New Book Details Expedition to Map the Walker Wreck

Robert J. Walker Shipwreck

A diver explores the Robert J. Walker shipwreck. Credit: Stephen Nagiewicz

BookGalloway, N.J. - Stephen Nagiewicz was “collecting wrecks” as a diver in the 1990s when he first visited the $25 wreck, also a good fishing spot, nicknamed for how much a fisherman paid for the shipwreck’s coordinates off Atlantic City.

That initial visit was “just another dive,” but after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) identified it as the long-lost Robert J. Walker shipwreck, Nagiewicz went back in 2014 as part of an official mapping collaboration with the Stockton University Marine Field Station, the New Jersey Historical Divers Association and NOAA.  

Nagiewicz, an adjunct instructor at Stockton, a certified archaeologist and a teacher at Atlantic City High School, and James Delgado, a maritime archaeologist and historian, co-authored a book, “Robert J. Walker: the History and Archeology of a U.S. Coast Survey Steamship” detailing the expedition to map the wreck. Peter Straub, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, also contributed a chapter.  

The Walker collided with the schooner Fanny and sank on June 21, 1860, “which would 150 years later become World Hydrography Day, which was the business of the Walker—a coast survey ship doing hydrographic surveys around the country, Nagiewicz explained.   

The paddle steamer surveyed 17,942 miles of coastline in its 12 years of service that ended in tragedy with 20 lives lost in the greatest loss of life at sea in the history of the U.S. Coast Survey. 

Right after Sandy, “NOAA was there surveying the coast for New Jersey to see where all the trash from the hurricane might have wound up in the shipping lanes,” he explained.  

NOAA historians pointed out that the Walker supposedly sunk off Atlantic City and encouraged surveyors to look while they were in the area. The Walker is not alone under the sea. “There are several paddle wheelers believe it or not within 10 miles of each other in that spot,” Nagiewicz said.  

Robert J. Walker was Treasurer of the United States and tasked Coast Survey officers to find the Fresnel lens for Absecon Lighthouse, which was the only light that could have been seen on the stormy night when the ship in his name sunk. That light is “where they were headed before they sank.”   

Looking out from the top of Absecon Lighthouse, the state’s tallest lighthouse, the wreck lies to the southeast offshore of Ocean Casino.   

walker wreck

Nagiewicz first learned of the Walker from James Delgado at a lecture that sought help from local divers to assist NOAA in a mapping effort that led to the Walker being recognized on New Jersey’s National Parks Register of Historic Places. 

“It was because of Steve Evert and Peter Straub that Stockton became involved. They were willing to commit their resources,” said Nagiewicz.  

Students in Peter Straub’s Summer Intensive Research Experience (SIRE) had the unique opportunity to help map history in 2014

The mapping was a community archeology event where local people had a hand in mapping their own maritime history,” said Nagiewicz.  

Survey TeamMore than a dozen divers went underwater with yard sticks and tape measures and recorded their measurements on slates. Over the course of a week, about 3 terabytes of photos and footage were captured and the wreck dimensions were mapped.  
The mapping was a community archeology event where local people had a hand in mapping their own maritime history,” said Nagiewicz.  

A report was made for NOAA, and the community archeology aspect became Nagiewicz’s Professional Science Master’s capstone project that he presented at the Society of Historical Archeology in Washington. 

A square port hole, one of the first clues that identified the Walker, now lives in the main lobby of the John F. Scarpa Academic Building in Atlantic City in a kiosk display.  

Students who are interested in diving can take Nagiewicz’s Underwater Science and Technology general studies class that includes an optional scuba introduction at Ocean City Municipal Complex’s pool. His Impact of Shipwrecks on New Jersey Maritime History class allows students to hold history in their hands 

Nagiewicz was honeymooning in the Bahamas when he took his first dive. Now, 4,000 dives later, he is sharing and teaching maritime archeology, history and technology 

chelsea shieldsAlumni Spotlight 

When Chelsea Shields signed up for Peter Straub's summer research course, she was looking to fulfill a requirement and the opportunity sounded fun. As she describes below, the experience exceeded her expectations and put her closer to reaching her dream of studying sharks. 

"I honestly didn't know what I was getting myself into. Archeology and sonar were not my area of expertise, but I embraced it and worked very hard on mapping the Walker. Looking back, I'm so lucky to have been able to be a part of it. On top of being involved in discovering a piece of history, I made amazing connections through that project, many of whom I'm still in contact with today. Steve Nagiewicz wrote one of the recommendation letters that got me into graduate school. You wouldn't think that experience with sonar would be helpful in studying sharks, but it actually turned out to be a perfect fit. The practice of interpreting visualizations of sound helped me learn to use the ultrasound to determine pregnancy in sharks. I teach environmental biology and general biology now, and I always tell my students about the Walker project and how important it is to embrace every opportunity to get experience. You never know how something could impact your future. Being a part of finding that piece of history shaped my future." 

Shields taught a week-long field course in the Outer Banks just prior to COVID-19 shutting down the country. Stockton's Tropical Marine Biology course inspired her to pursue graduate school to become a teacher and offer similar field experiences for aspiring scientists. 


Reported by Susan Allen