The Maine Maritime Museum was recently awarded a “Museums for America” grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The grant, totaling $160,519, will fund the “Principal Collections Storage Inventory, Documentation, and Assessment Project.”

The 27-month project will include a comprehensive inventory, cataloging, and digitization of the museum’s principal collection storage space, which holds more than 9,000 objects. The project will allow the museum to significantly expand its online catalog, providing public access to the collections.

“We are thrilled to receive an IMLS grant. This large-scale project supports the museum’s care for its collection at the highest level, and will provide the opportunity for all to access information about the museum’s 20,000-plus artifacts online,” said Christopher Timm, Chief Curator.

Museums for America supports projects that strengthen the ability of an individual museum to benefit the public by providing high-quality, inclusive learning experiences, serving as community anchors and essential partners in addressing community needs, and by preserving and providing access to the collections entrusted to its care. 126 projects were funded through this year’s Museums for America program.

“As pillars of our communities, libraries and museums bring people together by providing important programs, services, and collections. These institutions are trusted spaces where people can learn, explore and grow,” said IMLS Director Crosby Kemper. “IMLS is proud to support their initiatives through our grants as they educate and enhance their communities.”

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. IMLS advances, supports, and empowers America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. IMLS’ vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov.

South Street Seaport Museum announces docking of the schooner Apollonia on August 28, September 25 and October 30, 2021 at Pier 16 (Fulton and South Streets) in Manhattan. Apollonia is the Hudson Valley’s carbon-neutral, wind-powered merchant vessel that harkens back to earlier times. Schooner Apollonia will visit the South Street Seaport Museum on August 28 from 9:15am to 11am at Pier 16 to unload cargo from upstate. Goods such as New York State cider, maple products, wool, and other sustainable products can be ordered for pickup at the Fulton Stall Market. 

Items can be pre-ordered at schoonerapollonia.com/down-river-partners through August 19. Additional dates for pick up and purchase at the Fulton Stall Market include Saturday, September 25 and Saturday, October 30, 2021. Orders must be placed by September 16 and October 21, 2021, respectively, for pick up on these dates.

For centuries, schooners carrying goods down the Hudson River from upstate docked at South Street Seaport, to distribute their cargo to local markets or to transfer their cargo onto ocean-bound ships to more distant destinations. This trade, and the industries it supported, from banking to warehousing to printing, helped make New York City into a global commercial and then cultural capital.

Apollonia is a 64-foot steel-hulled schooner built in Baltimore, MD in 1946. She’s designed to move efficiently through the water, powered by a traditional gaff-rig sail plan designed by naval architect J Murray Watts. With a 15’ beam and rugged steel construction, she’s a stout work boat capable of carrying 20,000 pounds of cargo. Being a schooner, the crew requirements are smaller, and the variety of sails provide flexibility for different conditions encountered on the river. 

Next month, join staff from the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum for a leisurely three-hour paddle through one of the largest surviving and northernmost natural stands of bald cypress trees on the East Coast. Scheduled to launch at 10am Saturday, Sept. 25, this paddle is good for the beginner and intermediate kayaker. 

Trap Pond State Park has 3,653 acres to explore by land and water and hosts a large campground, hiking and biking trails, and a disc golf course. Participants are invited to paddle and to explore the park for just the day or to continue by sharing in a family style meal and camping under the canopy of loblolly trees.     

The cost to participate for those staying overnight is $85 for overnight with a kayak rental or $65 for those bringing their own. For those joining just for the day, the cost is $65 with a kayak rental or $45 for those bringing their own. A 20% discount is available for CBMM members. For additional details and to register, visit cbmm.org/paddleovernight.  

The National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) and The Sandpiper passenger tour boat are collaborating to provide more opportunities to explore Great Lakes history both by land and water with a new “Ship & Shore package” and an onboard Port of Toledo: Then & Now exhibit. On Saturday, August 28 and Saturday, September 11, the museum and passenger boat are teaming up to offer two days featuring an “Ultimate Great Lakes History Day”—a special combination ticket including full access to the National Museum of the Great Lakes and a trip along the Maumee River aboard The Sandpiper. In addition, the museum is installing a Port of Toledo online exhibit onboard The Sandpiper which uses QR codes to help cruisers visually compare and learn the history behind various spots along the river’s banks.

Ship & Shore: The Ultimate Great Lakes History Day is offered two Saturdays this
summer—August 28 and September 11. Tickets must be purchased in advance at nmgl.org or by calling 419-214-5000. For additional information visit nmgl.org/event/shipshore

the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) and the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature received prestigious awards for sustainability from the California Association of Museums and the California Natural Resources Agency. The Natural Resources Secretary’s Awards for Excellence in Sustainability recognize the outstanding achievements in sustainability for California museum projects in two areas: public education, or internal operations projects.  SBMM received the Secretary’s Public Education Award for Sustainability, and the Wildling Museum of Art & Nature won the award for Operational Sustainability.

The museum’s received their awards for the following efforts:

• Programmatic Recognition: Santa Barbara Maritime Museum – Maritime on the Move (MotM) is an outdoor experiential program where students explore local habitats with trained naturalists. The focused curriculum includes the Santa Barbara Channel, human interaction with the ocean, environmental conservation, and biodiversity while highlighting what students can do to actively impact the sustainability of our planet. 
• Operational Recognition: Wildling Museum of Art and Nature ‒ The Greening of a Small Museum. The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature is a Green Certified Business and has incorporated as many sustainable features as affordable. The solar installation on the roof of the museum is the most recent sustainable accomplishment

We’ve all heard that it’s good to clean, drain, and dry. Why? Aquatic invasive species are plants, animals, or pathogens that make their way into our lake through connected waterways and hitching rides on our recreational gear. They threaten native species by competing for habit and food, cause economic and ecological harm, and pose potential health threats to humans and wildlife.  In 2020, there were 51 invasive species in Lake Champlain. Are there actions we can take to help prevent the spread of these species and stop new potential lake invaders? Yes. You are invited to a free online webinar and conversation this Thursday, August 12 at 4 PM with Meg Modley Gilbertson, Aquatic Invasive Species Management Coordinator with Lake Champlain Basin Program, to learn more about this lake threat. Meg will walk us through the latest update on how many invasive species are threatening our lake, which ones are the biggest offenders are right now, and the most important things we need to know to prevent future threats and invasions. After a presentation, we’ll open it up to a conversation and Q & A to explore any specific examples and help each other.   This webinar is free to attend, simply register in advance for the invitation link:

Register for August 12 Webinar

The Herreshoff Museum received funding to develop a virtual exhibit for the Nathanael Greene Herreshoff Workshop & Model Room. What is unusual about this particular project though is that the Model Room & Workshop are not ever usually open to the public (for preservation and collections security reasons) except by appointment, so accessibility has always been a challenge. That also made this exhibit the perfect candidate for a digital experience. After having the two rooms scanned, the museum then populated it with audio recordings of Halsey Herreshoff and more than 700 supporting images and archival documents. The Herreshoff Museum is proud of this small step towards increasing accessibility to the exhibit for visitors both in-person and virtual. The virtual exhibit can be found at https://herreshoff.org/model-room-tour/

On four Saturdays this October, young mariners ages 4–9 are invited to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md., to participate in CBMM’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Team. Class sizes are limited, with advanced registration needed. 

Each week, STEAM Team participants will join a CBMMeducator in a hands-on exploration incorporating science, technology, engineering, and math with the arts. Two sessions will be held each week, one from 10am–noon for children ages 4 to 6, and another from 1–3pm for children ages 7 to 9.  

Program themes include “Oyster Exploration” on Oct. 2, “Digging Geology” on Oct. 9, “Engineering Agents” on Oct. 16, and “Who, What, Where, and Weather” on Oct. 23. 

The cost per class is $15, with a 20% discount for CBMM members. Register online for all four sessions for an additional discount. Need-based scholarships for individual classes are available. For more information, and to register, visit cbmm.org/steamteam. 

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) will present “Casting a Light into the Deep Sea,” a free Zoom webinar with research ecologist Lizzie Duncan, exploring what scientists are learning about deep-sea coral and sponge communities off the California coast. This presentation will take place on Thursday, August 19, 2021, at 7 pm and is free thanks to the generosity of Marie L. Morrisroe. Registration is required at: https://sbmm.org/santa-barbara-events/. Donations are welcome.

Ms. Duncan, a research ecologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary, will lead webinar participants through the deep, dark world of deep-sea coral and sponges through the lens of a West Coast research initiative. The webinar’s featured highlights will include what deep-sea corals and sponges are and why they’re important, the threats they face, and what tools scientists are using to study them. The presentation will also include never-before-shared images and findings from recent expeditions, including the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, whose ultimate goal is to balance sustainable ocean use and ensure conservation of the Channel Islands’ ecosystems for future generations to enjoy.

South Street Seaport Museum announces Opera In Depth: Exploring What Lies Beneath, a virtual discussion on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 7:30pm, in advance of On Site Opera’s upcoming production of What Lies Beneath specifically designed for the 1885 tall ship Wavertree. Join artists and members of the creative team for a conversation about what it takes to create an opera on the deck of a historic ship. Reserve free tickets at seaportmuseum.org/osopera.
How do composers choose which stories they tell? What is it like to produce live performances in today’s climate? Hosted by Laura Norwitz, Senior Director of Programs and Education, South Street Seaport Museum; moderated by Eric Einhorn, Co-Director, What Lies Beneath; and with panelists Winston A Benons, Jr., Co-Director/Cultural Advocate; James Davis, Jr., Conductor; Damien Geter, Composer; and mezzo-soprano Tesia Kwarteng, the discussion will be presented virtually, broadcast from onboard the 1885 tall ship Wavertree, with panelists joining from various locations. A brief Q&A will follow. This virtual event is free and available to all, regardless of plans to see the opera.
What Lies Beneath will be performed August 28-September 2, 2021. Performances are free, with a suggested ticket donation of $40. Reserve tickets at osopera.org/productions/what-lies-beneath/.
Combining song, story, history, and movement as the company returns to live performance, What Lies Beneath is a site-specific and immersive experience aboard Wavertree. Wavertree is designated on the National Register of Historic Places and represents the thousands of ships that docked along New York’s waterfront over the centuries. Built of riveted wrought iron in 1885, Wavertree is an archetype of the sailing ships of the latter half of the 19th century that, during the “age of sail,” lined South Street by the dozens, creating a forest of masts from the Battery to the Brooklyn Bridge.
From the enticements used to lure Africans into enslavement to Captain Ahab’s final moments of moral reckoning aboard the whaling ship Pequod in Moby Dick, What Lies Beneath is a series of six unique vignettes featuring works from Amistad, by Anthony Davis & Thulani Davis, Ahab, a monodrama by Juliana Hall & Caitlin Vincent, 1619, a choral song cycle by Damien Geter, Billy Budd, by Benjamin Britten, E.M. Forester, & Eric Crozier, Sea Fever, by John Ireland & John Masefield and Riders to the Sea, by Ralph Vaughn Williams and John Millington Sygne. On the heels of their most recent project, The Road We Came, a 3-part walking tour through Black Music History, What Lies Beneath continues to use opera and music to explore themes of social justice, racial inequality and history’s continuing impact on the lens through which the world is experiencing today.