The Gunboat USS Philadelphia Preservation Project

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has unveiled its years-long restoration project on the gunboat USS Philadelphia.

Visitors of this new exhibition will be able to follow the multiyear project to preserve an iconic reminder of the spirit of the American Revolution.

The Philadelphia was part of a small American fleet, hastily built in the summer of 1776, that stalled invading British forces, thus keeping the cause of liberty alive. During the battle, the gunboat was hit by a 24-pound cannon ball near its bow and sank. A salvage team found and raised the boat in 1935, and it was eventually moved to the National Museum of American History in time for it’s opening in 1964.

After 160 years under water and decades on display, the Philadelphia’s timbers are shrinking and the iron fittings disintegrating. Conservators are assessing the gunboat’s condition and monitoring the impact of factors such as temperature, humidity, and vibrations. The findings will inform a treatment plan that will ensure the survival of the Philadelphia for generations to come.