Capt. Cook's Endeavour shipwreck found off Rhode Island coast

Scientists have confirmed that the wreck of Captain James Cook's ship, the Endeavour, rests in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island. The Australian National Maritime Museum reported that the Endeavour was used during Cook's historic 1768-71 voyage to claim Australia for Britain. The ship was scuttled in 1778 by the British to blockade Newport Harbor during the Revolutionary War and was previously recorded under the name Lord Sandwich. The Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project, in collaboration with the museum, located several shipwrecks in the area, including one designated RI 2394. Tests on the remains of RI 2394, which included hull timbers and iron cannons, confirmed it as the Endeavour.

This finding resolves a long-standing nautical mystery and highlights the significance of maritime archaeology. The identification of the Endeavour adds to the understanding of naval history during the colonial period. Future exploration and preservation efforts will likely follow this discovery.