After over 250 years since Captain James Cook first arrived on the east coast of Australia, the final resting place of his iconic ship, the HMS Endeavour, has been officially confirmed by the Australian National Maritime Museum. The museum’s long-awaited findings were published in a new report, concluding a 26-year investigation. The shipwreck is located in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island, USA, at a site called RI 2394. The ship, which played a crucial role in Cook’s pioneering voyage, was finally identified after years of historical and archaeological research. The report offers a definitive answer to a long-standing maritime mystery and marks a major milestone in the study of Captain Cook’s legacy.
The Endeavour’s Historic Voyage
The HMS Endeavour was a vital part of Captain Cook’s 1768-1771 voyage, which aimed to observe the transit of Venus in Tahiti and to chart undiscovered lands in the Southern Hemisphere. Cook’s journey took him along the coastlines of New Zealand and eastern Australia, marking a pivotal moment in the European exploration of the Pacific. For many, this expedition epitomized the Enlightenment ideals of exploration, curiosity, and scientific discovery, contributing to the advancement of European knowledge of the world. However, this same voyage is seen differently by many others, especially the Indigenous peoples of Australia and the Pacific Islands, as it also represents the beginning of colonization and the domination of native cultures.
The Endeavour’s role in European exploration left a profound impact, but its legacy is complex. While Cook’s discoveries were monumental for European nations, they paved the way for the colonization of Australia, which led to the displacement of First Nations Peoples and the disruption of their traditional ways of life.
“For some, the Pacific voyage led by James Cook between 1768 and 1771 embodies the spirit of Europe’s Age of Enlightenment, while for others it symbolizes the onset of colonization and the subjugation of First Nations Peoples,” the report reads. This dual perspective on Cook’s achievements illustrates the lasting controversies surrounding his exploration.
From Voyage to Scuttling: The End of Endeavour
After returning to England, the HMS Endeavour was sold to a private owner and renamed the Lord Sandwich. The ship’s history didn’t end there. It was eventually used in the American War of Independence, transporting British troops. Following the war, the ship’s condition began to deteriorate, and it was repurposed as a prison ship for American prisoners of war.
In 1778, the French forces blocked Narragansett Bay, leading to the decision to scuttle the Endeavour along with a dozen other vessels. The ship was intentionally sunk in Newport Harbor, where it stayed for more than 200 years, its exact location unknown to many. This marked the final chapter of the Endeavour’s storied existence. For centuries, its whereabouts remained a mystery, making its eventual discovery a historic achievement for researchers.
The Search for the Endeavour
The search for the HMS Endeavour began in earnest in 1999, when the Australian National Maritime Museum partnered with the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP). This collaboration aimed to locate the shipwreck, utilizing both historical records and modern archaeological methods. While many sites had been suggested over the years, RI 2394 emerged as the most promising candidate. The area was initially proposed in 2017, but it wasn’t until now that a definitive conclusion has been made.
Marine archaeologists had also considered RI 2578, another site thought to hold the wreck, but after rigorous research and investigation, this location was ruled out. The confirmation of RI 2394 now brings closure to this multi-decade search. Although RIMAP had previously raised doubts about the identification of the site, the Australian National Maritime Museum has now firmly stated its findings.
“This Final Report marks our definitive statement on the project,” said Daryl Karp AM, Director and CEO of the museum. This bold declaration signifies the museum’s confidence in the research, effectively closing the case on the Endeavour’s location after decades of painstaking investigation.
