Politics & Government

Warship to be Excavated Near Upper Marlboro

Local officials hope to see the excavation of a shipwrecked warship dating back to the War of 1812.

City and county officials are hoping that an upcoming archaeological dig in the Patuxent River near Upper Marlboro will increase historic tourism during Maryland’s War of 1812 bicentennial commemorations, reported the Gazette.

Plans are being laid by archaeologists and state officials to begin an excavation this spring on a shipwreck believed to be the U.S.S. Scorpian, a warship from the the War of 1812.  

Achaeologists from the State Highway Association, the Maryland Historic Trust, and the Navy are working together to obtain a series of environmental permits so they can move forward with excavating the wreck, according to the Gazette.

Upper Marlboro is home to the grave site of Dr. William Beanes, a Revolutionary and War of 1812 doctor taken captive by British troops. Stephen Sonnett, president of Upper Marlboro’s board of town commissioners the shipwreck will garner additional historic tourists to the town.

“We are active participants in the Prince George’s County War of 1812 Committee, and we hope events like this will certainly add to the interest people may have in the town,” Sonnett told the Gazette. “We hope to be ready for them.”

Read the rest of the story on the Gazette.


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