History buffs and even just parents looking to stimulate a little back-to-school learning fun have a unique opportunity in the week before Labor Day and on the Labor Day weekend itself thanks to the Michigan Maritime Museum at South Haven.
The waterfront museum will showcase authentic replicas of two of the ships sailed by Christopher Columbus when he discovered the New World — the Nina and the Pinta. Showtime runs August 31st through September 4th in South Haven and will feature the two ships while focusing on historically accurate shipbuilding techniques and the history of early exploration by Europeans.
The Nina was built completely by hand and without the use of power tools. Archaeology magazine calls the ship, “the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built.” In 2005, the Pinta, also a caravel, was launched in Brazil. Historians consider the caravel the space shuttle of the fifteenth century. Both ships tour together as a new and enhanced ‘sailing museum’ for the purpose of educating the public on the caravel, a Portuguese ship design used by many early explorers to discover the world outside their own.
Ashley Deming is the Museum Director of Education & Administration for the Michigan Maritime Museum. She says, “It’s such a great opportunity for people to step aboard vessels that represent this period.” Deming adds, “Without any authentic images of these ships, historic research was conducted using input from artists, archaeologists, model builders, architects, and historians to create an accurate depiction of caravels. As a maritime archaeologist myself, I can’t wait to step aboard ships I’ve only read about. A great combination of history and science!” Deming tells us you can learn more about the history of these vessels and their construction by clicking this link: http://www.thenina.com
You can experience self-guided tours aboard both ships while they are at the Museum docks as well as all exhibits at the Michigan Maritime Museum. Tickets will be available at the Museum daily between 9am and 6pm. There are no advanced tickets available. Tickets are $15 for adults, $14 for seniors, and $10 for children (under 4 free). It’s a great opportunity to literally make history come alive at the Michigan Maritime Museum.
Inasmuch as large crowds are expected at this event, the Museum has secured free off-site parking at South Haven High School, and there will also be a free shuttle available Saturday-Monday from 9am to 5 pm to pick up and drop off visitors at the Museum.
To accommodate these amazing vessels, the Museum’s own tall ship Friends Good Will will be docked at the South Haven south municipal marina August 30th-September 4th and all ticket holders will depart and return to that dock. The Museum will also be operating river cruiser Lindy Lou on the regular schedule, a great opportunity to see the ships from the water.
For more information on this event, visit www.michiganmaritimemuseum.org or call 269-637-8078.
