National Museum of American History
The Gunboat Philadelphia Preservation Project
August 22, 2025 – Ongoing
Follow the multiyear project to preserve the gunboat USS Philadelphia, 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. During the battle, the gunboat was hit by a 24-pound cannon ball near its bow and sank to the bottom of Lake Champlain. A salvage team found and raised the boat in 1935, and it was eventually moved to the National Museum of American History and Technology (the museum's original name) 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 help the museum ensure the survival of the Philadelphia for generations to come.
Visitors will be able to follow the museum’s multiyear project to preserve the gunboat USS Philadelphia, an iconic reminder of the spirit of the American Revolution, through two special viewing windows.
