Discovery and Initial Documentation of USS NEVADA (BB-36): An Artifact of Two World Wars and the Advent of the Cold War

The discovery of the sunken remains of the battleship USS Nevada (BB-36) by Ocean Infinity and SEARCH Inc. in 2020 provided the means for documentation, site mapping and characterization of a deep-water shipwreck with an iconic history that spanned a half-century of profound change in the world in response to two world wars, shifting geopolitics and technological development that concluded with the advent of the atomic age. The mission took place during a global pandemic reflected in how the project and subsequent survey were conducted. Ultimately, the wreck of Nevada is an artifact that speaks to the times and the societal changes the ship was part of and is a potent reminder of that era and how the ship, the Navy, and society at large adapted to issues and changes of the era.