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A collage of three images: the top-left image is a photo of the inside of the exhibit, the bottom-left image is a photo of the gift shop, and the image on the right is a photo of a large cannon that is present in the exhibit

Treasures of the Sea Museum Reopens at Owens Campus

October 21, 2024

The Treasures of the Sea Museum, located at the Stephen J. Betze Library on the Delaware Tech Owens Campus in Georgetown, Delaware, has reopened to the public.

The grand opening was held on Sept. 6, the 402nd anniversary of the sinking of the Nuestra Senora de Atocha, a Spanish treasure galleon that was a part of the 1622 treasure fleet traveling back to Spain with wealth from the New World when it sunk in a hurricane. The collection features objects recovered from the ship.

Mel Fisher, a chicken-farmer-turned-treasure-salvor, discovered the wreck and set to work recovering the objects. One of his investors was a local businessman, Melvin Joseph, who generously donated his portion of the recovered objects to Delaware Tech to create an exhibit in 1988.

Visitors can expect to spend about two hours in the museum as they experience the story of the Spanish colonists who gave their lives for the treasure of the Atocha. The collection features four bronze cannons, several silver and gold bars, copper ingots, and breathtaking jewelry. 

The exhibit is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for the general public, and $3 for students, seniors, and military members and veterans. For more information, visit the museum’s website at .

Delaware Tech Magazine
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