by Bill Powell
Events Director
Deltaville Maritime Museum –
As staff and volunteers at the Deltaville Maritime Museum & Holly Point Nature Park prepare the museum and park for the official events season opening in April and May, the museum begins its Turner Lecture Series as a pre-season event in January, February and March. The opening lecture, “From Tree to Shining Sea,” on the restoration of the “Mayflower II” will be held on Sunday, January 12, at 2 p.m. in the Events Pavilion.
Whit Perry, Plimoth Plantation Director of Maritime Preservation and Operations, will give an illustrated and hands-on presentation about the history and restoration of Mayflower II, which is a reproduction of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to the New World in 1620. It was built in England in 1957, sailed across the Atlantic, and given to America as a gift of appreciation for our help and cooperation in WWII. The Mayflower II restoration project is scheduled for completion this spring.
Whit, in his role as director of maritime preservation, is responsible for all aspects of the Plimoth Museum’s maritime program, including the multi-year, multi-million dollar Mayflower II Restoration Project. Whit and his team of maritime artisans and volunteers are working closely with the skilled shipwrights at Mystic Seaport’s Henry B. duPont Shipyard to restore this nationally significant ship in keeping with historic preservation standards so that she may return to Plymouth Harbor and take part in the 400th anniversary commemoration events, and be ready to continue her mission as a floating classroom for many years to come.
Whit came to Plimoth Plantation with more than 30 years of experience working with wooden boats. His most recent post was at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation where he maintained and operated three square-rigged vessels for 10 years. Whit has a long history with ships and sailing.
The lecture will be held in the Maritime Parks Events Pavilion’s enclosed section at 287 Jackson Creek Road in Deltaville. The lecture begins promptly at 2 p.m. with a question-and-answer time, “meet and greet,” and refreshments afterward. There is no admission but donations to the Turner Education Fund are welcome. Donations ensure the continuity of the series.
Local author William Geroux will speak on his popular book on the WWII coastal defense against the German U-boat and seven local brothers who served, the “Mathews Men,” on Sunday, February 16. Mike Kunzinger will present “Cuba Revisted” on Sunday, March 15. All lectures are at 2 p.m. Watch the Sentinel for more information and additional lectures as scheduled.
We want to encourage our members and friends to come out and attend these lectures. Call the museum office at 804-776-7200 to RSVP. For suggestions and support for the lecture series you can email Bill Powell at wdwrks@va.metrocast.net, or Richard Rodgers at sloopless@gmail.com, or the museum staff at office@deltavillemuseum.com. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and noon-4 p.m. Sunday.
To find out more about the museum, visit www.deltavillemuseum.com.
