The Rochester-Avon Historical Society presents “If These Waters Could Talk: Maritime Archaeology in the St. Clair Flats” with Daniel Harrison
Maritime archaeologist Daniel Harrison will present the history of the delta of the St. Clair River, also known as “The Flats” during the Rochester-Avon Historical Society’s general meeting on Thursday October 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the Rochester Hills Public Library, 500 Olde Towne Rd. Vessels of every kind – from canoes to schooners and steamboats to ore freighters – have traveled down the St. Clair River, but not always successfully. Harrison will discuss this unique and fascinating waterway and its transformation through the nineteenth century.
Harrison is a historian and librarian at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, and a consulting maritime archaeologist for the Detroit Historical Society and Cranbrook Institute of Arts. In over thirty years of diving and sailing the Great Lakes, Harrison has developed a love of maritime history and lore. He is the first North American to earn a NAS II certification and was awarded the NAS “Grand Traverse Prize” in 2008 for his survey of War of 1812 site, which led to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places and its inclusion in 2014 as a unit of the River Raisin National Battlefield Park. Harrison is currently pursuing his doctorate in Anthropology at Wayne State University.