Over the last year, the agency partners have been trying to secure an additional $500,000 for the excavation of the USS Scorpion shipwreck project. Unfortunately, we are out of time and not enough funding has been raised to carry out the project. As a result, the cofferdam will not be constructed and the shipwreck will not be excavated or available for public viewing.
Part of the money set aside for the project will be used for War of 1812 archaeology outreach while the remaining funds will be returned to Maryland's Transportation Enhancement Program.
It is hoped the Patuxent River bottom holds the War of 1812 shipwreck safely until another generation of archaeologists can unlock her mysteries.
