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WORK TITLE: Shipwrecked in Paradise
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S): Johnston, Paul Forsythe
BIRTHDATE: 1950
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“PAUL F. JOHNSTON is curator of Maritime History at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History and is secretary for the Council of American Maritime Museums.” * http://americanhistory.si.edu/profile/429 * http://www.si.edu/researchstudy/Staffhp/johnstonp.htm * https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-f-johnston-48ba8341/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born 1950.
EDUCATION:Middlebury College, B.A.; University of Pennsylvania, Ph.D.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and curator. Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA, curator of maritime history, 1981-89; Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History, Washington, DC, curator of maritime history, 1989–.
MEMBER:Council of American Maritime Museums (secretary), Archaeological Institute of America, American Association of Museums, ICOMOS International.
AWARDS:Award of Merit, American Association of Museums, 1985; Great Lakes History Prize, 1996; Research Prize, Smithsonian Secretary, 2016, for Shipwrecked in Paradise.
WRITINGS
Contributor of articles to publications, including Nautical Research Journal, Underwater Archaeology, and American Neptune.
SIDELIGHTS
Paul F. Johnston is a writer and museum curator. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. From 1981 to 1989, he served as a curator of maritime history at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. In 1989 he joined the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History as a curator of maritime history. Johnston continues to hold that position. He has received awards for his work and his writings from organizations, including the American Association of Museums and the Smithsonian Secretary. Johnston has written articles that have appeared in publications that include Nautical Research Journal, Underwater Archaeology, and American Neptune. He has also written or edited books.
In 1983 Johnston released his first book, Steam and the Sea. He published The New England Fisheries: A Treasure Greater Than Gold: The Russell W. Knight Collection of New England Fishing Scenes the following year. Johnston is the editor of the 1985 work Proceedings of the Sixteenth Conference on Underwater Archaeology. He released Ship and Boat Models in Ancient Greece in 1985. After a twenty-two year break, Johnston edited The Maritime Administration Collection of Ship Plans (1939-1970) with Paula J. Johnson.
In 2015 Johnston released Shipwrecked in Paradise: Cleopatra’s Barge in Hawaii. It was awarded the Smithsonian Secretary’s Research Prize in 2016. In the book, Johnston tells the story of a ship called Cleopatra’s Barge. It was built in 1816 in Salem, Massachusetts, and was the first private oceangoing yacht in the United States. The ship’s design was eye-catching, and it drew crowds while it was being built, as well as at locations where its owner, George Crowninshield, Jr., docked it. Crowninshield was an eccentric man who amassed great wealth through his shipping business during the War of 1812. He spared no expense in building Cleopatra’s Barge and planned to spend much of his time on the yacht traveling to and from Europe. However, Crowninshield died in 1818, having made only one trip across the Atlantic, during which he had hoped to meet and marry an Italian princess. Crowninshield’s brother inherited Cleopatra’s Barge, but he chose not to keep it. King Liholiho of Hawaii traded one million pounds of sandalwood in exchange for the ship. The ship became the Royal Hawaiian Yacht, and Liholiho used it to travel between the islands. However, while he was in England in 1824, the ship wrecked off the coast of Kauai. Some of the pieces of the ship were salvaged, but much of it sat at the bottom of Hanalei Bay for more than a century. Johnston discusses his personal connection to the ship, explaining that he has taken part in archaeological excavations of Cleopatra’s Barge. He notes that obtaining a permit to excavate the ship was a difficult process and describes the dives he took part in. He tells of the items that he and the other excavators pulled from the wrecked ship. Johnston also comments on the construction of Cleopatra’s Barge, the equipment it featured, and the materials used to build it.
C.A. Ward offered a mixed review of Shipwrecked in Paradise in Choice. Ward described the volume as an “irresistibly titled, richly illustrated work, rich in historical details.” However, Ward concluded: “One hopes a more nuanced interpretation will follow.” Other assessments of the book were more favorable. “It’s a ‘must’ for archaeologists and nautical history fans alike,” asserted a contributor to the Bookwatch. Mark N. Lardas, critic on the NRG’s Model Ship World Web site, suggested: “Shipwrecked in Paradise reads like a cross between a travelogue, a history book, and marine archaeology report. It covers its topic with a thorough completeness, yet is entertaining as well. The illustrations are both attractive and informative. Those interested in ships of the period will find this a worthwhile acquisition.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Bookwatch, January, 2016, review of Shipwrecked in Paradise: Cleopatra’s Barge in Hawaii.
Choice, June, 2016, C.A. Ward, review of Shipwrecked in Paradise, p. 1531.
ONLINE
National Museum of American History Web site, http://americanhistory.si.edu/ (May 13, 2017), author profile.
Paul F. Johnston
Curator, National Museum of American History at Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution University of Pennsylvania
Washington D.C. Metro Area 282 282 connections
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Specialties: •Maritime History, Art and Archaeology•Shipwrecks•Motorcycles and Road History
Experience
Smithsonian Institution
Curator, National Museum of American History
Company NameSmithsonian Institution
Dates EmployedJan 1989 – Present Employment Duration28 yrs 3 mos
LocationWashington, DC USA
Independent
Independent Author, Editor, Consultant
Company NameIndependent
Dates Employed1990 – Present Employment Duration27 yrs 3 mos
LocationNational and International
See description See more about Independent Author, Editor, Consultant, Independent
Peabody Essex Museum
Curator of Maritime History
Company NamePeabody Essex Museum
Dates Employed1981 – 1989 Employment Duration8 yrs
LocationSalem, MA
Education
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Degree Name Ph.D. Field Of Study Anthropology/Archaeology
Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Degree Name B.A. Field Of Study English Literature
Featured Skills & Endorsements
History See 54 endorsements for History 54
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Museums See 49 endorsements for Museums 49
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Endorsed by 2 of Paul F.’s colleagues at Smithsonian Institution
Archaeology See 46 endorsements for Archaeology 46
Endorsed by Robert S Neyland and 8 others who are highly skilled at this
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Accomplishments
Paul F. has 3 publications3
Publications
publication titleACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2016
publication descriptionThis is an edited 225-page volume of 31 papers from the 2016 Conference on Historical and Underwater Archaeology, held in Washington, DC in January 2016. The annual conference is produced by the Society for Historical Archaeology.
publication descriptionAdvisory Council on Underwater Archaeology
publication dateDec 2016
Authors
Paul F. Johnston
See publication Exhibition: The Norie Marine Atlas & The Guano Trade
publication titleExhibition: The Norie Marine Atlas & The Guano Trade
publication descriptionThis exhibition displays John W. Norie's Marine Atlas (1828)--the world's only known copy in a public institution. The last two charts in the double elephant folio volume contain notations relating to the American guano trade, which led to our nation's earliest extraterritorial claims of foreign lands. Artifacts from the guano trade amplify the story, which includes the first two Secretaries of the Smithsonian; the Secretary of the Navy; the US Congress; and the Guano Islands Act of 1856. This exhibition closed 29 January 2017; it can be seen online at the above URL. Some portions of the exhibition will be displayed in 2017 by the International Studies Program, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA.
publication descriptionSmithsonian's National Museum of American History
publication dateFeb 16, 2016
Authors
Paul F. Johnston
publication titleShipwrecked in Paradise: Cleopatra's Barge in Hawai'i
publication descriptionThis book investigates the history and archaeology of America's first ocean-going yacht, built at Salem, MA in 1816. In 1820, it was sold for more than a million pounds of sandalwood to Hawaiian King Kamehameha II, who used it as his royal yacht. It sank in 1824 in Hanalei Bay, Kauai; in 1995, its wreck was located and excavated over the next several years by Paul F. Johnston of the Smithsonian under the only underwater archaeological permits ever issued by the State of Hawai'i. Artifacts from the famous hermaphrodite brig are on permanent display at the Kaua'i Museum in Lihue, Kaua'i.
On 14 September 2016, this book won the Smithsonian Secretary's Research Prize for exemplary scholarship and outstanding contribution towards the increase and diffusion of knowledge.
publication descriptionTexas A&M University Press
publication dateAug 17, 2015
Authors
Paul F. Johnston
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Certification
See certificate NASBLA-Approved DC Boating Safety Course
TitleNASBLA-Approved DC Boating Safety Course
License 9L815698G117J156771AF960S
Certification DateJul 2013 – Present
Boat US Foundation
Certification authorityBoat US Foundation
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Paul F. has 1 honor1
Honor & Award
honor titleSmithsonian Secretary's 2016 Research Prize
honor descriptionThis award is given "For exemplary scholarship and outstanding contribution towards the increase and diffusion of knowledge."
honor dateSep 2016
honor issuerSecretary of the Smithsonian Institution
Paul F. Johnston
Curator
Division of Work and Industry
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania B.A., Middlebury College
Research Specialties:
Maritime History, Art and Archaeology
Shipwrecks
Motorcycles and Road History
Projects:
Current Projects:
Integration of a 4,000 object collection from CIGNA Corporation into Smithsonian Collections.
Shipwreck research on the wreck of the Royal Yacht of Hawaiian King Kamehameha II
Exhibition research for forthcoming maritime history exhibition
Past Projects:
Principal Investigator for archaeological research on the wreck of the 1846 propeller Indiana, which sank in Lake Superior in 1856
Awards, Honors, and Special Recognition:
Great Lakes History Prize, July 1996
Award of Merit, American Association of Museums 1985 Museum Publications Competition
Professional Affiliations:
Member, Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology (Chair, 1989-1995)
Member, Interagency Working Group, US Department of State
Member, NOAA Monitor Sanctuary Advisory Committee
Vice Chair, Smithsonian Institution Scientific Diving Control Board
Bureau Diving Officer, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Corresponding Member, ICOMOS International Committee on Underwater Cultural Heritage
Chair, Archaeology Committee, Council of American Maritime Museums
Member, Accreditation Visiting Committee, American Association of Museums
Member, Underwater Archaeology Committee, Archaeological Institute of America
Board of Directors, Ships of Discovery
Advisory Board, U.S. Scientific Committee for the CSS Alabama Project
Advisory Committee, U.S. Navy H. L. Hunley Shipwreck Project
Blog Posts
It's your birthday, Panama Canal! August 13, 2014
A Simple Gesture: Remembering a museum volunteer July 7, 2011
Publications
“A Million Pounds of Sandalwood: The History of Cleopatra’s Barge in Hawaii” The American Neptune 63.1 (Winter 2002) 5-45.
The history of America’s first ocean-going yacht from 1820–1824, after it was purchased by Hawaiian King Kamehameha II and used as his royal yacht.
“A Million Pounds of Sandalwood: The History of Cleopatra’s Barge in Hawaii”
“The Origins of Marine Art,” Schatkamer: Veertien opstellen over maritiem-historische onderwerpen aangeboden aan Leo M. Akveld bij zijn afscheid van het Maritiem Museum Rotterdam (Franeker: Uitgeverij Wijnen, 2002) 114—127.
“Washington, D.C.: The Smithsonian Institution,” SHA Newsletter 34.1 (Spring 2001) 27.
A brief discussion of maritime archaeological research at the Smithsonian.
“1997 Excavations of the Royal Hawaiian Yacht Ha‘aheo o Hawaii in Hanalei Bay, Kauai: Preliminary Report,” in Lawrence E. Babits et al. (eds.), Underwater Archaeology 1998. Tucson: Society for Historical Archaeology, 1998. 96–103.
Highlights of the 1997 shipwreck excavation season.
"Preliminary Report on the 1996 Excavations of the Wreck of Ha’aheo o Hawaii (ex-Cleopatra’s Barge) in Hanalei Bay, Kauai," in Denise C. Lakey (ed.), Underwater Archaeology 1997. Tucson: Society for Historical Archaeology, 1997. 113–120.
Highlights of the 1996 shipwreck excavation season.
"An Enduring Legacy," Nautical Research Journal 42.2 (June 1997) 111.
"Titanic Ethics," Museum News 76.3 (May/June 1997) 7.
"Hanalei Redux" Increase & Diffusion: A Smithsonian Web Magazine 3 (March 1997).
A general-interest article on shipwreck archaeology and what is required behind the scenes.
"Hanalei Redux"
"Do They Really Pay You To Do That?" Increase & Diffusion: A Smithsonian Web Magazine 1 (September 1996).
A general-interest article on shipwreck archaeology and what is required behind the scenes.
"Do They Really Pay You To Do That?"
"The 1824 Wreck of the Royal Hawaiian Yacht Ha ’aheo o Hawaii (ex-Cleopatra’s Barge): 1996 Preliminary Results," in Michael A. Lang (ed.), Methods and Techniques of Underwater Research: Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences 1996 Scientific Diving Symposium. (Washington, D.C.: AAUS, 1996) 133–135.
Highlights of the 1996 shipwreck excavation season.
"The Wreck of America’s First Yacht: Cleopatra’s Barge (Ha ’aheo o Hawaii): 1995 Survey," in Stephen R. James, Jr. (ed.), Underwater Archaeology Proceedings from the Society for Historical Archaeology Conference. Cincinnati, Ohio: Society for Historical Archaeology, 1996. 61–66.
Highlights of the 1995 survey for—and discovery of—the Royal Hawaiian Yacht.
"DOWNBOUND: The History of the Early Great Lakes Propeller Indiana," The American Neptune 55.4 (1995) 323–355. Awarded the Great Lakes History Prize, July 1996.
History of one of the earliest propeller-driven steamboats in the Great Lakes, the propulsion machinery of which was
raised by the Smithsonian in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The Maritime Administration Collection of Ship Plans (1939–1970). with Paula J. Johnson (eds.) Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, 1995.
A catalog of Smithsonian ship plans available to the public.
Underwater Archaeology Proceedings from The Society For Historical Archaeology Conference. e.d. Washington, D.C.: Society for Historical Archaeology, 1995.
An edited volume of current (1995) underwater archaeological research (mostly fieldwork).
Underwater Archaeology Proceedings from The Society For Historical Archaeology Conference. Washington, D.C.: Society for Historical Archaeology, 1995.
An edited volume of current (1995) underwater archaeological research (mostly fieldwork).
"Escape by Water: The Smithsonian Institution’s Ship Plans Catalogs," Seaways IV.3 (May/June 1993) 32–35. Reprinted in Messing About in Boats 11.18 (1 Feb. 1994) 6–8.
Description of the Smithsonian’s three ship plans catalogs.
"Treasure Salvage, Archaeological Ethics and Maritime Museums," International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 22.1 (1993) 53–60. Reprinted in Prott et al., Background Materials on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (Paris: UNESCO, 2000) 393–401.
A discussion of the ethics of collecting artifacts from shipwrecks.
"The Wreck of the Steamboat Indiana," Bermuda Journal of Archaeology and Maritime History 5 (1993) 181–192.
History and archaeology of one of the earliest propeller-driven steamboats in the Great Lakes.
"Downbound: Exploring the Wreck of the Indiana," Michigan History Magazine 77.5 (September/October 1993) 24–30.
General-interest account of one of the earliest propeller-driven steamboats in the Great Lakes.
"Maritime Museum Policy and the Acquisition of Archaeological Materials," Bulletin of the Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology 16.1 (1992) 15–18.
A discussion of the ethics of collecting artifacts from ship wrecks.
"Is it Treasure or a Worthless Piece of Ship?" Historical Archaeology 26.4 (1992) 119–123.
A discussion of the ethics of collecting artifacts from ship wrecks.
“The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.,” in Peter Neill (ed.), Great Maritime Museums of the World. New York: Harry Abrams and Balsam Press, 1991. pp. 278–89
An overview of the 19th century origins of the Smithsonian’s maritime collections and a discussion of its highlights.
"The Duty to Save Sunken Booty," Business and Society Review 73 (1990) 18–21.
The business of treasure hunting.
"The Philadelphia Steamboat of 1796," (ed.), Melvin H. Jackson. The American Neptune L.3 (1990) 201–210.
Article about Philadelphian Griffin Greene and a failed steamboat venture; the original materials are in the Smithsonian’s transportation collections.
"Between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea: Archaeology and the Council of American Maritime Museums," in J. Barto Arnold III (ed.), Underwater Archaeology Proceedings from the Society for Historical Archaeology Conference. Pleasant Hill, Calif.: Society for Historical Archaeology, 1989. pp. 149–150.
Museum ethics and policies regarding submerged cultural heritage.
"The End of the Age of Sail: Merchant Shipping in the Nineteenth Century," in George F. Bass (ed.), Ships and Shipwrecks of the Americas. London: Thames and Hudson, 1988. Chapter 12: pp. 231–50.
Proceedings of the Sixteenth Conference on Underwater Archaeology, (ed.). Pleasant Hill, Calif: Society for Historical Archaeology, 1986. SHA Special Publications Series No. 4.
An edited volume of underwater archaeological research (mostly fieldwork).
Ship and Boat Models in Ancient Greece. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1985.
A study of some of the world’s earliest ship models.
The New England Fisheries: A Treasure Greater than Gold. Salem: Peabody Museum, 1984. Received Award of Merit, American Association of Museums 1985 Museum Publications Competition.
An exhibition catalog and historical treatment of early and modern regional fisheries.
Steam and the Sea. Salem: Peabody Museum, 1983.
An exhibition catalog and historical treatment of the origins and development of steamships from the 18th to the 20th centuries.
“The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.,” in Peter Neill (ed.), Great Maritime Museums of the World. New York: Harry Abrams and Balsam Press, 1991. pp. 278–289
An overview of the 19th century origins of the Smithsonian’s maritime collections and a discussion of its highlights.
The Maritime Administration Collection of Ship Plans (1939–1970) with Paula J. Johnson (eds.) Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1995.
A catalog of Smithsonian ship plans available to the public.
“The End of the Age of Sail: Merchant Shipping in the Nineteenth Century,” in George F. Bass (ed.), Ships and Shipwrecks of the Americas. London: Thames and Hudson, 1988. Chapter 12: pp. 231–50.
An historical and archaeological synthesis, with an emphasis on the knowledge gained from period shipwrecks.
QUOTED: "It's a 'must' for archaeologists and nautical history fans alike."
Shipwrecked in Paradise
The Bookwatch. (Jan. 2016):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/bw/index.htm
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Shipwrecked in Paradise
Paul F. Johnston
Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
www.tamupress.com
9781623492830, $39.95, www.tamupress.com
Shipwrecked in Paradise: Cleopatra's Barge in Hawai'i tells of America's first oceangoing private yacht, built in Massachusetts as a flashy cruiser for a private owner. Sold several times after his death, the ship wound up in Hawai'i and was purchased by a king for a million pounds of sandalwood, renamed, and became the royal flagship until she was lost in 1924 in Kaua'i. This offers a history of the boat from her 1816 construction to her 1995 discovery and excavation by the Smithsonian Institution. Packed with photos, documents and rich archaeological and historical detail, it's a 'must' for archaeologists and nautical history fans alike.
QUOTED: "irresistibly titled, richly illustrated work, rich in historical details."
"One hopes a more nuanced interpretation will follow."
Johnston, Paul F.: Shipwrecked in paradise: Cleopatra's barge in Hawai'i
C.A. Ward
CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries. 53.10 (June 2016): p1531.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association CHOICE
http://www.ala.org/acrl/choice/about
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Johnston, Paul F. Shipwrecked in paradise: Cleopatra's barge in Hawai'i. Texas A&M, 2015. 204p bibl index afp ISBN 9781623492830 cloth, $39.95; ISBN 9781623492847 ebook, contact publisher for price
(cc) 53-4529
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This irresistibly titled, richly illustrated work, rich in historical details, tells the story of a lost ship and the investigation and recovery of its several identities by Smithsonian maritime historian Johnston. Built in Salem, MA, as an oceangoing yacht for a wealthy eccentric, Cleopatra's Barge drew thousands of sightseers during construction in 1816 and wherever it made landfall until the owner's death in 1818. Later sold to King Kamehameha II of Hawaii, who allowed Western missionaries to expand across his realm, the ship became a beloved emblem of his reign until it hit a reef in 1824. The Barge is particularly significant as one of few closely dated sites to include both Western and Hawaiian artifacts from this era. Johnston reviews a wide range of historical documents and materials in an effort to locate the ship within its cultural setting as he describes his fascination with the vessel's story, his preparations for survey and excavation at the site (1995-2000), and project work and results. Written in the style of George F. Bass's classic Archaeology under Water (CH, Jan'67), the volume provides Johnston's personal perspective on the project and a preliminary presentation of archaeological materials, though one hopes a more nuanced interpretation will follow. Summing Up: ** Recommended. All levels/libraries.--C. A. Ward, Institute of Nautical Archaeology
Ward, C.A.
QUOTED: "Shipwrecked in Paradise reads like a cross between a travelogue, a history book, and marine archaeology report. It covers its topic with a thorough completeness, yet is entertaining as well. The illustrations are both attractive and informative. Those interested in ships of the period will find this a worthwhile acquisition."
Cleopatra’s Barge was one of the more historically significant ships in American maritime history. Built in 1816, it was the first private seagoing yacht built in North America. In its day, it attracted the type of crowds associated with celebrities when it docked.
Shipwrecked In Paradise: Cleopatra’s Barge in Hawai’i, by Paul F. Johnston, tells both the story of the ship and of its recovery by marine archaeologists.
The ship was built for George Crowninshield, Jr., an eccentric Salem, Massachusetts shipping magnate who made a fortune privateering in the War of 1812. He spent some of the money gained during that war to build the then-last word in yachts. He spent a fortune building and outfitting Cleopatra’s Barge, a hermaphrodite brig intended for trans-Atlantic voyaging. He planned many visits to Europe, but died after the first, a trip to the Mediterranean (where he failed to find an Italian princess to wed).
The heir, his brother, sold the ship to King Liholiho of Hawai’i for 8000 piculs (one million pounds) of sandalwood. It remained the Royal Hawaiian Yacht until 1824, when it wrecked in Hanalei Bay in Kaua’i Island (Liholiho was away on a trip to England). The partially-salvaged wreck eventually settled in the bay’s bottom. Paul Johnston, the curator of maritime history at the Smithsonian Institution, was fascinated by this story. Given an opportunity to examine Cleopatra’s Barge, he took it.
The first section of the book describes Johnston’s adventures excavating the ship. It provides an inside look at marine archeology. He includes descriptions of the dives, and the less expected (or desired) aspects. Johnston’s description of his quest to obtain excavation permits is amusing reading, but rivalled the travails of Odysseus.
He then explores the history of the ship itself, telling of its original and subsequent owners, the society in which the ship existed, and the ship’s travels. Johnston provides an entertaining and informative tale. For those interested in maritime history of the early 1800s, this chapter makes the book worth reading.
The next section examines Cleopatra’s Barge’s structure and equipment. It describes the ship’s appearance, including comparing Johnston’s findings to previous assumptions about the ship. Johnston discusses the materials used to build Cleopatra’s Barge, and develops a probable interior arrangement of the ship. It also covers shipbuilding techniques contemporary to Cleopatra’s Barge’s construction.
This is followed with a chapter about what was found during the excavation, both modern and nineteenth century. Part of the challenge in an archaeological study is determining what belongs with the wreck studied, and what just drifted into the site. The contemporaneous artifacts aboard the wreck reveal much about life at that time.
Shipwrecked in Paradise reads like a cross between a travelogue, a history book, and marine archaeology report. It covers its topic with a thorough completeness, yet is entertaining as well. The illustrations are both attractive and informative. Those interested in ships of the period will find this a worthwhile acquisition. The general reader with find it an entertaining read.
Mark N. Lardas
League City, Texas