Museum Explores History by the Delaware River

 

by Bonnie Wilkinson/ACBS Director

 

Located along Philadelphia’s waterfront on Penn’s Landing, Independence Seaport Museum examines the events, people and technologies that shaped the history of the Delaware River, Bay and its tributaries.  International and national in scope, but regional in emphasis, the Museum is committed to enhancing the appreciation of our maritime heritage by exploring the impact of this history on the forces of commerce and culture which shaped the region and fostering an awareness of the continuing role of our waterways in contemporary life.

 

Originally organized in 1961 as the Philadelphia Maritime Museum, the Board of Directors decided in 1985 that they needed to grow and move to the river and location was the key.  They secured the Port History Museum, that was located along the Philadelphia’s waterfront from the City of Philadelphia, and moved to Penn’s Landing in July 1995 and became the Independence Seaport Museum.

 

Exhibits

 

Through permanent exhibitions Home Port Philadelphia, Boats Float, Divers of the Deep, and On the Shores: Small Craft of the Delaware River Valley, Independence Seaport Museum explores all aspects of maritime history, from commercial shipping and shipbuilding to navigation, immigration, defense outdoor recreation, the environment and underwater exploration.  These diverse topics unite in an engaging story that illustrates the important roles our rivers and waterways have played in the Delaware Valley and nation.   A new exhibit will open this fall that will look at the collection artifacts that relate to the USS Olympia

 

Their collection includes 3 large craft, 30 small craft and over 10,000 artifacts. Large craft include the Enticer, 1934, 85 foot Trumpy built by Mathis Yacht Company of Camden New Jersey; the cruiser Olympia, launched November 5, 1892; and the submarine Becuna, launched and commissioned May 27, 1944.

 

There also have an extensive library that houses more than 12,000 volumes and contains the Lenthall collection, which consists of 342 volumes of books on naval architecture and related subjects.

 

Workshop on the Water

In addition to these exhibits the Museum also has a Workshop on the Water.  Visitors can explore craftsmanship in process at an active boat shop and gallery that is open daily to visitors.  Construction has just been completed on a 28 foot racing catboat based on a vintage 1920's design.  The A-Class catboats of Barnegat Bay were the ultimate development of cat boats in the New Jersey area. The earlier catboats had been developed to work in the shallow waters behind New Jersey's barrier islands. They were also used as fishing boats, ferries, cargo boats and charter boats. 

 

 

The A-Class catboats were designed by Charles Mower and Francis Sweisguth. Each boat in the original fleet of six, that was built in the 1920s, is unique, but they all share basic characteristics. They are 28' long, 11' wide and carry 605sq. ft. of sail on a 44' mast.  The boat that was just finished is based on Francis Sweisguth's design and will replace one of the original A-Class catboats named SPY, which is set to retire in 2001. The boat was launched the second weekend in June and was delivered to a consortium in Tuckerton New Jersey to race with others in the fleet and will also be named SPY.

 

Historic Ship Zone

 

Not far from the Museum’s front door are the USS Olympia (1892), a cruiser CA-15, and USS Becuna (1944), World War II Balao-class submarine SS 319.   The USS Olympia was one of America’s first steel ships built at the Union Iron Works, in San Francisco, California and commissioned in 1895.  She became Admiral Dewey's flagship at the Battle of Manila Bay in Spanish American War. The current 8-inch turrets are fabrications, as the originals were replaced with barbettes during the First World War.  Becuna was built at the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut and was commissioned to serve as submarine flagship of the Southwest Pacific fleet under General Douglas MacArthur. 

 

Independence Seaport Museum is located on the Penn’s Landing Waterfront at 211 South Columbus Boulevard and Walnut Street.  It is easily accessible by car via I-95, exit 16, bus, rail or ferry.  The Museum is also a short walk from Independence Park.  The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 pm and is closed Thanksgiving (U. S.), Christmas and New Year’s Day.  The Library is open by appointment: Tuesday-Friday, 10:00-4:00 and first Saturday of the month, 10:00-4:00.   Ticket prices are as follows:  $8.00 for adults (ages 13-64) $4.00 for children (ages 6-12_ and $6.50 for seniors (65 and older).  Children 5 and under are free. The Museum offers FREE admission on Sunday mornings from 10 and to 12 pm.  For information call (215) 925-5439 or visit them at their website at http://seaport.philly.com

 

 

The Philadelphia ACBS Chapter started its life at the Independence Seaport Museum’s Workshop on the Water in 1999.  Current Philadelphia Chapter President Chad Brenner was then Director of Workshop on the Water and he along with Bill Mullins decided that the workshop was a logical place to have meetings to talk about wooden boats.  So they talked to someone in New York (Chad couldn’t remember who) and they wrote letters got 15 members from the Philadelphia area and as far away as Harrisburg to join.  Harvey’s Lake was 2½ hours north and the Chesapeake was 2½ hours south and Philadelphia just happened to be the logical place in between.  Since its inception in 1999, the Philadelphia Chapter has grown from 15 to 42.  They’ve outgrown the Workshop on the Water and have migrated to Chad’s new shop in South Philly.