NavList:

All,

In a previous message, I offered to visit The Mariners' Museum in Newport News, VA, USA to inquire about tips for restoring a Mk V aircraft sextant on behalf of another NavList member. After visiting their web page, I learned that they currently have an exhibit entitled "Ages of Exploration", showcasing the ships, tools, voyages and people who influenced ocean navigation throughout history. I suggested to my girlfriend that we should visit, as it had been a long time since either of us had been there. She agreed and yesterday we did just that.

I must say, the museum has expanded quite a lot since my last visit, and I was thoroughly impressed by the sheer amount of nautical paraphernalia on display. We spent about four hours perusing the exhibits, but I could've stayed all day. Everything from cannons to figureheads to entire ships are there to be enjoyed. They have a mind-boggling number of intricately detailed miniature ship replicas throughout, including an entire room full of incredible models built by August Crabtree. There is a separate building devoted to international small craft containing many fascinating examples of boats from all over the world. The highlight of this exhibit, for me, was the "April Fool", a six-foot sailboat which Hugo Vihlen sailed from Casablanca to Florida in 1968! Wow! Can you imagine that?

The museum is also home to the remains of the USS Monitor. One can see the entire turret, guns and engine, raised from the depths and preserved in great tanks of special solutions to prevent further damage. And there is a full-size replica of the old ironclad off the side of the museum. You can even walk out onto her deck and imagine that you are part of her crew, preparing her for battle. The massive propeller is also on display, as well as a moving model of her steam engine. Two full-size replicas of the turret show what it would've looked like during her service, and the condition it was in at the time it was raised.

Of course, the high point of the visit was the "Ages of Exploration" exhibit. Various navigational instruments are on display, including multiple octants, astrolabes, antique chart tools, a back staff, quadrant, maps and a "pentant" which the plaque described as being used for lunars, and more. There are even some "reproduction" instruments, including a cross staff and back staff, which can be taken down and examined to see just how they were used. Some exquisite examples of historical nautical books were on display, including a manual on all aspects of seafaring and even an antique almanac, opened to the tables of logarithms and sines, etc. Altogether, a simply fascinating exhibit. The complimentary map of the museum also states that, "...within the Trible Library on the neighboring campus of Christopher Newport University, The Mariners' Museum Library holds the largest maritime history collection in the Western Hemisphere."

I could go on and on, as I have only described a fraction of the 60,000 square feet of exhibits at the museum. But, in summary, I will say that if you are ever remotely near Newport News, I would highly recommend visiting The Mariners' Museum. The current general admission price of $13.95 is a bargain for the amount of nautical history awaiting you. It is no wonder that Congress has designated it as America's national maritime museum.

Regards,

Sean C.