A record-low Mississippi River is revealing all kinds of interesting things in Baton Rouge.

One of the interesting finds is the wreckage of the Brookhill ferry that sank more than a hundred years ago.

While State Archeologist Chip McGimsey says part of the ferry was visible during low levels on the Mississippi in 1992, you can see so much more today.

The point is, you can look, but you can't touch or take anything.

What Happened to the Brookhill Ferry?

Officials say a storm that whipped up in 1915 caused the ferry to sink, but the nightwatchman did make it out alive.

The Brookhill ferry boat was in service for Baton Rouge and Port Allen, and it was not the only one. These ferries helped to move people and cargo between the two areas. Things obviously changed when the big Mississippi River Bridge was built in 1968.

Where Do You Go to See the Ferry?

McGimsey says you can see the ferry boat by going to the levee near North and River Road Streets in Baton Rouge. Again, don't take anything. He says several people already have, but taking a "souvenir" is against state law because it's state property.

The State Archeologist says the Brookhill wasn't the only ferry lost to the Mississippi River. In the same year that Brookhill sank so did the ferry the Istrouma. It apparently sank after breaking from its moorings during a hurricane in 1915.

It was about two weeks ago when the wreckage of Brookhill was revealed to the world after all this time.

The Seven Modern Wonders of Acadiana

These landmarks in and around Lafayette leave us in awe and, in some cases, make us think what their designers were thinking.

The History Behind Lafayette's Street Names

We drive them on a daily basis. Some are smoother than others. Some we use more frequently than others. Some randomly start, end, and/or change names. They're the streets of Lafayette. The names behind many of these streets have interesting histories. We take a look at where those names come from and the impact their namesakes have had on the city and the parish.

 

More From Talk Radio 960 AM