Nautical Archaeology Maritime History
Maritime Archaeology
Sonar Survey
 Manuscripts/Digitization
Underwater Archaeology
Shipwrecks
Documentation
Excavation


A 501.c(3) Non-Profit Organization

Founded by Ann Merriman, PhD, and Christopher Olson, MA, in July 2005 in St Paul, MN
Find the Curriculum Vitae for MHM's founders HERE
Donations to Maritime Heritage Minnesota are tax-deductible
Site Updated – 27 March 2013
E-mail MHM mhm@maritimeheritagemn.org
Phone: 651.261.2265 or 651.202.8811

Announcement: Maritime Heritage Minnesota has successfully nominated the Andy Gibson Wreck Site to the National Register of Historic Places! Our thanks to National Register Archaeologist David Mather for his assistance in this undertaking.

New Feature: See 'Christopher's Mystery Photo'
HERE


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Maritime Heritage Minnesota thanks the People of the State of Minnesota for supporting the
Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.
MHM has been awarded 12 Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants.
Learn more about the MHCH Grants Program
HERE.

The MHCH Grant Progream is part of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.



Legacy Amendment
MHM
Grant Recipient


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MHM thanks
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Maritime Heritage Minnesota Projects

(See MHM's Project Reports and Links to MHM in the Media Below)



Headwaters Mississippi River
Aitkin County

Of the 6 steamboat wreck sites known to exist in the entirety of the Mississippi River, Minnesota has 3 of them within its borders: Andy Gibson (21-AK0109) and Swan (21-AK0084) in Aitkin and the J.S. (21-HU0160) in Houston County. The Andy Gibson and Swan are significant to Minnesota's - and America's - maritime history since they are located hundreds of miles above Minneapolis, the point that has been commnly accepted as the 'head of navigation' of the 'Upper Mississippi' River. The true Head of Navigation is the Headwaters Mississippi River region, where 12 steamboats plied the river between Aitkin, Sandy Lake, and Grand Rapids from 1870-1921. Between 2008 and 2012, Maritime Heritage Minnesota has documented about 50% of the Andy Gibson Wreck Site and MHM successfully nominated her to the National Register of Historic Places in August 2012.

In 2010 MHM conducted a Phase 1 side and down imaging sonar survey of the Mississippi River in Aitkin County, a distance of 104 miles. Beyond the known sites of Andy Gibson and Swan, MHM identified three maritime sites near Jacobson (Mississippi Landing Railroad Spur & Bridge Remians [21-AK0115], Mississippi Landing Logging Pier, [21-AK0116]) and at the confluence of the Sandy and Mississippi Rivers (Sandy River Steamboat Crib, 21-AK0117). MHM conducted the Aitkin County Shipwrecks Project in September and October 2012 with funds provided by a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant. MHM located a new wreck in Aitkin, now known as the Red Mill Wreck (21-AK0122), and a preliminary documentaiton began. MHM also determined the port side perameters of the Andy Gibson wreck and located two additional maritime sites in Aitkin (Burton & Anderson/Hodgeden & McDonald Mill and Landing, 21-AK0124) and south of Palisade (Tripp Landing, 21-AK0123). The Aitkin County Shipwrecks Project page also includes information on the Andy Gibson wreck site. To see more click the links below.

Andy Gibson

Andy Gibson moored at a landing on the Headwaters Mississippi River (Itasca County Historical Society).

Fawn

The steamer Fawn moored near a wanigan on the Headwaters Mississippi River, with Andy Gibson steaming up in the background (Minnesota Historical Society, digitized by MHM).

Confluence

An early morning on the Headwaters Mississippi River near the newly designated Red Mill Wreck.

USS Essex Shipwreck

Lake Superior, Duluth, St. Louis County


Maritime Heritage Minnesota has been conducting yearly condition assessments of North America's premier clipper ship builder Donald McKay's USS Essex (21-SL1030). The Essex wreck is the only example of McKay's craftsmanship confirmed to exist and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The wreck is nationally significant in terms of Naval Architecture and Naval History. Unfortunately, the site is in danger from ice damage, sand erosion, and humans - looting and vandalism - and she has suffered from all of these harmful activities over the decades. Using three grants awarded through the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants Program, MHM has produced a plan to preserve the USS Essex, digitized the ship's known 62 log books, and begun the transcription and editing of the books for free internet access. To see more click the link below.

USS Essex Investigations
USS Essex

Donald McKay's last ship, the sloop-of-war USS Essex, under sail (Naval Historical Center, digitized by MHM).


Lake Minnetonka
Hennepin and Carver Counties


Maritime Heritage Minnesota conducted a Phase 1 side and down imaging sonar survey of Lower Lake Minnetonka and the Upper Lake's Crystal Bay in September and November 2011, and the remaining sections of the Upper Lake in May 2012. MHM has located 5 new shipwrecks in the lake, joining the 6 already known wrecks. MHM also completed State of Minnesota archaeological site forms for 5 of the known wrecks so they now have site numbers. Further, an additional 22 anomalies are probably wrecks and another 33 anomalies may be wrecks, but investigations by SCUBA must be conducted to determine the nature of these anomalies. MHM also designated the Big Island Steamboat Pier, Park, and Veteran's Camp as an archaeological site, utilizing information gathered by MHM in 2003, 2007, and 2011. MHM received a MHCH Grant to dive on specific anomalies in late September 2012. This project was barely begun in October 2012 when scheduling conflicts halted diving. The project will commence in early Spring 2012. To see more click the link below.

Lake Minnetonka Surveys 1 & 2
St. Albans Bay Wreck

MHM recorded this sonar image of the St. Albans Bay Wreck (21-HE0400) in September 2011.


Minnesota River

Hennepin, Dakota, Scott, Carver, Sibley, & Le Sueur Counties



Maritime Heritage Minnesota has conducted a side and down imaging sonar survey of the Minnesota River from its confluence with the Mississippi River to past Belle Plaine, with terrestrial surveys taking place in Shakopee, Chaska, near Jordan, Blakely, and Henderson. Several maritime sites were recorded and researched, with one maritime archaeological site designated - the Belle Plain Levee and Bridge Remains (21-SC0098, 21-SB0027). MHM recorded 2 anomalies that may be watercraft wrecks that require futher investigation. To see more, click the link below.

Minnesota River Survey
Chaska Ferry

The Chaska Ferry on the Minnesota River in the 1890s
(Minnesota Historical Society, digitized by MHM).

White Bear Lake & Lake Waconia

  Ramsey, Washington, and Carver Counties


Maritime Heritage Minnesota has bee awarded a Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant to conduct a side and down imaging sonar survey of White Bear Lake and Lake Waconia. MHM identified 3 wreck sites in White Bear Lake, but further investigation of these sunken vessels must be conducted before we can designate them as nautical archaeological sites. In addition, another 21 anomalies in White Bear Lake warrent further investigation to determine their natures. In Lake Waconia, MHM identified 46 anomalies that require further research. MHM is moderately confident that 1 and possibly 3 more of these anomalies are wrecks, but more work is required. To see more, click the links below.

Lake Waconia Survey
Ordway's Bar Wreck

MHM recorded this sonar image of the 'Ordway's Bar Wreck' in August 2012. This wreck remains an anomaly and not an official nautical archaeological site until MHM can determine her age.

MHM at Archaeology Fairs and Conferences
Every year Maritime Heritage Minnesota participates in Minnesota Archaeology Week activities at Fort Snelling State Park. The Archaeology Fair is staged from the Thomas C. Savage Center and every year more people visit the fair. To see more, click the links below.

Archaeology Fair

Every year Maritime Heritage Minnesota travels to Mille Lacs Kathio State Park for Archaeology Day  activities. To see more, click the links below (due to technical difficulties, photos from the 2011 Kathio Archaeology Day are not available).

2012 Kathio Archaeology Day

Kathio 2012

MHM presented a talk at the Gales of November Conference in Duluth in 2011 on our on-going USS Essex assessments and the log book digitization, editing, and transcription project. We also brought our static exhibit to further inform conference goers about our other work. To see more, click the link below.

2011 Gales of November Conference

Gales 2011

MHM presented at the Council for Minnesota Archaeology Conference at Inver Hills Community College in February 2011. The theme was "Farmsteads, Factories, Forts and Frontiers" and MHM talked about the Mississippi River Aitkin County Survey results. MHM will also be participating in the conference in February 2013. To see more, click the link below.

CMA




Project Report Downloads

See MHM in the Media below




New Link


Aitkin County Shipwrecks Project Report
Available at the Internet Archive


ACSP

White Bear Lake Survey Report
Available at the Internet Archive
Lake Waconia Survey Report
Available at the Internet Archive
Lake Minnetonka Survey 2 Report
Available at the Internet Archive
WBL Survey Report
Lake Waconia Survey Report
Lake Minnetonka Survey 2 Report



Lake Minnetonka Survey 1 Report
Available at the Internet Archive
Minnesota River Survey 1 Report
Available at the Internet Archive
 USS Essex Shipwreck
Assessment 2011
Available at the Internet Archive
Lake Minnetonka Survey Report Minnesota Surve 1 Report USS Essex Shipwreck Assessment 2011



Andy Gibson Starboard
Gunwale & Deck Excavation
Available at the Internet Archive
Andy Gibson Excavation &
NRHP Nomination Report
Available at the Internet Archive
Mississippi River Aitkin
County Survey Report
Available at the Internet Archive
Andy Gibson Gunwale Excavation Andy Gibson NRHP Report MRACS



MHM-Digitized
USS Essex Log Books 1-5
Available at the Internet Archive
USS Essex Log Books
Digitization Pilot Project Report
Available at the Internet Archive
Developing a Plan to
Preserve the USS Essex
Available at the Internet Archive
USS Essex Log Books Digitization Pilot Project Essex Plan



Andy Gibson and Swan
Assessment 2008
Available at the Internet Archive
Dig on This
Archaeology Program Report
Available at the Internet Archive
MHM in The Minnesota Preservationist
Minnesota Navy & Maritime Memorials
May-June 2010
And Gibson and Swan Dig On This
Minnesota Navy and Maritime Memorials



Maritime Heritage Minnesota
Titles at
Amazon Kindle


Kindle


Other Publications by MHM Staff

Available at Amazon Kindle, Amazon, and Other Booksellers

Egyptian Book



MHM in the Media


MHM in the Star Tribune
White Bear Lake & Lake Waconia
Surveys


Star Tribune East Metro




MHM in the Star Tribune
Lake Minnetonka & New Surveys
MHM in the Lakshore Weekly News
The Lake Minnetonka Survey 2
MHM in the Star Tribune
The Lake Minnetonka Survey 1
Star Tribune Lakeshore Weekly News StarTribune



MHM on KMSP Channel 9
The Lake Minnetonka Survey 2
Around the Lake:
MHM on Lake Minnetonka
MHM on KSTP Channel 5
The Lake Minnetonka Survey 1
KMSP9 Around the Lake: Maritime Heritage Minnesota KSTP Channel 5



MHM in the Lakshore Weekly News
The Lake Minnetonka Survey 1
MHM in the Chaska Herald
The Minnesota River Survey 1
MHM in the Knight Errant
The Lake Minnetonka Survey 1
Lakeshore Weekly News Chaska Herald Knight Errant