Building Anthony Wayne: Working Towards a Hypothetical Reconstruction of an Early Great Lakes Steamboat

Summary

The introduction of steamboats to the Great Lakes during the early nineteenth century revolutionized regional and national shipping industries, as well as directly contributed to the social and economic development of the United States during the antebellum period. While this boon to maritime transportation has been documented in history, relatively little is known about the actual vessels that steamed across the Inland Seas. Great Lakes steamboat archaeology has been gaining speed over the past two decades and more information on the architectural and mechanical aspects of these vessels is being revealed. The archaeological investigations of the side-wheeler Anthony Wayne (1837-1850) saw the documentation of a nearly complete, intact drive system that features one of the earliest horizontal marine engines on the Great Lakes. While the steamboat’s hull is still present on site, it is deeply buried beneath the lake bottom and inaccessible for study. Therefore, this paper aims to hypothetically reconstruct the hull of Anthony Wayne using a multidisciplinary approach that includes archaeology, historical accounts, iconography and imagery.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Steamboat Archaeology in North America   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-44,04