For more than two centuries, the final resting place of one of history’s most significant ships has been a mystery.
But now, after 250 years of uncertainty, experts believe they’ve finally found the remains of Captain James Cook’s famous ship, the Endeavour, off the coast of the United States.
From Exploration to Obscurity
The Endeavour was no ordinary ship. Between 1768 and 1771, it played a key role in expanding the boundaries of the known world—becoming the first European vessel to reach eastern Australia and successfully sailing around both of New Zealand’s main islands.
Captain Cook, on board, became a legendary explorer. But the ship itself didn’t enjoy the same fame.
After its voyage of discovery, the Endeavour was sold in 1775, renamed the Lord Sandwich, and eventually repurposed as a troop carrier during the American War of Independence.
In 1778, it was deliberately sunk—or “scuttled”—off the coast of Rhode Island along with four other ships.
Finally, A Confident Identification
Now, after decades of searching, archaeologists believe they’ve positively identified the Endeavour’s wreck, known in archaeological circles as RI 2394, lying in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island.
The Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) has just released a final report confirming the find after 25 years of intense investigation.
“This is the culmination of detailed underwater archaeology, rigorous analysis, and global collaboration,” said Daryl Karp, the ANMM director.
“We now have what we believe to be a definitive answer.”
Clues Hidden in the Wood and Design
The key evidence came from matching the wreck’s features with historical records of the Endeavour.
Archaeologists discovered structural components, like the position of the main and fore masts, that exactly matched historical ship plans.
The wreck’s dimensions also lined up with those recorded during a 1768 Royal Navy survey of the Endeavour.
Even more convincingly, timber analysis showed that the wood came from Europe—fitting with the ship’s known British construction and its 1776 repair work.
ANMM archaeologist Kieran Hosty said some parts were so precise in their resemblance to the Endeavour’s specifications that they were “identical to within millimetres.”
A Unique Scarph and a Rare Design
One of the strongest clues was found in the bow of the ship: a scarph joint, a specific and rare construction feature that matches designs from the Endeavour.
Hosty called the stem scarf “absolutely identical” to the original—and said researchers couldn’t find any other ships from that era with this same design detail.
Controversy Over the Claim
Despite the confidence from the ANMM team, not everyone is convinced.
Their American partners in the project, the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP), expressed strong objections when ANMM first released a preliminary report in 2022.
They said the announcement was “premature” and even claimed it violated agreements between the groups.
RIMAP maintains that RI 2394 might be the Endeavour—but they’re not ready to rule out other possibilities.
Nevertheless, ANMM archaeologist James Hunter believes there’s enough physical and historical evidence to make a solid case: “Everything we’ve found ticks the box for the Endeavour, and nothing rules it out.”
Why There’s No Obvious Label
One might expect some kind of nameplate, ship’s bell, or plaque saying “Captain Cook was here.”
But that’s not how shipwrecks work—especially those deliberately sunk as block ships.
Hunter explained that anything valuable would have been removed before scuttling.
So instead, researchers rely on construction techniques, timber origin, dimensions, and ship plans to build their case.
As Hosty put it: “We’ll never find a bell saying Endeavour. But everything we’ve found adds up.”
What Remains and What Happens Next
Today, only about 15 percent of the Endeavour’s structure survives underwater.
The focus now is on preserving what’s left and continuing to study it.
ANMM has acknowledged the vital contributions of its team, as well as RIMAP’s detailed historical work and the support of local Rhode Island experts.
How Do We Know It’s the Endeavour?
Here’s a quick breakdown of why researchers believe RI 2394 is the real deal:
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Historical records show that five British ships were scuttled near Goat Island in 1778—including the Lord Sandwich (formerly the Endeavour).
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Four wrecks have been found there, making it very likely the Endeavour is among them.
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RI 2394 matches the dimensions of Endeavour exactly—confirmed by archaeological measurements and original Navy ship plans.
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The construction style, timber origin, and unique features all line up with the Endeavour’s design.
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There’s no evidence suggesting RI 2394 could be any ship other than the Endeavour.
A Legendary Ship Returns to the Spotlight
For a ship that helped reshape our understanding of the world, it’s fitting that the Endeavour would eventually resurface—at least metaphorically.
While debate may continue in academic circles, one thing is clear: this discovery brings an important piece of history back into the light.