A mariner, through and through, the artist John Alexander Noble (1913-1983) devoted his life's work to the capture of scenes of mariners at sea, shipping, salvage, and decay. But of all of the ships he captured, in various phases of their life and death, it was the Spanish Bark, Guadalhorce, that he seemed to favor above all others.

Our Curatorial Team explores the powerful image of a baptism captured in 1914 on the James River in Newport News, VA, shedding light on the deep, enduring connection Black Americans have had with water. Through this historical photograph, we reflect on the rich cultural and spiritual ties to water that have shaped African American history, and how these traditions continue to influence and resonate today.

Most everyone knows Hal Holbrook as a quintessential actor of television, movies, and the stage. Most everyone knows Hal Holbrook as a quintessential actor of television, movies, and the stage.

The brig-of-war USS Somers is one of the most ill-fated ships in US naval history. Its story is filled with powerful politicos, mutiny at sea, executions, and famous authors.

Just as the smoke cleared from the scene of the first Confederate victory at Big Bethel, onto the battlefield rapidly marched what would become one of the most colorful, daring, and poorly disciplined units of the Army of the Peninsula: Coppens’ Battalion.

Cataloging engravings from 16th and 17th century atlases and books requires intense detective work to accurately understand the image’s origin or the scene’s history.

Marion Barbara “Joe” Carstairs would be the first to tell you that she was “never a little girl.” Joe saw a lot of racing success, taking the trophies at several competitions in Southampton and Cannes. In 1925 Joe became “the fastest woman on water” during the Duke of York’s Trophy, a four-and-a-half mile race down the Thames.