November 2009 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 7.
MYSTIC SEAPORT MUSEUM NEWS
Mystic Seaport Trustees Approve Plans to “One of the greatest results could be that
Sail Charles W. Morgan she raises enough on this planned journey so
Restoration Project Still Underway; her future is secure,” said White.
Fundraising the Priority The current project timeline calls for the
MYSTIC, CT ~ The Mystic Seaport Board of vessel to be launched following the bulk of
Trustees voted Saturday and authorized the the restoration work in spring 2012. Follow-
Museum staff to restore the historic whaling ing another year of work in the water in order
vessel Charles W. Morgan to sailing condi- to reinstall her rig, the Morgan would begin
tion and to plan a ceremonial voyage upon her 38th voyage in summer 2013.
completion of the current multi-million dollar Before truly beginning the voyage, the
restoration project, while moving forward Morgan would be towed down the Mystic
with a fundraising initiative to support these River prior to arriving in New London where
activities. she would take on additional ballast. From
The vote, which was unanimous, came New London, it’s possible she may sail to
after Mystic Seaport conducted its own four- Newport, RI, carefully guarded and moni-
month feasibility study into sailing the Mor- tored by a support fleet.
gan, a registered National Historic Landmark. The next part of her journey puts the
The Museum’s trustees had approved a Morgan to her original homeport of New
motion at its May meeting authorizing the Bedford, MA, where she was built in 1841 and
feasibility study. the homeport for the majority of her 37 voy-
“This is a decision we do not take ages to all corners of the world.
The whaler CHARLES W. MORGAN hauled up at Mystic Seaport.
lightly,” said Mystic Seaport President Steve “The Morgan made New Bedford and
White. “Every possible consideration will be New England proud,” White said. “And to Raymond B. Strong, III of New York, NY, lished by Mystic Seaport in 1997. Its main
given to protecting her and honoring her New Bedford she will return to show America is the managing director of one of Goldman responsibilities include providing advice to
status as the oldest commercial sailing vessel once again what resolve and vision can pro- Sachs’ business units. An alumnus of the the Board of Trustees and professional staff
in the western world. In pure age, only the duce.” Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program of the Museum, supporting the Museum with
USS Constitution, a military vessel, is older. The plan also calls for her to journey at Mystic Seaport, Strong has been a Mu- financial and/or intellectual contributions
“This decision will lift the Museum’s through the Cape Cod Canal on to Stellwagen seum member for 20 years and recently sailed and serving as ambassadors for the Museum.
spirit, test its resolve and serve as a symbol Bank, a national marine sanctuary located off in the 2009 Oyster Bay Spring Classic regatta. Newly elected members of the International
of greatness for Mystic Seaport,” continued of Provincetown, MA. Charles H. Townsend, a resident of New- Council include:
White. “All elements of the Museum will now The Morgan would then return to Mys- port, RI, is the president and chief executive William B. Bonvillian of Great Falls, VA,
have an even greater significance as we tic Seaport – her home since 1941. officer of Conde Nast Publications, the has been the director of the Massachusetts
honor and celebrate the coming and going of former president and chief executive officer Institute of Technology’s Washington, DC,
vessels.” Mystic Seaport Elects New Members of of Women’s Magazine Publishing Division office since 2006 and is the former legislative
“Under Steve’s leadership, the staff was the Board and Council of the New York Times Company and the director and chief counsel to U.S. Senator
very methodical and cautious in determining Mystic Seaport elected four new mem- former executive vice president and general Joseph Lieberman. Bonvillian is an adjunct
the feasibility of the Morgan sailing again,” bers to its Board of Trustees and nine new manager of Hearst Books and Business Pub- assistant professor at Georgetown Univer-
said Dick Vietor, chairman of the Museum’s members to its International Council – includ- lishing. Townsend is also a former Commo- sity and has also taught at George Washing-
Board of Trustees. “The board had legitimate ing award-winning actor Brian Dennehy – at dore of the New York Yacht Club.
Continued on Page 20.
concerns and issues, yet the staff was able to its recent annual meeting. The International Council was estab-
show that – as long as sufficient funding is Newly elected Trustees are:
secured – sailing the Morgan and bringing John G. Brim of New York, NY, is the
her on this journey is the right thing to do. If founding partner and managing member of
not now, when?” Hill Street Capital in New York City. Passion-
Now that the feasibility study has been com- ate about both history and sailing, Brim is a
pleted, White said the biggest challenge isn’t long-time member of Mystic Seaport.
construction, it’s fundraising. James O. Horton, a resident of Reston,
The cost of restoration alone is $6 mil- VA, is the Benjamin Banneker professor of
lion, according to White – half of which has American Studies and History at George
been raised. The remaining $3 million would Washington University, the visiting profes-
make the vessel strong enough to return to sor of American Studies at University of
her home at the Museum’s waterfront. Hawaii and director of the African-American
“Sailing her is not required. Restoring Communities Project at the Smithsonian’s
her is,” White said. “We have an obligation National Museum of American History. A
to continually restore and preserve not only highly regarded scholar, historian and edu-
the vessel, but the stories she tells. Without cator of American history with a focus on
reaching our first goal, not only can we not African-American history, Horton has
sail her, but we will have failed in our overall served as consultant and advisor to the Un-
obligation to her need for perpetual care.” derground Railroad Freedom Center, the
The additional cost to sail her, he said, National Civil Rights Museum, Colonial
would be approximately $2 million. Williamsburg and Monticello. Horton served
Beyond the direct costs, the Museum as Captain in the US Air Force and has been
must also raise endowment to support the a key participant in Mystic Seaport confer-
programs around her and to provide for her ences on race, ethnicity and power in mari-
ongoing maintenance. time America.
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