She began by saying that while there’s plenty of history to see and explore on land, the Chesapeake Bay is teeming with a flurry of underwater artifacts, many dating from the American Revolution, the Civil War and the War of 1812.

Langley then took the audience on a figurative trip under the waves to investigate a number of finds that help bring Maryland history to life with her talk, “Star-Spangled Archaeology, Commemorating the War of 1812 through Maritime Archaeology.”

The Maryland Maritime Archaeology Program of the Maryland Historical Trust is investigating a number of submerged cultural resources throughout the State’s Chesapeake waters including some adjacent in Virginia. These include privateers, both federal and state Navy vessels, and merchant ships. Some research involves search and survey using electronic remote sensing technologies in order to search for specific vessels or to investigate the sites of maritime battles.

Other studies involve multi-year planning for excavation, conservation and exhibition of significant events like the scuttling of the Chesapeake flotilla commanded by Joshua Barney on his flagship SCORPION.