Plattsburgh discusses raising Revolutionary War ship "Spitfire" out of Lake Champlain
https://www.wcax.com/2024/04/26/plattsburgh-discusses-raising-revolutionary-war-ship-spitfire-out-lake-champlain/
(2:14 min. video at link)
Plattsburgh discusses raising Revolutionary War ship "Spitfire" out of Lake Champlain
By Alek LaShomb
Published: Apr. 25, 2024 at 10:29 PM EDT|Updated: 8 hours ago
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (WCAX) - Underwater archaeologist Art Cohn says talks continue to progress over raising the Spitfire a gunboat that was under Benedict Arnolds command during the Battle of Valcour Island in 1776.
Cohn was on the team in 1997 that discovered the boats location at the bottom of Lake Champlain. Back in 2017, the idea of raising the ship was floated around, and now he says those talks are ramping up.
I have been doing this work for over 40 years, I have never recommended a boat be recovered, until now. We have identified four studies we are ready to do, four contracts to do our due diligence, said Cohn.
He says the studies include engineering, a business plan, conservation for when the boat is removed from the lake, and lastly, a look at an exhibition facility for a permanent display.
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