See how we made secret Valentine's using invisible ink!

In less than 60 years after the end of the Civil War, the city of Newport News was internationally known as a shipbuilding center with excellent port facilities.

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.

Did you know that migrating animals and humans share many navigational methods?

At many times in our lives, things are very rarely what they seem to be. We tend to look around, quickly form an opinion, and move on. But all that truly gives us is an often inaccurate version of reality. But if we stop and take the time to observe and learn, we can see the bigger picture. I have to admit, when I was first introduced to the world of maritime art, I was quick to judge.

The expansionist ideals of Manifest Destiny pushed the United States into conflict with Mexico, with disputes over Texas and the Rio Grande sparking the Mexican-American War. During this period, young naval officer John L. Worden sought active duty, earning promotion and serving aboard USS Southampton, where he played a key role in supplying and supporting American operations along the Pacific coast and in Baja California.