Maritime History, Documentation

Nautical Archaeology, Excavation

Manuscripts, Artifact Conservation

Mississippi River Aitkin County Survey 2010

Learn more about the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants HERE.

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In August 2010, Maritime Heritage Minnesota staff Ann and Christopher set out in a 12-foot Alumacraft boat to conduct a side and down imaging sonar survey of the 104-mile stretch of the Mississippi River in Aitkin County. MHM spent nine days on the river, dodging snags, rapids, rocks, otters, snakes, and swimming squirrels - and always not successfully (we only hit snags and rocks, not the little furry creatures, we promise!). This project was made possible in part by the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants, along with in-kind donations from our Chair Mike Kramer and from Ardy and Jack Becklin.

Christopher in the boat and our side and down - imaging sonar unit with GPS at the Aitkin boat launch. Note the high river level.

We put this sign on the boat as much as the weather/wind would allow. Having the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grant, aka The Legacy Amendment, made this project possible.

Deadheading. It must be remembered that wherever we were actually conducting the survey, we must then re-trace our steps back to the car - double the gas, but not double the time since we could go faster deadheading back where we came from, as long as we dodged the underwater obstructions.

A sonar image of steamer wreck Andy Gibson in Aitkin.

A sonar image of steamer wreck Swan in Aitkin.

Snags, Snags, Snags! And these are just a few samples....

Reading the sonar screen is rather easy, even with sun glare, since we added an sun/rain umbrella to our set-up.

MHM is submitting paperwork to the Office of the State Archaeologist to designate four new archaeological sites in Aitkin County. These sites are evident because some of their remains protrude above the water or are located mostly on a river bank, and do not require diving reconnaissance prior to their designation.

A sonar image of the Swan River Landing archaeological site. The long black streaks are shadows from pilings that block the sonar's sound wave and also points out their location.

An anomaly that may be a sunken watercraft. MHM plans to dive on 41 promising anomalies and the four new designated archaeological sites if funding is secured for 2011.

A sonar image of what MHM suspects may be the steamer wreck Walter Taylor. To determine the nature of this anomaly, MHM must dive on the site and investigate the area.