Nineteen Revolutionary War cannons, discovered at the bottom of the Savannah River, have been unveiled at the Savannah History Museum. The cannons, which spent nearly 240 years underwater, are part of a new exhibit called ‘Loyalists & Liberty: Savannah in the American Revolution’.
Historical Significance
The discovery of the cannons is considered the largest find of 18th-century artillery from a single Revolutionary War naval event. According to Nora Fleming Lee, CEO of Coastal Heritage Society, ‘This is really significant nationwide, not just for Savannah.’ The cannons were found still packed with cannonballs and gunpowder charges, along with other small artifacts.
The cannons were restored at a Texas A&M University lab, where they underwent a process to desalinate the iron and stabilize it for display on land. Seventeen of the cannons were restored, while two were left unrestored to allow visitors to compare the before-and-after results.
Display and Exhibition
The ‘Loyalists & Liberty’ exhibit tells the story of Savannah’s role in the birth of America, focusing on five unique historical figures, including indigenous, free, and enslaved people, women, and children. The exhibit provides a lens through which to understand the naval events and the story of those who are not often focused on.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
