Frequently Asked Questions

No. Like most steamships running the blockade, Denbigh was a British merchant ship – a civilian vessel. Most of her crew was probably British, although one of her captains, A. M. Godfrey, was an American, originally from Maine. Her original British Board of Trade registry appears never to have been altered or modified, even after she left the U.K. for good. She flew the British Red Ensign throughout her career. Blockade runners were unarmed merchant ships engaged in a very high-risk commercial gamble. It was a business, although a quasi-legal one.

2. What was Denbigh carrying when she was lost?

We don’t know for sure. The cargo lists for that last voyage haven’t been found, and most of the cargo was either destroyed in the fire or salvaged later. But cargo manifests from earlier voyages include a wide range of items, from arms and ammunition to raw materials to office supplies.

3. Who owns Denbigh now?

The Denbigh wreck site is a protected archaeological site under Texas law. It is officially designated 41GV143. (41 is Texas, GV is Galveston County, and 143 is the number of the site within the county.) In effect, Denbigh now belongs to all Texans. The Denbigh Project team is operating under a permit from the Texas Historical Commission, which oversees and approves all archaeological work on state land, which includes navigable waterways.

4. Who or what is the Institute of Nautical Archaeology?

5. What will happen to the artifacts recovered from the ship?

The artifacts recovered from Denbigh belong to the State of Texas, and will be preserved for future generations of students, researchers and the public. Artifacts recovered will either be taken to the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University in College Station, or placed in a smaller conservation lab at Texas A&M University at Galveston where they can be cleaned and preserved. Ultimately they will be deposited in a museum where, the Denbigh team hopes, they will serve as dramatic reminders of the way maritime technology was changing in the 1860s.

6. How long will this work go on?

The Denbigh Project team plans to complete at least one, and possibly two, more summers of work on this site. Working underwater is much slower than on land, and consequently it takes much more time to excavate an underwater site than one of equivalent size on land.

7. Who’s paying for this work? Does this project use public funds?

The Denbigh Project is funded entirely by donations from individuals, corporations and foundations.

8. Can I contribute to the Denbigh Project?

Yes. Underwater archaeology is also expensive; land archaeologists generally don’t need SCUBA gear and motorboats to get to and from work. Contributions can be made through the Institute of Nautical Archaeology and should be specifically designated for the Denbigh Project.

9. Can I personally get involved in projects like this one?

Definitely yes! Most field projects need individuals with a wide range of skills and experiences. Prior experience in archaeology and being a diver are not necessarily required; what is required is the willingness to work hard and be part of the team.

10. What do I do if I know of an historic wreck that needs protection?