Seventeen iron cannons that sank in the Savannah River during the 1779 siege have been cleaned, conserved and moved into the Savannah History Museum, just in time for the Fourth of July celebrations and the nation’s 250th anniversary. The guns, each weighing up to 1,500 pounds, were lifted from a truck and wheeled inside the museum on June 3, 2026, after years of meticulous work by archaeologists and conservators.

17 Cannons Lifted into Savannah History Museum on June 3, 2026

Workers at the Savannah History Museum in Georgia carefully hoisted the massive artillery pieces from a delivery truck and guided them onto custom‑built mounts that resemble giant wine racks. Museum curator Samantha Moss explained that the team spent months engineering the mounts to support the weight and to showcase the guns safely for the public.

Two of the cannons remain in their raw, mud‑encrusted state, offering visitors a glimpse of how they were found, while the others have been treated with paint and wax to halt corrosion. "They look brand new," said U.S. army Corps of Engineers archaeologist Andrea Farmer, noting the remarkable preservation of the iron after more than two centuries underwater.

2021 Dredging Project Unearthed Siege‑of‑Savannah Artifacts

The cannons were discovered during a routine dredging operation in the Savannah River in 2021, a project that was not originally intended to search for historic material. Divers reported the guns encased in thick mud and mineral deposits, a condition that helped protect the metal from the ravages of time.

Radiocarbon datig of wooden plugs found inside the bores confirmed a late‑18th‑century origin, linking the artifacts directly to the 1779 British attempt to block French ships during the infamous siege. The find provides a rare archaeological connection to a battle that was one of the bloodiest of the American Revolution.

Preservation Work at Texas A&M Saved 15 Iron Guns

After recovery, fifteen of the cannons were sent to a conservation lab at Texas A&M University , where specialists spent years cleaning, stabilizing and coating each piece. The lab team removed layers of corrosion, applied protective wax and repainted the guns to match period‑accurate colors, ensuring they would survive future display conditions.

Some of the artillery bears scars from anchors and dredging equipment, evidence of the violent forces that dragged them from the riverbed. "The preservation process was painstaking but essential," the Texas A&M team noted in a statement to the museum.

British Scuttling in 1779 Likely Behind the Sunken Cannons

Historical analysis suggests the British deliberately sank the guns to create a defensive barrier against the French fleet supporting American forces. The tactic, known as scuttling, was a common naval strategy in the 18th century and aligns with contemporary accounts of the siege.

Andrea Farmer remarked that the cannons could theoretically still be fired, a testament to their condition, though the museum has no intention of testing that possibility.. Their presence now serves as a tangible reminder of Savannah’s strategic role in the Revolutionary War.

Could Any of the Cannons Still Be Fired?

While Farmer’s observation hints at functional potential, no independent testing has been conducted, and the museum has not confirmed any plans to attempt a live demonstration. The lack of a definitive answer leaves a small but intriguing mystery about the guns’ ultimate capabilities.