I Ninth Maritime Heritage Conference
T
he 9'h Maritime H eritage Conference hosted by Historic Ships in Baltimore from 15-19 September drew an international participation of more than 400 attendees from as far away as China, Australia, No rway, Great Britain, and H awaii to tackle the most significant issues facing the maritime heritage comm uni ty as it enters the second decade of the new cemury. The theme "The Maritime Nexus: Re-connecting Landsmen with their Seagoing H eritage" envisioned the marine environm em-saltwater an d freshwater waterways-as a global m eeting place. The conference o rganizers set out to stimulate thinking on how history can awaken the public's consciousness of all the ways the maritime wo rld is meaningful, both in the past and today, and how it has shaped civilization. The dynamic kick-off plenary session set the stage for this, followed by 72 break-o ut sess ions held concurrently over the three-day conference focusing on specific issues, ships, lighthouses, preservation proj ects, marine sanctuaries, Captain Chan Zucker (Left) and D r. Tim Runyan (right) of the National Maritime Affiance bestowed the first Maritime Heritage Conand hands-on sail training education, amo ng the many topics. ference Award of Distinction to maritime author, adventurer and The plenary session, chaired by Patrick C. Burns, USN, Director marine archaeologist Clive Cuss/er. ofNavy Commemorations, featured David Rockefeller Jr. of Sailors for the Sea, Jose Fuentes of OpSail, and Admiral John C. Harvey significant shipwrecks, particularly CSS Hunley. Jr. , (USN). Mr. Rockefeller emphasized that it is the responsibility The future of two iconic American ships created much interof the maritime heritage community to make our history inter- est. A round table discussion on the fate of USS Olympia brought esting to yo un g people and to convert sailors into ocean stew- together representatives from the Independence Seaport Museum, ards. Jose Fuentes the Friends of Olympia, the Pennsylvania Historical Comdiscussed the role that missio n, the Na tional Park Service, and the US Navy to tall ships play in passdiscuss the current condition of the ship and future options. ing skills to a new D an McSweeney from the SS United States Co nservancy ge neration and prospoke to the need to find a viable solution to save the moting international famous American ocean liner. cooperation . Admiral Attendees also rook advantage of a wealth of opH arvey announced portunities to visit historic ships and maritime sites, the formation of the including the Liberty Ship john W Brown, USCG Barque Navy CommemoraEagle, the fleet of the Historic Ships in Baltimore, Fort tions Co mmi ss ion McHenry, the Naval History and Heritage Command, to celebrate the Biand the newly renovated US Naval Academy Museum in ce ntenni al of th e Annapolis. The Johns Hopkins University Star Spangled Banner Conferees got to tour aff Press hosted a reception at the Maryland and the War of 18 12 of historic vessels in Baltimore, Hisrorical Society to launch their latest as part of a plan to from the 1854 sfoop-ofwar USS tide, Maritime Maryland, a History, by Sea educate Amer icans Constellation (above), to a cruise H istory Advisor Dr. William S. Dudley. on the US Navy's mis- aboard the Liberty Ship John W C hris Rowsom, Conference C hair and sion and to stress the Brown , to the nuclear merchant Executive Director of Historic Ships in importance of learn- ship NS Savannah (right). Baltimore, and David Winkler, Confering and understandence Program C hair and Director of ing our nation's history. The navy has partnered with OpSail for a Programs at the Naval Histori cal Foundation, did an outstanding series of signamre tall-ship events, and NMHS is honored to sign job oforganizing the event with the support of more than two dozen on board to work on the educational component of these events, o ther maritime organizations including: the National Maritime Hisspearheading a "Beyond the Spectacle" educational program. to rical Society, the Historic Naval Ships Association , and the AmeriNational Maritime Alliance president Dr. Timothy Runya n can Lighthouse Coordinating Committee. The conference, held and secretary Cap tain C hanning Z ucker, organizers of the confer- under the auspices of the National Maritime Alliance, brings toence, presented author C live C ussler with the inaugural Maritime gether members from the various maritime heritage clans every three H eritage Conference Award of Distinction to two standi ng ova- years to exchange perspectives on the state of historical preservation -Burchenaf Green, President tions for his work in promoting interest in the oceans and finding and educational o utreach . SEA HISTORY 133 WINTER 2010-11
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