Project: Recovery and Computer-Aided Analysis of the Hilton Wreck NC #037NER

The Hilton Wreck was the remains of a small mid-nineteenth century schooner that was discovered in 1988 during a remote sensing survey of the Northeast Cape Fear River. During the spring of 1989 an ocean going tug and barge dragging a 180-foot-long tow bridle, snagged a nearby submarine telephone cable and dragged it through the Hilton Wreck tearing off the transom, cockpit, and much of the after portion of the deck. In 1990 the Hilton Wreck was nominated to the National Register of Historic places and was included within the Wilmington Historic District.

Following four hurricanes that passed over Wilmington including Hurricanes Bertha and Fran in 1996, Hurricane Bonnie in 1998, and Floyd 1999, there were several attempts to relocate the Hilton Wreck. In August 2005 the wreck was finally relocated by M-AT beneath a large pile of logs and almost completely buried by up to 6-feet of sediment particularly along the port side. Plans to dredge the Wilmington Harbor and Northeast Cape Fear River required the vessel be raised to salvage as much archaeological information about wreck as possible.

For Internet Explorer 8 users: Slideshow: Virtually Build the Hilton Wreck