Welcome to the Home Page of the Hamilton-Scourge Web Site

The Hamilton and the Scourge were two schooners that sank in Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. Today, these vessels rest under 300 feet of water.

In 1976 the National Historic Sites and Monuments board noted that the shipwrecks are "considered to be of national historic significance," and have attracted much international attention. The two ships present a unique glimpse into the military and social life of early 19th century Canada. This time capsule, a moment in history captured and preserved by the icy waters of Lake Ontario, provide an exciting opportunity for generating knowledge and community involvement.

Since the shipwrecks' discovery in 1973, a number of experts from around the world have conducted unmanned dives to examine the ships. Today, the ships are owned by the Corporation of the City of Hamilton and managed through the Hamilton-Scourge Project within the Cultural and Events Services Branch of the Department of Culture and Recreation, Community Services Division.

Explore the story of these vessels through the archaeological investigations and the first-hand account of one of the ship's survivors.

Share in the discovery of the shipwrecks by choosing a link on this page.

This site is best viewed at 800 x 600 resolution

The Ships - A look at the ships' history, and a virtual tour of the remains.

War of 1812 - The historical setting surrounding the shipwrecks.

The Sinking - First hand accounts from survivors and witnesses.

Discovery - The 20th century discovery of these national treasures.

Archaeology - Join archaeologists as they learn about the shipwrecks.

Future Plans - Learn what the future holds for the Hamilton and the Scourge.

The Table of Contents page lists all of the pages on this Web Site

The Hamilton-Scourge Society, a non-profit organization, was formed in 1982 to create awareness for the Hamilton-Scourge Project and undertake fundraising. The Society holds an annual general meeting. For additional information contact Ian Kerr-Wilson, Project Co-Ordinator for the Hamilton-Scourge Project, by clicking here or sending an e-mail to hamiltonscourge@city.hamilton.on.ca

The images and text on the web page are intended for a wide audience. The site is meant to be entertaining yet informative and can be used for research purposes. Visitors interested in nautical archaeology, history and shipbuilding can explore this and more by choosing one of the links on this page. Make a selection from the navigation bar at the top of the page.

For those who would prefer a guided tour, click on the ship's compass in the upper left-hand corner. Click on the compass on every page to continue your tour, but feel free to follow other links at any time. To be sure you don't miss anything, visit the Table of Contents page for a complete list of all of the pages at this site.

For follow-up reading on the Hamilton and Scourge, the visitor is referred to Ghost Ships - Hamilton & Scourge: Historical Treasures from the War of 1812 by Emily Cain, 1983.

All content on this site is protected under copyright by the Corporation of the City of Hamilton and Interactive Multimedia Heritage Incorporated. Information found at this site
cannot be reproduced without prior written permission.

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