Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association - WUAA

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Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association - WUAA

For those interested in the study and preservation of Wisconsin's underwater history and cultural res

06/08/2026

A great crew joined WUAA to learn foundational underwater archaeology methods in our Shipwreck Documentation Class on May 30th!

Under guidance by expert Russell Leitz, attendees learned site surveying, trilateration, and artifact sketching. Thank you to everyone who came out to sharpen their fieldwork skills!

Check out the action, sketches, and highlights from the day below. We'd like to extend a huge thanks to Cassie Ballschmidt, who took many of these wonderful photos!

📷: Cassie Ballschmidt

05/22/2026

ATTENTION HISTORY BUFFS & CITIZEN SCIENTISTS: Help solve a 113-year-old Great Lakes mystery!

The Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association is launching a public citizen science expedition to find the Plymouth, a massive schooner that vanished during the Great Storm of 1913. We are chartering The Shoreline out of Jackson Harbor on Washington Island for the search.

To give as many people as possible a chance to join the search, registration is strictly limited to ONE DAY per person.

When: Friday, June 26th OR Saturday, June 27th, 2026.
Where: Washington Island, Door Peninsula (Jackson Harbor Departure)
Cost: $125 per person
You must book your own passage on the Washington Island Ferry ($46 for an adult + vehicle). Check the schedule here: https://wisferry.com/washington-island/

Registration is officially LIVE on the WUAA website! Spots are first-come, first-served, so secure your seat on the charter soon. Learn more here: https://www.wuaa.org/index.php/projects/plymouth-search-project

For more details or questions about the fieldwork, contact WUAA Project and Fieldwork Chairperson Emily Roth at [email protected].

Tickets for 6/26: https://www.wuaa.org/index.php/store/Plymouth-Search-Project-Friday-6-26-p752781539
Tickets for 6/27: https://www.wuaa.org/index.php/store/Plymouth-Search-Project-Saturday-6-27-p752779301

📷: C. Patrick Labadie Collection

05/18/2026

We are bringing our hands-on sidescan sonar training course back for another year, on Saturday, July 25th, 2026!

Sidescan sonar is an acoustic imaging technology that emits sonar pulses to create detailed images of the lakebed. It is one of the primary tools maritime historians and archaeologists use to detect and map underwater landscapes and historic shipwrecks.

When: Saturday, July 25th, 9:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. (in-classroom) & 1:00 p.m. - 4 p.m. (on water)
Where: Visit Sheboygan Classroom (826 S8th St.) & Sheboygan Marina**
Cost: $70.00

Participants will receive copies of the sidescan sonar software and the actual data recorded during our afternoon on the water. Completion of this course qualifies members to operate WUAA's sidescan sonar equipment on future research projects. Space is strictly limited to 10 participants.

**Please note that there will be an on-water component for this training. if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Alyssa Saldivar at [email protected].

Register here: https://www.wuaa.org/index.php/store/WUAA-Sidescan-Sonar-Certification-Training-Course-p746693288

05/13/2026

Explore the depths of Wisconsin's waters with our upcoming ROV training!

What is an ROV? An ROV (remotely operated vehicle) is a tethered underwater robot that allows us to explore, document, and study shipwrecks from the surface.

The Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association is excited to host a one-day training course on our Chasing M2 Pro Max ROV.** This course covers everything from operation and software navigation to maintenance, streaming, and safety rescues. Completion qualifies members to operate WUAA's ROV in the presence of a steward.

When: Saturday, June 6th, 9:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. (in-classroom) & 1:00 p.m. - 4 p.m. (on water)
Where: Visit Sheboygan Classroom (826 S8th St.) & Sheboygan Marina
Cost: $70.00

**Please note that there will be an on-water component for this training. if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Alyssa Saldivar at [email protected].

Space is limited to 10 participants!
Register here: https://www.wuaa.org/index.php/store/WUAA-ROV-Certification-Training-Course-p746679800

05/07/2026

Ever wondered how maritime archaeologists turn a shipwreck site into a detailed map? Join us for a hands-on Shipwreck Documentation Class at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum!

Led by veteran instructor Russel Leitz, you'll learn to identify wreck parts, draw to scale, and use trilateration to map scattered wreckage. This is the perfect way to build your skills for future projects.

When: Saturday, May 30th, 10:00 a.m - 2:00 p.m.
Where: Wisconsin Maritime Museum
Cost: $25.00

SPACE IS LIMITED! Only 5 spots left, so reserve your spot today!

Register here: https://wuaa.org/index.php/store/Shipwreck-Documentation-Class-p830318442

04/30/2026

How do you find a historic building foundation or a buried shipwreck without ever picking up a shovel? You look beneath the surface with ground-penetrating radar!

We are excited to announce a MAJOR upgrade to our archaeological capabilities: WUAA is officially adding Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to our survey equipment!

What is GPR?
GPR is a remote-sensing technology that allows us to see through the ground and water. The radar works by sending continuous pulses of radar energy into the ground along a survey line. When these pulses hit buried features, like walls, floors, or shipwreck remains, they bounce back to an antenna. By measuring the wave "echo" return times, we can determine the depth and density of objects hidden beneath the waves. A computer then translates this data into color-coded maps, showing us exactly where to focus our research!

GPR opens up a whole new world of discovery for WUAA. When you join WUAA, you get hands-on experience with cutting-edge tech like GPR and side-scan sonar. Whether you're a diver or a history buff who prefers to stay dry, there’s a place for you on our next citizen science team.

Find out more about WUAA Membership here: https://wuaa.org/index.php/membership

04/07/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18VdzYBKZ5/

03/17/2026

We are thrilled to share that the shipwreck F.J. King, rediscovered just last year after 139 years on the lakebed, has been officially named to the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places! The F.J. King was a rare canal schooner, built in 1867 to squeeze through the Welland Canal with only inches to spare. It carried grain, coal, and iron ore until a fierce gale claimed it off Door County in September 1886.

In June 2025, thanks to the dedicated research and survey efforts of Brendon Baillod and the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association, this 144-foot shipwreck was finally located in 140 feet of water. Baillod and the team of citizen scientists set out on a weekend-long survey expedition off of Baileys Harbor and found the wreck within hours of the search. The wreck site was surveyed by Wisconsin Historical Society maritime archaeologists in August and October.

The Wisconsin Historical Society announced on March 11, 2026, that the F.J. King is now listed on the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Sites! After eluding discovery and documentation for nearly 140 years, this listing ensures that the F.J. King’s story will be preserved for generations to come.

Photo Credit: (1) Brendon Baillod, WUAA, (2) Tamara Thomsen, Wisconsin Historical Society, (3) Zach Whitrock, Wisconsin Historical Society

03/10/2026

That's a wrap!

Ghost Ships 2026 took place this past weekend in Manitowoc.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to the Inn on Maritime Bay for hosting the festival, as well as all of our fantastic partners and sponsors. There were many incredible presentations, workshops, and exhibitors this year. We are grateful to the presenters who shared their work and expertise.

And thank you to all who attended! We hope you had the chance to stop by our ROV experience, sit down for some of the presentations and discussions, and learn something new about our maritime history this weekend.

See you at Ghost Ships 2027!

03/07/2026

Ghost Ships 2026 is officially underway!

Tune into the day's presentations and visit the exhibit hall, open 8am until 6pm.

Address

P. O. BOX 486
Waupaca, WI
54981

Website

http://www.wuaa.org/

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