Search for the Revenue Cutter BEAR

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions)", at the 2023 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The Revenue Cutter BEAR was a ship of many lives and significant accomplishments. Orignally built as a sealer, BEAR gained distinction for its 1884 rescue of Greely Expedition survivors. Subsequent decades were spent in polar waters where BEAR operated as an Arctic U.S. Revenue Cutter and flagship for Byrd's two Antarctic Expeditions. Also featured in cinema, BEAR served meritoriously in both World Wars before its final decommission. Lost under tow in 1963, the vessel's significance prompted several search efforts. Most recently, the US Coast Guard, NOAA Office of Ocean Exploraiton and Research, and the NOAA Maritime Heritage Program began a join project in 2018 to locate BEAR's final resting place. Following extensive archival research, a remote sensing survey identified a potential wreck site in 2019. NOAA and USCG staff returned in 2021 to document the site. This presentation addresses the findings of both the 2019 and 2021 field seasons.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SHA 2023 General Sessions   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2023

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow