Researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered extensive fungal decay in the USS Cairo, one of the first ironclad and steam-powered gunboats used during the United States Civil War.
The findings have raised concerns about the long-term preservation of the historic vessel, which has been on public display for decades.
The study, recently published in the Journal of Fungi, highlights how a diverse range of fungi continues to degrade the ship’s wooden structure despite earlier conservation treatments.
The research forms part of ongoing efforts to understand how microorganisms contribute to the deterioration of historic wooden artefacts.
Built in 1861, the USS Cairo sank in December 1862 after striking a torpedo in the Yazoo River. The vessel was recovered nearly a century later and has since been displayed at the Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi.
Although the ship is protected by a canopy, it remains exposed to humidity and other environmental
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