Virtual Archaeology Conference 2026

Join us for our 5th Annual Virtual Archaeology Conference! Each year, archaeologists, researchers, and historians come together with Lake Champlain Maritime Museum to share new research, developments, and discoveries from their work in Lake Champlain in a special online summit that is free for all to attend.

Our 2026 conference is a deep dive into the archaeology of the American Revolution on Lake Champlain. Zoom into the three-day Battle of Valcour Island as archaeologists and historians describe key moments through the shipwrecks and artifacts left behind. From the Gunboats Spitfire and Philadelphia to new exhibits and stories, we will connect past events from 250 years ago to current research and explore how this ongoing work is used today in museums.

The conference features several brief and informative presentations by experts. After each presentation, there will be a brief Q&A with the speaker before the next one starts. The conference ends with a longer Q&A with the whole archaeology team. A full schedule and list of presenters are detailed below.

This virtual conference is held on Zoom Webinar and is free to attend. Please register in advance to receive the direct conference link by using the “Register for the Archaeology Conference” button below. For accessibility requests please contact us by email at info@lcmm.org or by phone at 802-475-2022 by February 9, 2026.

Virtual Archaeology Conference 2026: Topics & Speakers

Welcome and Introduction
Chris Sabick, Executive Director, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

Revisiting the Artifacts Recovered from the Valcour Bay Research Project
Paul Willard Gates, Director of Archaeology, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

Gunboat Philadelphia Conservation Project
Jennifer L. Jones, Curator and Project Director, 1776 Gunboat Philadelphia Preservation Project, Division of Military and Society, National Museum of American History

Gunboat Spitfire, Threats to Continued Preservation
Chris Sabick, Executive Director, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

Designer Meet Archaeologist: Implementing Archaeology Into Museum Exhibit Design
Taylor Picard, Staff Archaeologist, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

Live Q&A with Lake Champlain Maritime Museum’s Archaeology Team
Chris Sabick, Paul Willard Gates, Taylor Picard

This program is brought to you with the generous support from:

Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership