccamaw sheds light on the versatility of its design and the constraints and considerations that were placed on those who interacted with it.

The Yellowstone steamboat holds a significant place in American history as one of the pioneering vessels that navigated the treacherous waters of the Missouri River during the early 19th century. Commissioned in 1831, Yellowstone played a crucial role in the fur trade, transporting goods, and fostering economic development along the American frontier. Additionally, Yellowstone made notable contributions during the Texas Revolution, providing support to Texan forces and facilitating the movement of troops and supplies. This paper delves into the historical context of the Yellowstone exploring its construction, voyages, and contributions to both the fur trade and the Texas Revolution. It also examines the events leading up to the vessel’s demise, including the specific circumstances under which it sank. Through a comprehensive analysis of historical records and accounts, this study aims to locate the final resting place of the Yellowstone.

One of the most captivating exhibits at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is Benedict Arnold’s gunboat Philadelphia. Sunk after a ferocious naval battle with the British in October of 1776, Philadelphia, after nearly 160 years below the cold, fresh water of Lake Champlain, was raised from the depths in 1935 by Col. Lorenzo F. Haggulund. After its recovery, Philadelphia was displayed in the region before it was eventually transferred to the Smithsonian in 1964. The original site of its recovery was extensively investigated during the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum’s (LCMM) Valcour Bay Survey Project conducted from 1999 to 2004. In the summer of 2024, researchers from Texas A&M University's Nautical Archaeology Program partnered with the LCMM to initiate a new research project, building upon and expanding the foundational work of the earlier survey. This paper shares the results of the 2024 field season.

The remains of Phoenix, one of the earliest steamers to combine characteristics of sailing craft with steam propulsion, rest on a shoal in Lake Champlain. Phoenix sank in 1819 after serving five seasons as a passenger steamer, and is the oldest steamboat wreck archaeologically studied. Although the 135-ft. hull was re-discovered and studied in the 1980s and again in 2010s, the boat’s missing paddlewheels were found ¾ of a mile from the wreck in deep water only in 2020. These were examined by project partners in 2022, revealing well-preserved paddles and charred hull remains still attached to the assemblies. This field season, the project team collected high resolution photogrammetry data over a 30-ft section of Phoenix’s engine room to more precisely compare structural details with the newly found paddlewheel assemblies to better understand the configuration of the propulsion system, one of the earliest such designs fitted to a sailing vessel.

Since the discovery of the Revolutionary War gunboat Spitfire in 1997, there have been ongoing discussions of how best to manage this remarkable site which rests in the cold dark waters of Lake Champlain. Through the support of a National Park Service, American Battlefield Protection Program planning grant, the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, in collaboration with other regional stake holders and technical experts have developed a research design and project to conduct targeted excavations and hull documentation of the gunboat commencing in 2026. This presentation will cover the collaborative process and outline project goals and the methodologies that will be utilized to gain a better understanding of this remarkable cultural resource.