Maritime History, Documentation

Nautical Archaeology, Excavation

Manuscripts, Artifact Conservation

MHM at the 2010 Mille Lacs Kathio State Park Archaeology Day

Learn more about the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants HERE.

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MHM thanks Naturalist Jim Cummings of the DNR for allowing us to be a part of the Mille Lacs Kathio State Park Archaeology Day.

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On 25 September 2010, Maritime Heritage Minnesota staff Ann and Christopher set up Model Shipwrecks and a visual exhibit to inform visitors to Mille Lacs Kathio State Park about our activities. MHM informed Archaeology Day visitors about our current projects funded in part by our Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants, particularly the Mississippi River Aitkin County Survey, our starboard side excavation and NHRP nomination of the steamer Andy Gibson next month, our plan to preserve USS Essex, and the digitization of the Essex Log Books that took place in July and August. Our Model Shipwrecks once again inspired conversation and comparisons between steamboats and sailing vessels.

Welcome to the Mille Lacs Kathio Archaeology Day 2010!

An overview of the exhibits and exhibitions. In different areas, visitors participated in an archaeology dig, atlatl throwing contests, and canoe trips.

MHM's visual exhibit featuring photos of our maritime and nautical archaeological projects. This presentation focuses heavily on our Headwaters Mississippi Nautical Archaeology and Maritime History, including the Mississippi River Aitkin County Survey. We also informed visitors of our work related to the USS Essex, including our Plan to Preserve the wreck and the USS Essex Log Book Digitization Project. These projects were made possible in part by the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grant Program.

Next to MHM's visual exhibit we set up our side and down imaging sonar unit and played recordings of the Mississippi River Aitkin County Survey and some scans of many Lake Minnetonka wrecks for Archaeology Day visitors to examine.

Above and below, Christopher Olson discusses MHM's maritime and nautical archaeological projects with Archaeology Day visitors. MHM also set up our "Model Shipwrecks" and Christopher Olson shows two junior archaeologists what a sailing ship and river steamboat would look like if they dove on them with SCUBA gear. Bow maker Rick Bruns shows some of his hand-made bows and discusses his bow-making techniques with Archaeology Day visitors. Bow maker Rick Bruns in action. The Minnesota Archaeological Society's Rod Johnson demonstrates flintknapping for Archaeology Day visitors. A close-up of Rod Johnson at work. The display of the Cultural Resources Management - Archaeology Program in the Anthropology Department of St Cloud State University. Hands-on learning for kids designed to educate them on what archaeology is and who does it. Rick Bruns and Kathio State Park DNR Naturalist Jim Cummings. Assistant State Archaeologist Bruce Koenen.