WASHINGTON, DC.- The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will open “The Gunboat Philadelphia Preservation Project” Aug. 22, a new exhibition where visitors can follow the multiyear effort to preserve the historic vessel from 1776. Through viewing windows, the public can observe conservation work in real time, carried out by a team of underwater archeologists and maritime conservators from Texas A&M’s Nautical Archaeology Program, working under contract with the Smithsonian. The exhibition highlights this exceptionally rare and intact artifact as a powerful symbol of the American spirit.

The gunboat Philadelphia was built in the summer of 1776 under the direction of Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold and the Continental Congress. As part of the small American fleet that battled the British at the Battle of Valcour Island, the Philadelphia was among the ships that were part of a two-day battle against the British in October of that year. Although defeated, the fleet succeeded in delaying the British. An hour after the battle ended, the badly damaged Philadelphia sank to the bottom of Lake Champlain where it remained until a salvage team led by Lorenzo Hagglund found and raised it in 1935. On view in the Lake Champlain region until 1961, the gunboat and its original equipment, as well as the cannon ball that issued the ship’s fatal blow, were moved to the new National Museum of History and Technology (the museum’s original name) before the completion of the museum’s construction and opening to the public Jan. 23, 1964.

“The Philadelphia remains as a powerful symbol of the earliest days of the Revolutionary War and emergence of the new nation,” said Anthea M. Hartig, the museum’s Elizabeth MacMillan Director. “Because of its age and condition, the gunboat is in critical need of conservation treatment to ensure its long-term preservation. The nation’s upcoming 250th celebration is an ideal time to spotlight and share the rich history of this National Historic Landmark.”

After 160 years under water and decades on display, the Philadelphia’s timbers were found to be shrinking and its iron fittings disintegrating. The Texas A&M conservation team is actively monitoring the impact of temperature and humidity levels and how vibrations in the museum affect the boat. They have also been conducting scientific research on the liquid nylon that was applied to the outer surface of the boat in the 1960s and its long-term effect on the wood, and the tensile strength (maximal load capability) of the existing timbers, to understand the structural integrity of the boat’s current condition. Their findings will inform a detailed treatment plan that will help the museum ensure the survival of the Philadelphia for generations to come.

The project kicked off in spring 2019 with initial funding for the Philadelphia’s conservation donated by the museum’s board, and in late 2023, the museum was awarded a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Park Service through the Save America’s Treasures grant program to preserve it. A $1 million leading gift from Americana Corner, an educational and philanthropic organization focused on America’s founding era through the first century of the nation, is making the project possible.

“The Philadelphia is a symbol of how citizens of a newly formed nation came together, despite overwhelming odds against their success,” said Jennifer Jones, project director for the conservation project and exhibition, adding that the small fleet of ships went up against what was the greatest naval fleet in the world. “This boat’s fragile condition is symbolic of our democracy; it requires the nation’s attention and vigilance to preserve it for future generations.”

New scientific and historical research inform the preservation work and the accompanying exhibition. The preservation team’s close study of the vessel’s construction has yielded new insights about the professional carpentry work behind it. Meanwhile, research into period records has uncovered new stories about the thousands of Americans who went to Lake Champlain to build the fleet and other defenses. Visitors can now discover the true scale of the effort to build the fleet, which led to the dramatic battle where the Philadelphia was sunk, the British were delayed and Arnold conducted a daring escape to save most of the American soldiers.

The completion of the ship’s conservation work in summer 2026 is scheduled to coincide with the nation’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.