Mariners’ Museum Gondola Headed to National Gallery of Art

For Immediate Release

Mariners’ Museum Gondola Headed to National Gallery of Art

Newport News, Va. - (January 2011) - a historic gondola at The Mariners’ Museum in Newport News will be removed from the Museum by crane and tractor-trailer, for a trip to Washington, D.C. 

In the nation’s capital, the gondola will be on loan to the National Gallery of Art for its exhibition Venice: Canaletto and His Rivals. The exhibition runs from Feb. 20, 2011 - May 20, 2011 at the National Gallery of Art.

The gondola dates from the mid-19^th century and was once owned by American painter Thomas Moran (1837–1926). It is 37 feet long and 5 feet wide.

Moran brought it to his summer residence in East Hampton, N.Y., in 1890 as a souvenir. After Moran’s death, the gondola was donated to the East Hampton Library. In 1950, it was offered it to The Mariners’ Museum, where it is today displayed in the International Small Craft Center. In 1999, The Mariner’s Museum had the gondola restored.

For more information:
Contact: John Warren
(757) 591-7746
E-mail: pr@MarinersMuseum.org 

The Mariners' Museum, an educational, non-profit institution accredited by the American Association of Museums, preserves and interprets maritime history through an international collection of ship models, figureheads, paintings and other maritime artifacts. The museum is open from 10 A.M. until 5 P.M. Wednesday through Saturday, and 12 to 5 P.M. Sunday. It will be closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. For information, visit www.MarinersMuseum.org, call (757) 596-2222 or (800) 581-7245, or write to The Mariners' Museum, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News, VA 23606.

The Mariners' Museum and The South Street Seaport Museum of New York City are partners in America's National Maritime Museum, an innovative alliance recognized by an act of Congress in June 1998 to share collections, exhibitions, educational programs, publications, and other endeavors.