Witness the Historic Relaunching of the Charles W. Morgan 21 July 2013 at Mystic Seaport After nearly five years of painstaking restoration in the H enry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard at Mystic Seaport Museum, the Charles W Morgan wi ll be launched on Sunday, 2 1 July. The date is significant, as it is the l 72"d anniversary of her original launch at the Hillman Brothers shipyard in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 184 1. Freshly planked, caulked, and painted, the ship will have been moved out onto the shiplift some days in advance and positioned to be lowered into the water. A temporary mast will be stepped to B.y the stars and stripes, and sh e will be properly dressed for the occasion. Mystic Seaport is planning a day full of special activities and programs surrounding the ship, with the high point being the launch ceremony that will begin at 2PM. Filmmaker Ric Burns will deliver the keynote address. Unlike most launches, there will be no big splash as she enters the water. Although the Morgan could no doubt handle it in her newly restored condition, the ship lift is designed to minimize stress to the hulls of historic vessels. Once the switch is thrown, she will inch slowly down until she B.oats clear of her supports. The process should take about twenty minutes. Once the Morgan is back in the water, the restoration work will continue as she is re-rigged and fitted out for her 38'h voyage to historic ports in New England, planned for the summer of 2014. The public is invi ted to attend what should be a great event. Both parking and space on the Mystic River (for those who choose to co me by boat) will be tight, so people are encouraged to arrive early. C heck for updates at the museum's website, www. mysricseaport.org. (a bove) The Charles W Morgan in November 2 008, as she was lifted out ofthe water to undergo a major restoration ofthe hull.
(Mystic Seaport, 75 Greenmanvill e Ave., Mystic, CT 06355; Ph. 860 572-0711; www.mys ricseaport.org)
Celebrating the Charles W. Morgan, A Special Marine Art Exhibition The Maritime Art Gallery at Mystic Seaport is holding a special exhibition this summer to celebrate the launch of the newly restored Charles W Morgan. Gallery artists have been invited to submit work that features the ship, and the resulting show will feature a wide range of media. A highlight of the show wi ll be a scratch-b uilt model of the ship by model builder Kenneth Thomsen (right). The 3/JG-scale model is 3 1 1/2 inches long and ~ features a remarkable level of derail. The exhibition runs 19 July to 8 Seprem~ ber. For more information contact the gallery at 860 572-5388 or gallery@ mysticseaporr.org. The Maritime Arr Gallery is free to the public and open 10AM to 5PM daily. (right) Charles W. Morgan, model by Kenneth Thomsen
Charles W. Morgan, Outward Bound, by Paul Beebe, watercolor 17" x 27" SEA HISTORY 143, SUMMER 20 13
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