francine bromberg, alexandria's archaeologist: "from the point of view of understanding ship building practices in the past this is an extremely important find." she says the ship was dismantled in the late 1800s and used as the framework to artificially extend the waterfront to the deeper part of the potomac river. francine bromberg, alexandria's archaeologist: "the founders of the city had incredible aspirations to become an international port." but it wasn't uncovered until construction workers started working on the new "hotel indigo" at 220 old town. while they don't know yet what the ship was used for -- they do think it could've been used for military purposes. "it's maybe dead pirates in there." once they remove the wood bromberg says they plan to keep it in a wet environment to preserve it. francine bromberg, alexandria's archaeologist: "it is a treasure to us. there is no way to put this into words how excited we are to get this find on the waterfront." back now to our weather, and what our evening commute is shaping up to be like. we turn things over to dick stoddard, who i

(francine bromberg, alexandria's archaeologist) "from the point of view of understanding ship building practices in the past this is an extremely important find.)) according to the city's archeologist, francine bromberg, it's roughly 50-feet long, which they believe may only be about 1/3 of the hull of a vessel. she says the ship was dismantled in the late 1800s and used as the framework to artificially extend the waterfront to the deeper part of the potomac river. overnight, a west coast wash out! el nino is transforming roads into roads... triggering torrential rains and flooding. look at this guy paddling down it's fun for some... while others are trying to drain their belongings. everything is just soaked, and full of mud! and look here-- a roof collapses at a san diego hotel. up next on action news at 3:30... the latest on our ever changing weather. and more on north korea's claim that it successfully set of a hydrogen bomb... the world reacts. plus... an odd story from malaysia airlines... it stopped accepting baggage from passengers flying to europe- why? and remember you can ge

. >> reporter: according to the city's archaeologists francine bromberg it's roughly 50 feet long which they believe may only be a third of the hull of a vessel. >> from the point of view o understanding ship buildining practices in the past this is an extremely important find. >> reporter: she says it was dismantled in the late 18th century and used as the framework to extend the waterfront to the deeper part of the potomac river. >> the founders of the city had incredible aspirations to become an iernational port. >> reporter: but it wasn't workers started working on the new hotel indigo at 220. they do tnk it could have been used for military purposes. >> maybe dead pirates in there. >> reporter: once they remove the wood they says they plan to keep it in a wet environment to preserve it. >> it is a treasure to us. the is no way to put this en into words how excited we are to find -- to get this find on the wateterfront. >> reporter: in alexandria, die an diane cho, abc news. > that's what's making news in america this morning. >> "gma" is next, have a great accurate weather team. go

theyhey never expected to start 2016 with a discovery from something as far back as 1775.1775 francine bromberg has been the arc psychologist at alexandrialex virginia for a quarter century. so it was totally water logged. you could say it was a pretty good day when francine got thehe call that a 250 year old sailing ship had been dug up in her city a remarkable archaeological dream basically.basi >> the revel rugsly war era shiphi was unearthed at the site thathe s was being cleared for a new hotel. turns out this area used to bee in the potomac river before it was back filled two centuries ago to expand alexandria'ss waterfront. we know that this ship was put in place sometime between 1775 and 1798. but who owned it? what did it carry and who sailed on it? foror now, that remains a mystery. but you know there are somere things we know about it not onlynly is this ship historic it has also become something of a celebrity. >> look at that. do you know the name of the ship? and just as soon as thethe fences were opened up to let folks get a look at this oldld ship a crowd sailed in. >> that is u

. >> reporter: according to the city's archaeologists francine bromberg it's rghly 50 feet long which they believe may only be a third of the hull of a vessel. >> from the point of view off understanding ship building practices in the past this is an extremely important find. >> reporter: she says iwas dismantled in the late 18th century and used as the framework to extend the waterfront to the deeper part of the potomac river. >> the founders of the city had incredible aspirations to become an international port. >> reporter: but it wasn't workers started working on the new hotel indigo at 220. they do think it could have been used for military purposes. >> maybe dead pirates in there. >> reporter: once they remove the wood they says they plan to keep it in a wet environment to preserve it. >> it is a treasure to us. there is no way to put this even into wor how excited we are to find -- to get this find on the waterfront. >> reporter: in alexandria, die an diane cho, abc news. >>> that's what's making news in america this morning.

reporter: an we're pranks an bromberg has been the arcologist in alexandria, virginia for a quarter century. >> it was totally water logged.g it was a good day when francineot the call that a 215 ship had been dug can up. >> an archaeological dream basically. the war era shipped was unearthed at this site that was being cleared for a new hotel. turns out this area used to be in the potomac river before it was back filled two centuries ago to expand alexandria's waterfront. we know that this ship was put in place sometime between 1775 and 1798. but who owned it, what did itit carry and who sailed on it, for now that remains a mystery. there are some thing we knownow about it not only is this ship historic it has also become something of a celebrity. look at that. they had to remove -- just as- soon as the fences were opened up to let folks look a look at this old ship a crowd sailed ine i think it's great. it's a great window to the past. it's like a once in a lifetime thing. > it makes you wonder what iss underneath the ground here. a 21st water tank to tableabl lies the wood will give experts like francine time to solve the mystery of alexandria's newest