A couple of months ago, the Museum decided it was time to begin exploring a program that would allow supporters to “adopt” items in the collections for restoration. While the details of this program are still in the works (museums often move slowly and deliberately on such things, and rightfully so), a call went out [...]
A piece from a possible 19th-century shipwreck washed ashore at Grand Mere State Park in Stevensville, Michigan near Lake Michigan. Experts believe the piece could have come from a large steamboat, a schooner’s yawl boat, or even a Mackinaw boat used in the fur trade. Check out these links for video and photos of the wreck. [...]
Season’s greetings from the Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation! Three Women’s Army Corps (WAC) personnel, Cpl. Helen Dent, Pvt. Louise De Sorcy, Cpl. Beth Haddow, present a Christmas wreath on December 14, 1944 at Newport News, VA during World War II. Christmas Kiddie’s Party for children of enlisted men and officers at Norfolk Army base, HRPE, December 23, [...]
The newspaper clipping from the Boston Post accompanying this undated (pre-1956) photograph from the Museum’s Chris-Craft Archives reads: Hard Flight From North Santason dashed up to the pier on the river in a smart motor boat on which his name was painted in large letters. Hardly had he landed before he presented Carolyn G. [...]
Last week I took a few minutes to visit the Conservation wet lab to visit Monitor‘s main engine, the first time I had seen it with the tank drained. Before I say anything about this experience, I ought to say that I love steam engines, have loved them ever since I was a child. Like [...]
Here’s an interesting, yet sad, story on the wreck of the Titanic. http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/11/new-metal-eating-bacteria-found-on-titanic/?iref=allsearch Scientists have discovered that a new species of metal-eating bacteria are eating away at the remains of the famous liner. In 1995, scientists estimated that wreck would survive another 30 years. Now they believe it is disappearing at a much faster rate. What a [...]
Lloyd’s Casualty Week for December 10 just arrived this morning at the library. Along with the usual information about vessels grounded, stranded, disabled, sunk, captured by pirates, or embroiled in civil unrest or labor disputes, there was an interesting note about the Panama Canal. Lloyd’s reports that for the first time in 20 years, the [...]
We have been following with interest the story about the USS Olympia (C6), the famed protected cruiser that served as Admiral Dewey’s flagship at Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. The cruiser is the only survivor of that war, and the oldest American steel warship afloat. She fired the opening shot in the action that [...]
Join us at the Library for these upcoming Secrets in the Stacks! January 5, 2011 – Notes on Knots: the Bushby Manuscript – Bill Edwards-Bodmer, Assistant Archivist February 2, 2011 – The Mariners’ Museum Library’s Unique Clippings Collection – Jennifer Anielski, Librarian, Technical Services March 2, 2011 – A. Aubrey Bodine’s Photographs – Tom Moore, [...]
From the rigging of the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria to the humble fisherman’s line, knots have been at the foundation of many of the most important, and everyday, events in maritime history. Without knots, much of the maritime world would literally fall apart. Library staff recently unearthed what many in the knot-tying community consider [...]
