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Facility and placed into a custom-built storage vat containing water and a biodeterrent to protect the canoe from physical deterioration. Over time, a chemical solution will be added to the vat; it will eventually replace the water in the cellular structure of the wood. The preservation process is estimated to take approximately 3 years. (Wisconsin Historical Society: 816 State Street, Madison, WI; www.wisconsinhistory.org) … The gaff-rigged ketch Hawaiian Chieftain has new owners. Grays Harbor Historical Seaport (GHHS) of Aberdeen, WA, owner of the Chieftain since 2005, decided in late 2019 to sell the vessel and focus on its other traditional sailing vessel, Lady Washington (the official ship of the state of Washington), and a project to transform a 34-acre old mill site into a public waterfront development. “We were spread too thin to take on two boat restoration projects and the Seaport Landing development, said the Seaport’s executive director, Brandi Bednarik. “We had to acknowledge it was time to let Chieftain go somewhere where she could receive the love and attention she deserves. It was very important to the board, staff, and crew for the Chieftain to end up in a good home with someone who would take the best care of her. We are confident that we found her such a home.” The decision to sell the Chieftain was reached after a Coast Guard inspection identified issues with the condition of her steel hull. The inspection revealed
Hawaiian Chieftain
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Wisconsin Historical Society maritime archaeologists recovered a 1,200-yearold dugout canoe from the bottom of Lake Mendota in November, just a few months after learning of its existence in June 2021. Its age was determined via carbon dating and puts the vessel in use around AD 800, centuries before the arrival of Europeans in North America. “The dugout canoe found in Lake Mendota is a significant artifact of the continuum of canoe culture in the Western Great Lakes region,” said Christian Overland, the Ruth and Hartley Barker Director & CEO for the Wisconsin Historical Society. “The canoe is a remarkable artifact, made from a single tree, that connects us to the people living in this region 1,200 years ago. As the Society prepares to open a new history museum in 2026, we are excited about the new possibilities it offers to share Native American stories and culture through the present day.” Excavation of the area around the canoe began in late October 2021, and archaeologists recovered artifacts from the site early on in their process. Net sinkers—rocks that were flattened by hand tooling—were recovered from within the canoe, indicating the vessel may have been used for fishing. The canoe was raised from a depth of about 30 feet with the assistance of the Dane County Sheriff ’s dive team using flotation bags to raise the canoe to the lake’s surface. It was then transported to Wisconsin’s State Archive Preservation
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Lake Mendota Dugout Canoe
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that Chieftain needs a new bowsprit as well as repairs to the aft cabin windows. Combined with other work that needed to be done on the ship, GHHS was looking at a hefty price tag to get her back to normal operations. The new owners, Aubrey and Matt Wilson, report that they are awaiting the results of the rigging survey, but have the reports from all of the other surveys in hand. They anticipate replacing the diesel engines and repairs to parts of Chieftain’s hull, deckhouse, and galley sole, followed up with fresh paint and new colors. Once the Chieftain is released from dry dock in Port Townsend, WA, she will return to Aberdeen for a farewell celebration with Lady Washington before departing for a new SEA HISTORY 177, WINTER 2021–22