Louisiana (United States)

Preservation, Public Interaction, and the Brookhill wreck in Baton Rouge. Louisiana, U.S.

Dr. Charles McGimsey (Louisiana Office of Cultural Development)

The Brookhill ferry sank in 1915 on the bank of the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A severe drought along the Mississippi drainage has exposed the wreck. Although not readily visible to the casual passerby, it is easily accessible to visitors. The wreck has received significant media coverage and has drawn hundreds of visitors a day. This paper explores the balance between documentation, preservation, heritage tourism, and education as it evolved in this specific situation.

Cover image: Visitors at the wreck (image courtesy of the Division of Archaeology)