The Michigan Historical Museum is installing an exhibit about an
unidentified wreck on the Great Lakes circa 1840.
It was a working schooner in the fishing trade (no identifying marks as to
the specific vessel) and all of the information about the wreck is based on
archaelogical research. Its cargo was fish & salt in barrels. It may have
occasionally carried paying passengers and would have had a crew of 3 or 4.
Problematical are the champagne bottles & 1 beer bottle found in the stern
cabin.

We have a couple of questions about why these bottles (particularly the
champagne) may have been found on the wreck.
1. Was champagne more common than other kinds of wine in this time period?
2. Was it used as more of a table-wine than as a celebration drink?

If anyone can help with these questions, we would deeply appreciate it.

Thanks all!

Sincerely,

Susan E. Cooper Finney
Exhibit Designer
Michigan Historical Museum
Lansing, Michigan

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).