Connecticut’s Mystic Seaport plans to use centuries-old live oaks from Galveston, Texas to restore the Charles W. Morgan, an 1841 whaling ship. The Mystic Seaport Board of Trustees recently authorized the restoration of the historic whaling vessel Charles W. Morgan to sailing condition. Mystic Seaport was founded in 1929 and is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Morgan.
“Every possible consideration will be given to protecting her and honoring her status as the oldest commercial sailing vessel in the western world. In pure age, only the USS Constitution, a military vessel, is older,” according to Steve White, Mystic Seaport president.
The cost of restoration alone is $6 million, according to White, half of which has been raised. The remaining $3 million would make the vessel strong enough to return to her home at the museum’s waterfront.
The current project timeline calls for the vessel to be launched in spring 2012. Following another year of work in the water in order to reinstall her rig, the Morgan would begin her 38th voyage in summer 2013. Part of the route may include Newport, Rhode Island, and a journey to her original homeport of New Bedford, Mass., where she was built in 1841. The Morgan would then return to Mystic Seaport, her home since 1941.
———
Mystic Seaport recently elected four new members to its board of trustees and nine new members to its international council. Newly-elected trustees are:
John Brim of New York, founding partner and managing member of Hill Street Capital in New York City.
James Horton of Virginia, Benjamin Banneker professor of American Studies and History at George Washington University, visiting professor of American Studies at University of Hawaii, and director of the
African-American Communities Project at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
Raymond Strong III of New York, managing director, Goldman Sachs’ business unit, alumnus of the Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program at Mystic Seaport.
Charles Townsend of Newport, Rhode Island, president and chief executive officer of Conde Nast Publications, the former president and chief executive officer of Women’s Magazine Publishing Division of the New York Times Company, and the former executive vice president and general manager of Hearst Books and Business Publishing. Townsend is also a former commodore of the New York Yacht Club.
The International Council was established by Mystic Seaport in 1997 with responsibilities that include providing advice to the board of trustees and professional staff of the museum, supporting the museum with financial and/or intellectual contributions and serving as ambassadors.
Newly elected members of the international council include:
William Bonvillian of Virginia, director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Washington, DC, office since 2006 and former legislative director and chief counsel to U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman. Bonvillian is an adjunct assistant professor at Georgetown University and has also taught at George Washington University and MIT. He serves on the Board on Science Education of the Academies of Sciences and has lectured and written articles on science, technology and innovation.
David Conover of Maine, owner of Compass Light, a film and television production company. With a focus on science and history, Compass Light has produced more than 80 films for broadcast and educational clients. In 2007, Conover co-founded BlueMarvel to deliver Experiential HD programming of nature’s events. An alumnus of the Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program, Conover previously designed and taught sea courses at Hurricane Island Outward Bound School in Maine and Florida and, at one time, was a professional seaman.
Maarten de Jong of New York, managing director of Barclays and was formerly with Lehman Brothers. de Jong is also involved with the Netherlands Maritime Museum and is a collector of nautical fine art.
Brian Dennehy of Connecticut, an award-winning actor who has received two Tony Awards for Best Lead Actor in a Play (Death of a Salesman in 1999 and Long Day’s Journey into Night in 2003). Passionate about both sailing and maritime history, Dennehy participated in the Museum’s Charles W. Morgan restoration ceremony last fall, reading excerpts from a Morgan logbook.
Derek Langhauser of Maine, general counsel of the Maine Community College System; served as chief counsel to a governor of Maine and as special counsel for U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe. An alumnus of the Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program and chair of the Williams-Mystic Alumni Council, Langhauser has previously served on the Education Committee at Mystic Seaport and as a guest lecturer for Williams-Mystic.
Michael Toner of Florida, retired executive vice president of General Dynamics’ Marine Systems and was previously president of Electric Boat and vice president of General Dynamics.
Former Museum Trustees Charles Hamm, Edward Kane and Peter Sharp completed serving their board term and were elected to the International Council.
Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whaleship in the world. For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org.