War Graves, Empire, and Gold: The Legal Afterlife of the San José Galleon

PRES 6520 | Environmental Law: Historic Preservation
Professor Lloyd Shields

This project analyzed the ongoing international legal dispute over the San José galleon, a Spanish warship sunk off the coast of Cartagena in 1708. Drawing from environmental, maritime, and preservation law, I examined competing claims from Colombia, Spain, Sea Search Armada (a U.S.-based salvage firm), and the Qhara Qhara Indigenous community of Bolivia. My analysis highlighted the limitations of existing international frameworks—such as UNCLOS and the 2001 UNESCO Convention—in resolving conflicts over submerged heritage, especially when sovereign immunity, commercial salvage rights, and Indigenous restitution overlap. The paper also addressed environmental and ethical concerns associated with deep-sea salvage and war grave protection, proposing collaborative stewardship as an alternative to single-party ownership. This project bridged U.S. preservation case law with evolving global standards for managing underwater cultural resources, emphasizing the need for inclusive and non-exploitative governance models.

Historic Building Documentation

PRES 6210 | Architectural Conservation Lab
Professor Michael Shoriak

This project represents the final submission for the Architectural Conservation Lab, a course focused on the diagnostic study and preservation of historic building materials. Through case studies across Louisiana and Barbados, I analyzed five key materials—stone, earthen (bousillage), wood, brick, and terracotta—by documenting deterioration patterns and identifying traditional construction techniques. Each site, including the Orpheum Theater in New Orleans and the Sorapuru House in Edgard, offered a distinct lens into regional preservation challenges shaped by climate, material behavior, and historic context.

Over the semester, I completed six laboratory investigations designed to build technical proficiency in conservation diagnostics. These included bulk sample identification under a stereomicroscope, porosity and density analysis using Archimedes’ method, water permeability testing with RILEM tubes, capillary action studies on handmade vs. machine-made brick, and sieve-based grain classification of historic mortars. These exercises provided a scientific understanding of material performance and deterioration mechanisms relevant to masonry systems.

For the final, I produced a comprehensive conditions assessment and preservation strategy for the terra cotta façade of the Orpheum Theater. Referencing National Park Service Preservation Briefs and ASTM standards, I developed a treatment plan addressing cleaning methods, biological growth removal, mortar compatibility, repointing, and surface repair protocols. I also created photogrammetric ortho projections and performed detailed delineations in AutoCAD to document and visualize areas of surface loss, cracking, and material degradation. This graphic and technical analysis served as the foundation for a full restoration specification aligned with national best practices.

The combined lab and fieldwork formed a rigorous introduction to conservation science, bridging theoretical knowledge with applied techniques. The experience built a working methodology for diagnosing historic materials and designing interventions rooted in ethics, compatibility, and long-term preservation outcomes.

New Orleans, LA, USAinfo@madameguignol.com
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, or “El Morro,” completed in 1790, stands as the quintessential symbol of Spanish military might in the Americas. The six-level fortress was built 140 feet above the Bay of San Juan and was designed to unleas
Perched on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, approximately 40 miles from its mouth in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, Fort St. Philip stands as a haunting relic of the region’s turbulent past. Once a critical military installation prote
Charity Hospital, a 20-story Art Deco icon in New Orleans, has been a symbol of healthcare and architectural innovation since its completion in 1939. Designed by Weiss, Dreyfous, and Seiferth and funded by the Public Works Administration (PWA), it re
The century-old Market Street Power Plant, a historic complex that once powered New Orleans and was described by the Times-Picayune in 1905 as “the largest electrical generating plant in the South,” now stands abandoned along the Mississi
Thomas Sully, a renowned Louisiana architect of the late 19th century, had a lesser-known passion for boat design. Alongside his architectural achievements, Sully served as commodore of the Southern Yacht Club and dabbled in yacht design. Although it
Fort Gaines, located on Dauphin Island, Alabama, boasts a rich history spanning more than two centuries. Named after Edmund Pendleton Gaines, it was constructed in 1821 as part of the Third System plan to enhance America’s coastal defenses. To

Powered by Squarespace

Cart (0)