Friday, June 17, 2016

Mariner's Museum, Newport News, VA

One of us (Karl) lived in Newport News, VA about 1956 and remembers visiting the Mariner's Museum.  My most vivid memories of that visit were the large ship models.  I was so pleased to see these old models upon a return visit in 2016, 60  years later.

1950s era steamer

In addition there were many exquisitely done small models. Including an exhibition of the remarkable miniatures done by Arthur Cranberry.

The famous whaler--C. W. Morgan

The Nina and Pinta by Arthur Cranberry

Another project of the museum is the restoration and conservation of the wreckage from the USS Monitor.  The turret with guns and the anchor and propeller were salvaged in 2002 and have been undergoing treatment ever since.

 Combines reflected selfie and pic of the turret of the Monitor being bathed in healing fluids

 The 9 inch Dalghren gun in a bath of NaOH

 Full scale mock up of the turret of the Monitor

 Reconstruction of the scene when the turret was raised upside down

Monitor's anchor fully conserved

More than these exhibits there were hundreds of fascinating items.  Commentary would be boring so I will present some pictures lightly annotated.

 Entrance

 Old harpoon and display of whale's baleen

 Model of Queen Elizabeth

St. Paul as figurehead.  One of many figureheads on display.

 An Enigma machine from the Germany Navy circa 1942

The Dilema,  Nate Herschoff's race boat.  The first yacht with a fin keel and spade rudder. It won every race it ever entered and revolutionized yacht design forever.

Grand Banks dory.  Over 100,000 of these were made for fishing the Grand Banks.

 19th century gondola

Gold plated figure head from US battleship in the Spanish American war.

And there were many, many other things to see.  It was quite an eventful day for White Pepper.






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