History & Hops

Description

Jerry Ostermiller will share A Tale of Two Shipwrecks: Underwater Archaeology on the Most Dangerous Bar which introduces a 1989 discovery of a mysterious shipwreck near Sand Island at the mouth of the Columbia River. Underwater archaeology in extreme environments is inherently difficult. The Columbia River Maritime Museum and the National Park Service’s Cultural Resource Dive Team initially identified this ship as the Hudson’s Bay Company Supply Vessel Isabella. Over the next 18 years, Ostermiller conducted annual monitoring dives for the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office which produced new information requiring further study, leading to a different shipwreck identity. This shipwreck has become a national case study and was featured in a National Geographic Society TV production illustrating the value of new “CSI-type” technologies. Jerry Ostermiller is an award-winning historian specializing in underwater archaeology. He is a Master Diver and a founding member of the Maritime Archaeology Society and the Pacific Northwest Maritime Heritage Council. He served as the executive director of the Columbia River Maritime Museum for 20 years. History & Hops is a monthly series of local history discussions hosted by the Seaside Museum at Seaside Brewing Co