Category: News

Trumpy Yacht Drifter

The Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park (AMM) is excited to announce the opening of a new, temporary exhibit entitled “A Single Goal: The Art of Trumpy Yacht Building” on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. The exhibit will focus on wooden boat building, with an emphasis on the historical and very popular Trumpy Yachts.

The exhibit will feature drawings, artifacts, memorabilia and photographs culled from a variety of sources, including current and former Trumpy owners and aficionados. Never displayed before items from the Museum’s own archives will also be on exhibit.

The Trumpy Boatyard was part of the rich nautical history of Annapolis from 1947 to its closing in 1974. Sigrid Trumpy, the granddaughter of Trumpy Yacht founder John Trumpy, Sr., aided by a group of historians, experts and researchers, curated the original exhibition using her family’s rich archives as well as resources from the Rosenfeld Collection housed at Mystic Seaport, the Marion Warren Archives, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and AMM.

“Trumpy is such a significant part of our maritime and boat-building story in Annapolis,” said Caitlin Swaim, curator at AMM. “Displaying this unique history just 2,000 feet from where it all happened will make the exhibit all the more relevant.”

Over the years, much has been written about Trumpy Yachts, telling the tales of the famous people who owned them or the glamorous or historical stories around them, like the former presidential yacht Sequoia.  The story is complex and fascinating.  There were 448 contracts, many of them for custom-designed and built yachts during the firm’s operations.

Less than 100 yachts are still afloat but they are still highly valued. The exhibit will focus on a few special boats to illustrate the Trumpy history and the process of wooden boat building.

The exhibit will be on display until June 16, 2019, and is free of charge.

Built in 1875 and now a National Historic Landmark, Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse (TPSL) is the last “intact” lighthouse of its kind left in its original location. The lighthouse has been beautifully restored by the U.S. Lighthouse Society, which operates tours in partnership with the Annapolis Maritime Museum. These excursions provide the only exclusive interior tours; guests are guided by an experienced lighthouse docent as they learn the history of the light, the life of a keeper in the early days, and the role of our modern-day Coast Guard.

2019 Tour Dates

June 8 & 15 ∙ July 6, 13, 27 ∙ August 3, 17, & 31 ∙ September 7 & 28 ∙ October 5

Details:       Two tours are offered each day, at 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Tours are two hours and include 30 minute boat rides to and from the lighthouse, with opportunities to photograph the lighthouse from every angle, and a one-hour interior tour.

Location:    Tours depart from the docks of the Annapolis Maritime Museum (723 Second St., Annapolis)

Tickets:       $80.00 per person (Funds are used for the continued restoration of the lighthouse.)

 Additional Information: For more information on the tours or to purchase tickets, please click here. Tours do require some physical exertion; please use discretion when purchasing tickets. Guests must be at least 12 years old.

Get involved: To learn about volunteering at the lighthouse, email volunteer@amaritime.org.

About the U.S. Lighthouse Society

The United States Lighthouse Society was founded to assist in the restoration and preservation of America’s lighthouses and to help qualified local groups in their efforts to return the nation’s lighthouses to the public domain. Although the almost 300-year-old era of manned light stations in this country has come to a close, those remaining symbols of our maritime heritage can, and should be, preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.

Tides and Tunes Summer Concert Series: 2019 Lineup

Enjoy 10 weeks of local bands against the scenic back-drop of the Chesapeake Bay.

When: Thursdays at 7 p.m. | June 13 – August 15

Where: Annapolis Maritime Museum – McNasby Campus (723 Second St., Annapolis)

Cost: FREE; Donations Appreciated ($10 suggested)

Additional Information: Food and drink will be available for purchase. Beverage sales support AMM’s education programs (no outside alcohol permitted). Bring a chair or blanket for seating. Visit the event page for more details on each band.

ANNAPOLIS, MD – (December 20, 2018) The Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park (AMM) invites you to a Volunteer Open House in honor of the National Day of Service, to be held on January 21, 2019, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Museum’s Bay Room.

Do you love meeting new people? Do you love the Chesapeake Bay? Help AMM preserve maritime history and create the next generation of Bay stewards by joining the volunteer team!

AMM currently enjoys a robust group of over 240 volunteers who worked a total of 6,000 hours in 2018. However, recent expansion, including a second campus at the Ellen O. Moyer Nature Park and the acquisition of a historic Skipjack, the Wilma Lee, has made it necessary to grow its corps proportionally.

“Our hard-working volunteers continue to be the heart of the organization,” said Volunteer Coordinator Donna Adams. “Local residents interested in history, continuing education, or handy with a hammer will find great options for involvement with various levels of commitment. There is something for everyone!”

Volunteer opportunities include:
• Archives & Oral History | Duties: Interviewing, Editing Transcripts (Flexible daytime hours.)
• Winter Lecture Series | Duties: Setup/Cleanup, Check-in (Eight lectures January-February.)
• Special Events/Fundraisers: Annapolis Oyster Roast & Sock Burning/Boatyard Beach Bash Duties: Guest Check-in, Setup/Cleanup (1-day commitment)
• Concert Series: Tides and Tunes (10 concerts) & September Sunsets (4 concerts)
Duties: Guest Check-in, Setup/Cleanup
• Docent/Tour Guide | Duties: Greet visitors & provide tours
(Shifts available Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., year round.)
• Wooden Boat Crew | Duties: restore/repair wooden boat exhibits (Days vary in warmer months.)
• Gardening Team | Duties: maintain grounds of the Museum (Days vary in warmer months.)
• Education Programs | Duties: assist in educating local school children at both campuses and on harbor cruises (Days vary year round. Mostly mornings.)
• Grounds Crew at Ellen O. Moyer Nature Park | Duties: Landscaping projects, trail restoration & general gardening (Days vary in warmer months.)
• COMING SOON! Skipjack Wilma Lee | Duties: Guide Tours, Maintenance, Sailing Crew
• Administrative Support | Duties: Filing, Correspondence, Organizing
(During normal business hours.)
• Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse | Duties: Guide Tours, Maintenance
(Saturdays & Sundays, June-October, Weather Permitting)

No pre-registration is required for the open house. Current volunteers will be on hand to discuss all opportunities at this event. Those who are unable to attend but are interested in volunteering can email volunteercaptain@amaritime.org or visit amaritimestg.wpengine.com/support/volunteer to fill out an interest form.

ANNAPOLIS, MD – (December 6, 2018) The Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park (AMM) is pleased to announce that Anne Harrington was elected to serve on its Board of Directors.

Harrington grew up on the Eastern Shore, enjoying maritime heritage and activities on and around the Bay since she was a small child. She lived in Washington, D.C., working in sales and marketing, for many years before moving to Annapolis in 1992. Currently, she is a real estate agent affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in downtown Annapolis.

Harrington has been involved with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society of Maryland, as a past board member and chairman of three Leukemia Cup Regattas.  In 2001, Harrington was the co-chair of the Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Champion regatta held in Annapolis.  Most recently, Anne served on the Commissioning Committee of the USS Sioux City, an event held in Annapolis on November 17, 2018.

As a co-founder of The Box of Rain Foundation in 2003, Harrington successfully led the non-profit until its recent merger with AMM.  Under her leadership, Box of Rain served over 500 local, disadvantaged youth most of whom lived in Annapolis public housing.   The goal of the organization is to introduce at-risk youth to maritime activities such as kayaking, fishing, environmental studies, and boatbuilding.

“We are thrilled to have Anne on the Board; her presence will allow AMM to continue the great work of the Box of Rain programs and their impact in the local community,” said AMM Chairman Carol Sisco.

Two Box of Rain programs will continue with the Museum’s Education Center in 2019: the Build-a-Boat Program and the Summer Maritime Program.

Educator Marco Rojas has also joined the staff of the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park to lead and coordinate the Box of Rain programs at AMM.

Originally from Maryland, Rojas recently graduated from Lake Erie College with a B.S. in Biology and a concentration in Environmental Science. He has been a camp counselor, volunteer, and seasonal employee at the Museum for several years.

Jimmy Whitall

Docent

Jimmy is our regular Tuesday docent. He enjoys chatting with Museum visitors and showing them around the exhibit.

“Jimmy is kind-hearted, reliable, eager, and generous with his time. You couldn’t ask for better qualities in a volunteer.” -Caitlin Swaim, Curator

Volunteers like Jimmy are the heart and soul of the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park. We are thrilled to celebrate them in this regular spotlight. To join AMM’s outstanding team of volunteers, please email our volunteer captain. 

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AMM: How did you first learn about AMM?
Jimmy: I responded to an ad in The Capital looking for volunteers.

AMM: How long have you been a volunteer?
Jimmy: Two and a half years.

AMM: What is your favorite Museum event or program?
Jimmy: Maryland Day.

AMM: What connection have you made with the Chesapeake Bay? 
Jimmy: I have boated on the Chesapeake since 1965.

AMM: What is your favorite hobby to do in your downtime? 
Jimmy: I collect, recondition, and play with toy trains. I also restored and maintain an antique auto.

AMM: Where is your favorite vacation spot? 
Jimmy: My wife and I have never vacationed in the same place twice. But, we have vacationed in 27 countries and 12 island nations. My favorite is the game preserves of South Africa.

AMM: What is your favorite drink? 
Jimmy: Non-Alcoholic is water; Alcoholic is red wine.

Local historian Mike Miron spent the last 25 years of his life collecting over 200 interviews of Eastport locals. Upon his death, the impressive collection was donated to the Annapolis Maritime Museum (AMM). Portions of his collection are now available in the museum’s online database; however, AMM is seeking help in its effort to continue to preserve these local memories.

Miron’s recordings focused heavily on the stories of local boat builders. The museum’s new Oral History Project is designed to more fully preserve his contributions while also adding to it. New interviews which focus on the area’s broader maritime history are being conducted by museum volunteers.

Each new interview collected in the Oral History Project is recorded using digital technology and then archived by a team of trained volunteers. With signed releases in hand, the museum will continue to post audio and word searchable versions of transcripts on the research portal, available at www.amaritimestg.wpengine.com.

Creation of the database to support the museum’s collection began in 2014, under the direction of Curator and Museum Manager Caitlin Swaim.

“By capturing the voices of our community and sharing them with the world, the museum is making a significant contribution to preserving the heritage of Eastport, Annapolis, and the Chesapeake Bay,” Swaim said. “Our archiving process places the interviews we conduct out of harm’s way and promotes future access by researchers and families of the interviewees.”

Museum volunteers have donated hundreds of hours to the Mike Miron project already. Longtime volunteer and project lead, John Gudas, coordinates the interview and archival processes. Additional volunteers are needed for this continuing effort.

Those interested in volunteering or being interviewed should email Caitlin Swaim.

Judy Mutty

Office/Gardening Volunteer

Judy is a dedicated garden and office volunteer. She can often be found filing or maintaining the museum campus. Read more about Judy and her time with the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park in the interview below.

“Judy Mutty has been a volunteer for the museum for several years. She started out with office work helping me with all things paper – we affectionately call her the “Paperwork Princess.” Judy also has taken on an additional role as captain of the garden club. She has organized the volunteers and has the grounds looking fantastic. Judy underwent surgery for cancer recently and fortunately is recovering very well. She’s not up to full speed, but luckily for us she is back in the office resuming her paper work duties.” -Mary Ostrye, Administrative Manager

Volunteers like Judy are the heart and soul of the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park. We are thrilled to celebrate them in this regular spotlight. To join AMMP’s outstanding team of volunteers, please email our volunteer captain. 

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AMM: In what areas of the Museum do you volunteer?
Judy: The office and gardens.
AMM: Why did you choose these roles?
Judy: At first, I didn’t know what I’d like. Previously I was a docent at the National Zoo. I like office work, so I jumped at the chance to help. I was asked to take on gardens and have a wonderful crew of volunteers and so much fun!
AMM: Do you volunteer anywhere else? Tell us about it.
Judy: Prior to my illness I was very involved in my church, where I’ve attended for 39 years. I volunteered in many areas: administration, church management, and facilities. Also liaison with the city mayor.
AMM: Why do you volunteer?
Judy: I’m doing something I like, and I hope to make a contribution and a difference.
AMM: What motivates you and inspires you to do your best?
Judy: I believe in the organization. I volunteer with and have the opportunity to help them be the best at what they do.
AMM: What two or three things are most important to you in a volunteering role?
Judy: Show up on time! Work hard and work smart. Enthusiastically support the mission of the organization for which you’re volunteering.
AMM: Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Judy: I have been to Europe a number of times, biking. Hope to do this again! Among my other favorites would be Nantucket, MA, and Vancouver, B.C.
AMM: What is your favorite event at the museum?
Judy: I don’t have a single favorite. There are so many things for young people and adults alike. I have enjoyed concerts and lectures.

Education volunteer Josh Schmidt recently visited the set of Straight Talk to discuss the education programs offered at the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park.

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