19 Revolutionary War Cannons Recovered from Savannah River to Debut at Museum

During a $973 million project to deepen the Savannah River, workers uncovered 19 cannons from the Revolutionary War, which had been submerged for more than 200 years. Initially believed to belong to a Civil War vessel, radiocarbon analysis revealed their origins in the late 1700s. Weighing over 1,000 pounds each, the cannons were retrieved between 2021 and 2022 after dredging was halted, utilizing sonar technology. Experts from Texas A&M University restored 17, while two remain encrusted. Set to be displayed at the Savannah History Museum on July 2, 2026, in the "Loyalists & Liberty" exhibition, these artifacts may have originated from the HMS Savannah, a British ship sunk in 1779. Savannah was under British occupation from 1778 until 1782, and the cannons, along with other remnants, will remain in the city despite interest from federal and British officials.