By Olivia Olson, Public Programs and Volunteer Manager
On February 12, 2026, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum hosted its fifth annual Virtual Archaeology Conference. This year’s theme centered on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution on Lake Champlain. Talks given by the Museum’s archaeological team and a guest speaker focused on the archaeological materials found in Lake Champlain which were submerged almost 250 years ago, during the Battle of Lake Champlain. The four talks roughly followed the story of the Battle of Lake Champlain, beginning with the Battle of Valcour Island, the chase given by the British forces up the lake, and ending at Arnold’s Bay with the scuttling of the American fleet and retreat to Fort Ticonderoga. The final presentation tied the first three together by giving a behind the scenes look into the design process for our new exhibit, Fragments: Voices of the American Revolution on Lake Champlain.
The first talk was given by Paul Willard Gates, Director of Archaeology at the Museum. Gates revisited the artifacts recovered from the Valcour Bay Research Project. The first day of the three-day long Battle of Lake Champlain took place in Valcour Bay. There, the American fleet faced the British and lost Philadelphia, and many artifacts related to warfare and soldiers’ lives in the 18th century. Examples of artifacts included canon shot, spoons, buckles, and an ammunition box.
Artifacts recovered during the Valcour Bay Research Project. Left: Revolutionary War era belt axe. Right: Wooden cartridge box.
Day two was covered by Jennifer Jones, who joined us from the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Jones walked us through the conservation project the Smithsonian Institution is undertaking on Philadelphia, the gunboat which was raised by Lorenzo Haggulund in 1935. A years-long process, visitors to the capital can see conservators working through a window that looks into the lab area.
Chris Sabick gave the third talk, to discuss the persistent threats to the gunboat Spitfire. Threats included invasive species, warming waters, and tangled fishing lines.
Taylor Picard wrapped up the conference with a behind-the-scenes look into the archaeological resources that are included in the Museum’s new exhibit: Fragments: Voices of the American Revolution. Picard discussed the whole process from discovery to display and all the steps in between. Fragments will open May 23, 2026.
Thank you for tuning in to the fifth annual Virtual Archaeology Conference. If you missed it, the link to watch the recorded conference is on our YouTube channel.