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Neptune’s Fortune Book Talk with Julian Sancton

  • February 23, 2026 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

  • John Brown House Museum

    52 Power Street
    Providence, Rhode Island 02906
Ticket Price $5.72-$48.72 Register Now
Description

Exploring sunken ships and finding lost treasure is a dream shared by many youth. But where does one start that endeavor? Join the John Brown House Museum, a Rhode Island Historical Society Museum, on Monday, February 23rd at 5:30 pm as we host Julian Sancton, author of Neptune's Fortune: The Billion-Dollar Shipwreck and the Ghosts of the Spanish Empire.

During this lecture, Sancton will explore one man’s quest to locate the “Holy Grail of Shipwrecks.” Delve into the story of Roger Dooley, whose work in a Spanish archive led him to discover the San José, an eighteenth-century Spanish Galleon sunk off the coast of Colombia. Sancton wove together the historical events that led to the ship's sinking, the competition among treasure hunters, and the archival work required to locate it against all odds. 

Julian Sancton is a senior features editor and has a long career as a writer for numerous publications such as Vanity Fair, National Geographic, Esquire, The New Yorker, and GQ. His Bachelor's Degree in History from Harvard, combined with deep research experience, has translated into his New York Times bestselling book, Madhouse at the End of the Earth, which focuses on the story of an ill-fated 1897 Belgian expedition to Antarctica. 

Doors open at 4:30pm for a complimentary reception and book signing. Admission costs $10 per person, and $5 for RIHS members. A combo ticket that includes a hardcover copy of Neptune’s Fortune is available for $45.31, or $36.78 for RIHS members (prices include sales tax). Advance tickets are recommended as space is limited to 30 attendees. The John Brown House Museum is located at 52 Power Street in Providence; parking is available off Charlesfield Street.

Date & Time

Mon, Feb 23, 2026 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Venue Details

John Brown House Museum

52 Power Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02906 John Brown House Museum
Rhode Island Historical Society

The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state's oldest and only statewide historical organization, is dedicated to honoring, interpreting and sharing Rhode Island's past to enrich the present and inspire the future. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st  -century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center and the Aldrich House.


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