Dr. Della A Scott-Ireton

Florida’s geographical position historically made the state strategically important to imperialistic nations looking to expand their New World influence. Britain and Spain, and even France, made efforts to settle and dominate colonial Florida through naval means. The maritime archaeological remains of these imperial endeavours are scattered around the state’s shores. This paper describes British shipwrecks in Florida waters, some of which have been archaeologically investigated and some of which have been ravaged by treasure hunters. The State of Florida’s strategies for managing these shipwrecks for the public benefit is explored, including innovative educational and heritage tourism programs.