Maritime Archaeological Society

The Maritime Archaeological Society is excited to continue the search for historic shipwrecks in the PNW, but we need your help purchasing a Side-Scan Sonar!

Who is the Maritime Archaeological Society?

Founded in 2015, we are a non-profit, citizen-scientist, volunteer organization dedicated to using professional archaeology to search for historic wrecks in the Pacific Northwest.

What are you searching for?

Our targets include the wreck of a Spanish galleon known as the "Beeswax Shipwreck", historic steamers, and sailing vessels along the Oregon and Washington coasts and the Puget Sound. There is also a rich history of Native American canoes swallowed by mud banks along our rivers. With interest from the indigenous communities that owned them, these vessels could become prime targets for discovery and repatriation.

What is a Side-Scan Sonar?

This device, towed behind our search boat, will create a picture of the search area. It’s the best way to find debris fields leading us to the wreck sites!

Discovering what happened to these vessels is challenging in these volatile and hard-to-search areas. Your contribution goes directly to purchasing a side-scan sonar, which we can deploy this summer with your help!