6^th Annual Wreathing of the Lions

It has become a Holiday Tradition! The Sixth Annual Bronze Door Society's Wreathing of the Lions will  take place on Sunday, Nov. 27 at the Lion's Bridge. The majestic lions will be decked out in their holiday finery and will be unveiled at the start of the event. As in years past, there will be games for little ones, as well as traditional fare for the adults. A ticket is not required; this is a community event and open to the public! Make this a part of a new tradition. Join us at the Lion's Bridge for an afternoon of holiday magic!

View the proposals submitted for this years Bronze Door Society Annual Dinner-Meeting selection dinner:

Preserving History Through Digital Photography

The Museum’s collections have thousands of priceless and rare maritime objects, but without your help many of these treasures will remain hidden to scholars, educators and the world. The photographic industry is rapidly abandoning film photography in favor of new digital methods. In 2010, film manufacturers such as Kodak, have discontinued film production. This has rendered the camera equipment used by Photographic Services obsolete because the appropriate film can no longer be purchased.

With your support, Photographic Services is proposing the purchase of a high resolution and high quality digital camera back. Here are some of the additional benefits of going digital.

• Digital photos are ready in seconds as opposed to sending film out for processing which can take up to two weeks.
• Approximately 20% of our collections have been photographed and the new digital back will accelerate this process.
• Staff time is optimized and operational costs are lowered because of a more streamlined process.
• After the camera back is purchased we eliminate consumable costs such as film, processing and archival supplies.
• The image quality of the digital back is far superior to film.
• Last, but not least, going digital means “going green,” and since no chemicals are used, this helps the Museum qualify for critical grants and designations.

Accelerated digitization, reduced costs and increased access of the Museum’s collections align with the Museum’s strategic plan. We must take the next step and convert to digital photography. This will allow us to continue to do high-profile projects such as the digitization of the one-of-a-kind manuscript “Notes on Knots” by Henry Bushby. Providing access to important collection items such as this and others will ensure the continued fulfillment of our mission and enhance The Mariners’ Museum’s presence in the 21^st century. Photographic Services has always been dedicated to providing the highest quality images for exhibitions, publications, and for the public. With your generous backing we hope to continue to provide outstanding service well into the future. Thank you for your consideration on this important project.

Double-turreted Monitor Toy, ca. 1880s
From the collection of Robert Davis

The original Monitor may have been firing 11-inch solid shot, but this toy boat shot marbles from its twin turrets!

This charming, 19^th-century pull toy will be prominently featured in the upcoming show Up Pops The Monitor–but has additional possibilities for permanent display within the Monitor Center as well as product development opportunities.

Curatorial staff have been hoping to procure a 19^th-century Monitor-themed toy and the location of this particular piece represents the culmination of nearly a decade of searching.

Exploration Through the Ages Website

We are requesting funding for an upgrade to our current Age of Exploration website. The Age of Exploration is a topic for which The Mariners' Museum is uniquely suited. With an encyclopedic international collection of artifacts, books, and archival material, The Mariners' Museum is able to tell the story of man’s exploration of the seas from Pytheas in the 4th century B.C. to Shackleton in the 20^th century A.D. and even beyond! The overall topic accounts for over 50% of all onsite and IVC school programs currently taught, and the current website accounts for the bulk of our overall web traffic during the school year. 

But no website can remain static. Standards of Learning change. Technology marches forward. For The Mariners’ Museum to own the topic of Age of Exploration, we must keep pace. The Exploration Through the Ages educational website which we are proposing will replace the current website which is now several years old. It will reflect information required in the National Standards of Learning as well as those of the Commonwealth in an enticing, engaging and educational package. Our staff and volunteers can provide the content–what we need is funding to hire a web design firm to make that content come alive for our virtual visitors.

Cape Charles Lighthouse Lens Repair Project

In early 2011, the 1^st Order Fresnel lens from the Cape Charles Lighthouse–one of The Mariners’ Museum’s most iconic artifacts–ceased to rotate. Inspection of the lens and its mechanism revealed several serious problems that must be repaired for the safety of the artifact. In addition, these problems must be addressed before the lens can ever rotate again.

This is a project that would consist of two phases. We are currently asking for funding for Phase One only. Determining a realistic budget and scope of work for Phase Two (creating a simplified motor and drive system)is wholly dependent upon the work done in Phase One.

The scope of work for Phase One includes

• Correcting fasteners within the system
• Installing fasteners in proper location using torque and pressure measurements
• Identify and pattern missing fasteners
• Examine the mechanical apparatus
• Identify improperly installed components and correct
• Measure and submit a plan for a simplified motor and drive system 

There is only one company in this country capable of doing this work–Lighthouse Lamp Shop, Inc. of Wisconsin. Funding would allow us to bring them here for the necessary time in which to complete this crucial work, and would allow us to have parts fabricated for the repairs. 

Kettle Pond Sculpture: Female Nude by Maria Gamundi

Kettle Pond is the site proposed for an exquisite marble sculpture by Venezuelan-born artist Maria Gamundi. Created in partnership with the Newport News Public Art Foundation, this piece would greet visitors to The Mariners’ Museum Park and Noland Trail.

Part of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington’s vision for The Mariners’ Museum Park and Lake was to create a sculpture garden, with artwork by Anna herself as well as that of other artists. While only a few pieces were installed (Anna’s work as well as her sister Harriet’s), the concept itself remains valid, and in keeping with the institution’s Charter and its Mission statement.

This sculpture would be commissioned specifically for this location and be designed to complement the natural setting of Kettle Pond. Estimated completion date is Spring 2013. 

The staff at The Mariners’ Museum seeks a lead gift of support for this project from the Bronze Door Society.

Conservation of the Welles Flag Collection

(Confederate signal flags: top – ‘cornet’; bottom – ‘preparatory’)

In December of 2010, the family of Gideon Welles–Secretary of the Union Navy during the American Civil War–donated 9 Civil War-era flags to The Mariners’ Museum following a nationwide search for a home for these significant pieces. Our staff vexillologists and textile experts agree that these flags are authentic to the period–and the provenance of the flags within the Welles family is well established. The most significant flags within this collection are five captured Confederate signal flags. Following an analysis of the flags by textile conservator Loreen Finkelstein, we are asking the Bronze Door Society to fund the conservation of these flags so that they might be displayed during the Civil War sesquicentennial and beyond.
 

34-star US Navy ensign

If this project is selected, we propose the conservation of the 34-star Union ensign next. Staff will seek additional funding for the remaining flags through other venues, or bring the remaining flags before the Bronze Door Society in 2012 for consideration.