Maritime History

It is always a quandary for us retired folks to decide what to do on a day when we can't get out on the water. Thankfully we have great museums around, and that's another reason we like this historical region so much. When the wind was "blowing like stink" from the north the other day, we headed to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum at Basin Harbor in Vermont. We hadn't been there in about 10 years and although even back then we were impressed, we were even more surprised to see how far it has come with its displays. My photos this time are a bit smaller to take up less room on this page, but if you click on any of them, they will enlarge. Here are a few highlights from our afternoon visit:

A new addition to the museum is the Hazelett Watercraft Center. Below is their 1902 ice yacht Storm King that was used on Lake Champlain. They can go up to 5 times the speed of the wind. This gorgeous building is full of canoes, kayaks, rowing skiffs, and other wooden watercraft that were used on Lake Champlain.

These are two Lake Champlain 'Sailabouts' of which there were about 20 made.

This is Sunfish Hull #1, the first Sunfish ever produced! 

Next we were drawn into the Steam to Gasoline Building. I bet you can see why! The collection of antique outboards was donated by one man and lined the walls.

The wheelhouse, doors, and dinnerware were from the 200 ft. long steamer Reindeer. Seeing these bits and pieces reminded me of the Titanic.

The Nautical Archeology Center housed many artifacts from the American Revolution on the lake and told stories of historic shipwrecks. This cannon and the remains of its carriage were found very close to Valcour Island.

Out on the docks is the Philadelphia II, which is a replica gunboat built at the Maritime Museum.

It was very rough in the bay and out on the big lake. It is hard to tell, but the floating docks were moving so much that I had a hard time getting out to the boat. Those are Lake Champlain Longboats on the left side.

The Rhinehart Blacksmithing Arts Center and metal shop are where classes are held for kids wanting to cast metals, including tin, copper, and bronze. They get to make and bring home their own knives by the end of the class. From what I have read it's really hard work.

The Blacksmith Shop is where the iron fittings for the Philadelphia II were forged. Notice the big bellows on the left.

The Boat Shop and Boat Shed were busy with activities and projects.

There was a class in session where the kids build their own wooden kayaks. When completed they load it with gear and travel from South Bay all the way to Burlington. I believe the trip takes about 10 days. There were also real young children participating in summer camp. What a great sight to see the youth so active in these projects!

On our way out, I couldn't resist getting photos of these Pyrex bowls on display. We grew up with the mixing bowls and my mother still had hers until her house was sold.

This display had to do with an introduction to the program being held on the educational ship Lois McClure that was built in Burlington. We followed the progress of this replica sailing canal boat as it was being built and were on hand when it was launched in 2004. This summer it has teamed up with the Corning Museum of Glass's GlassBarge to retrace the move of the Flint Glass Works from Brooklyn to Corning, NY, where it became Corning Glass Works. On board there will be exhibits and displays of actual glassblowing.

We even have one of these old TVs in our cellar, and ours has a magnifier on the front. I guess we have even more historical items than we thought!