Preserving the Gunboat Philadelphia

Smithsonian Institution

Americana Corner's Gift Ensures the Preservation of this Revolutionary Relic.

Americana Corner’s $1 million gift to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will help preserve the gunboat Philadelphia — the American Revolution’s oldest surviving fighting vessel. As the museum marks its 60th anniversary and prepares for the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, it is working to ensure the preservation of this American cultural treasure.

“The Philadelphia is a powerful symbol of the birth of the nation, and it is our next great challenge to conserve this significant treasure,” said Anthea M. Hartig, the Elizabeth MacMillan Director of the museum. “I am deeply grateful to Tom and Char Hand’s commitment to history and to Americana Corner for ensuring this project can proceed. We have an immense responsibility to preserve these icons of the Revolutionary War and the patriots who fought in it.”

Built in the summer of 1776 under the direction of Brigadier General Benedict Arnold and the Continental Congress, the Philadelphia was among several ships to take part in a two-day battle against the British Navy off Valcour Island near the New York shore of Lake Champlain. Although defeated, the fleet succeeded in delaying the British. An hour after the battle ended, the Philadelphia, which had been badly damaged, sank to the bottom of the lake, where it remained until 1935. On view in the Lake Champlain region until 1961, the Philadelphia and its original equipment, including the cannon ball that issued the ship’s fatal blow, were moved to the Smithsonian before completion of the museum’s construction and opening to the public on January 23, 1964.

“My passion for telling the incredible story of America, from its founding era through its first century, drew me to the gunboat Philadelphia, which is a treasure of our nation’s founding history,” Tom Hand said. “The opportunity to preserve this critical artifact for future generations is quite meaningful, and I hope it inspires respect and admiration for those who worked to establish our country. Americana Corner is proud to make this gift to the nation for its 250th anniversary.”

In Spring 2019, the museum kicked off a multiyear project to ensure the long-term preservation of the Philadelphia. The completion of the conservation work is scheduled to coincide with the nation’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The museum has contracted with experts from Texas A&M University (Nautical Archeology Program and Center for Maritime Archeology and Conservation) who will work alongside the curatorial team at the museum in view of the public so that visitors can follow the process.

Read the Smithsonian’s full press release for more information about this project.

All photos courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.