A Ship for Every Season: A Reconstruction and Analysis of the Double-Ended Steamer Waccamaw (1861-present) (Eagles Island, North Carolina)

Abstract

Built on the foot of 10th St. in Manhattan in 1861 by shipbuilder John Englis, the double-ended steamer Waccamaw (ex. Nuestra Señora de Regla, ex. Commodore Hull) existed in a turbulent time in United States history. Amidst technological advances, bloody warfare, and a difficult reconstruction period, the face of the United States would dramatically from the middle to the end of the 19th century. Waccamaw was a product of these times, being used and reused to suit the needs and aspirations of individuals whose actions reflected the uncertainty of the day. This thesis endeavors to explain the processes which formed the Waccamaw site as it exists today on the bank of Eagles Island, North Carolina and by doing so provide insight into the behaviors of those who interacted with the vessel and its archaeological remains. This study is made up of four key elements to accomplish this task: the application of behavioral archaeological concepts of site formation theory, the consideration of environmental circumstances and broader historical trends, the digital reconstruction of the vessel in each stage of its life via the modeling software Rhinoceros® 3D, and the investigation of the site to collect the data necessary to complete a scaled photogrammetric model via Agisoft Metashape®.