Cape Cod Maritime Museum

J. North Conway - Book-signing Event at Barnes and Noble May 22, 2008.

Please support Cape Cod Maritime Museum on May 22, 2008 by shopping at the CCMM/Barnes and Noble Bookfair* at the Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis and attending a book-signing at the store by acclaimed author J. North Conway.  

Mr. Conway will discuss his latest book, "The Cape Cod Canal: Breaking Through the Bared and Bended Arm", which describes the tragic events and colorful characters that lead to the construction of the watery pathway that would save hundreds of ships and thousands of sailors from the "Graveyard of the Atlantic".  

The presentation will take place in the  Barnes and Noble store at 6:30 pm.

If you can't make the book-signing, please consider attending the Barnes and Noble / Cape Cod Maritime Museum Bookfair*, which is an all-day event to benefit the Maritime Museum's educational programs.  

From 9:00 am to 10:00 pm on May 22nd, Barnes and Noble will donate a percentage of every sale made - if accompanied by a special Bookfair voucher -  to the Museum.  Vouchers are available via the Cape Cod Maritime Museum (email Lchmacort@yahoo.com), and in hard copy at the Museum and elsewhere. Additional vouchers will also be distributed at the store.

 For further details about the lecture and Bookfair, please contact Museum Educator/Administrator at (508) 775 1723 x 3, or email Lchmacort@yahoo.com.   Thank you for your support!

* I beseech you to think about all those birthdays, graduations, weddings and other sundry special occasions that are coming up. Wouldn't a book make  a really nice gift? Go on - you'll be making a whole lot of people very happy, including me, because that happens to be my birthday, and I don't want to spend it wandering the aisles of Barnes and Noble on my own...

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Cape Cod Maritime Museum Re-Opens May 16th!

Cape Cod Maritime Museum is pleased to announce the opening of its latest exhibition!  

 "Transformations: From Farming to Seafaring, Cape Cod 1639 - 1739" explores Colonial life on Cape Cod both from the European and Native People's perspectives.  The exhibit provides an overview of agricultural life on the Cape in the 17^th Century, and traces some of the early voyages from Europe to America.

It describes the many ways in which the Wampanoags and Settlers relied upon the ocean's bounty for nourishment, and explains how drift and shore whaling eventually enticed Cape farmers away from the land and served as a catalyst to the development of the rich maritime tradition that we revere today.  

The exhibit includes art and artifacts from the 1600s and 1700s, dioramas depicting Cape Cod Colonial life, and a full-size replica of the interior of a European merchant ship. The exhibition also features the remains of the 17^th Century shipwreck, Sparrow-Hawk, the Cape's earliest recorded shipwreck.   

The Museum also offers a specially designated Children's Area with plenty of hands-on activities including games, arts and crafts, puzzles and scavenger hunts.   There's also a great gift-shop!

In addition, the Museum frequently hosts demonstrations, lectures, classes and other activities suitable for any and all age groups, details of which are available on our website, www.capecodmaritimemuseum.org.  

Come on down and see what's new!  

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Kids Artwork wanted for Museum Exhibit - UPDATE!!

Hi Folks,
A progress report on "Gone Fishin"!

It took a while, but I've figured out that getting photos at this time of the year is probably not going to float for many of us.

So, in order to make it easier for your child to submit work for the exhibit, we're expanding the criteria to include any type of 2-d media.

So, if your 6 y.o. (or younger) to 18 y.o. would like to paint, draw or collage a piece (8" x 10" please!) for inclusion in the exhibit, we would be thrilled to put it on display!

For those who may have missed the original post, here it it.

**Gone Fishin**
Do you know a young artist, age 6 to 18, who might like to see their work on display at the Cape Cod Maritime Museum? If so, please tell them about this unique opportunity!
 
Cape Cod Maritime Museum and Women of Fishing Families (both local non-profit organizations) are working together to create a new exhibit called Gone Fishin', which will be on display at the Maritime Museum throughout 2008. This exhibit is sponsored by a grant from the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.
 
We are asking local youngsters to take photographs or create pictures of scenes that reflect their views and opinions about the Cape's fishing industries past, present and future. They should then write a short explanation to accompany the photo, describing what it is and what it symbolizes.
 
Themes could be anything "fishy" - commercial fishing, lobstering, shell-fishing, harbors, aquaculture or even whale-watching.
 
Images can be either digital (jpeg or PDF, 300 dpi or better) or - better still -  hard copy.
 
Photos, paintings, drawings etc., explanations and full contact details should be emailed to Cathrine Macort at Lchmacort@yahoo.com or snail-mailed to Cape Cod Maritime Museum, 135 South Street, Hyannis MA 02601.
 
We will do our best to ensure that every image we receive will be included in the exhibit, so don't be shy - just let the camera do the talking!
 
Closing date is May 15th, 2008. Exhibit will open May 27th, 2008 at the Cape Cod Maritime Museum, 135 South Street Hyannis - overlooking the Harbor!
 
Call Cathrine at 508 775 1723 x3 for more information.

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Gone Fishin' - - and A Call for Young Artists!

Do you know a young photographer, age 6 to 18, who might like to see their work on display at the Cape Cod Maritime Museum? If so, please tell them about this unique opportunity!  

Cape Cod Maritime Museum and Women of Fishing Families (both local non-profit organizations) are working together to create a new exhibit called Gone Fishin', which will be on display at the Maritime Museum throughout 2008.  

We are asking local youngsters to take photographs of scenes that reflect their views and opinions about the Cape's fishing industries past, present and future. They should then write a short explanation to accompany the photo, describing what it is and what it symbolizes.  

Themes could be anything "fishy" - commercial fishing, lobstering, shell-fishing, harbors, aquaculture or even whale-watching.  

Images can be either digital (jpeg or PDF, 300 dpi or better) or hard copy.    Photos, explanations and full contact details should be emailed to Cathrine Macort at Lchmacort@yahoo.com or mailed to Cape Cod Maritime Museum, 135 South Street, Hyannis MA 02601.  

We will do our best to ensure that every image we receive will be included in the exhibit, so don't be shy - just let the camera do the talking!  

Closing date is May 15th, 2008. Exhibit will open May 27th, 2008 at the Cape Cod Maritime Museum, 135 South Street Hyannis - overlooking the Harbor!  

Call Cathrine at 508 775 1723  x3 for more information.

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April already? Are you kidding me? GO PIRATES!!!

Vacation is rapidly approaching, and you should be searching desperately for some great, fun, cheap things to do with the kids, grand-kids, neighbors kids.

Look no further!

Bring the whole family for some swashbuckling shenanigans at the Cape Cod Maritime Museum!  

We've got a whole new piratical program that includes a New Rogues Gallery, New Games, New Activities, and New Crafts!

Something for everyone aged 2 to 92!  

Special vacation rates!

$3 for Adults, $2 for kids 7 and over. Members and Kids under 7 FREE!

(Don't make me use any more exclamation points! They're annoying!)

Open daily from 10 am to 4 pm (12 to 4 pm on Sundays).  Contact Cathrine Macort for more information. (508) 775 1723 x 3 or email Lchmacort@yahoo.com  

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Help - I Need a Cooper!

These are obviously rare and delicate creatures, because I can't find one anywhere!  Or maybe they're just avoiding me?

Anyway, if  you know ANYONE who could come to the Cape Cod Maritime Festival on May 18th, 2008 and demonstrate how to make a wooden barrel, could you please let me know?

Drop me an email, give me a call, send a pigeon - anything!

Thank you. I appreciate it.

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FREE TRIP THROUGH TIME!

I figured the word "FREE" might at least buy this blog a second glance...

Saturday November 24th is FREE Thanksgiving Open House at Cape Cod Maritime Museum.

That means, that from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm you'll get FREE admission! FREE cider and cookies! FREE-dom from leftovers for an hour or two!  But best of all, you get to meet Master Sibsie, a time-traveler from 1626 - FREE - if you happen to be around at 2:00 pm. 

Master Sibsie was a passenger aboard Sparrow-Hawk when she wrecked in Pleasant Bay in November 1626. He, and the rest of the passengers and crew, survived the wreck and spent the winter at Plimoth with Bradford and Co. Needless to say, Mr. S. was a touch shocked to find the ship he sailed in on is now land-locked in the Museum, but he handled the trauma well, and is delighted to tell us all about the glory days of early 17th century New England.

CCMM is located at 135 South Street, Hyannis, overlooking the Harbor.  Further details available by phone at (508) 775 1723 or at Lchmacort@yahoo.com.

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Family Shipwreck Day - UPDATE!!!!

Looking for something fun and free to do with the kids this weekend? Come to the Cape Cod Maritime Museum!!!!  There are some really, really exciting things happening on here on Saturday between 10 am and 4 pm:
 
* Side scan sonar and magnetometer on display! Learn how they help researchers see what's below the sea!
* Underwater video camera demonstration - figure out what's hidden beneath!
* Survival Suits and dive gear to try on!
* Artifacts to see and touch!
* NOAA touch-screen kiosk to learn about shipwrecks on Stellwagen Bank!
* Mock shipwreck to "excavate"!
* Seeing in the Dark - how divers work in zero visibility conditions!

3:00 pm: Two powerpoint presentations about Minot's Light and Stellwagen Shipwrecks - very, very cool!

This is not to be missed - loads of great activities and demos for kids age 4 to 114. Come on down! 

Cape Cod Maritime Museum, 135 South Street, Hyannis MA 02601. Call (508) 775 1723 or email Lchmacort@yahoo.com for more info. See you there!

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Have you ever wondered...

... What it would be like to undertake a 6 week voyage in a small, leaky ship packed with 25 unwashed Brits  and enough wooden barrels, casks, sea chests and guzundas* to last you for the rest of the year? Well, now's the time to find out!

Just come to the Museum at 2:00 pm on Saturday (October 6th) and ask our very special guest, Mr. Sibsie - he'll tell you all about it...

Master Sibsie was a passenger aboard just such a ship in 1626. He sailed from England aboard the Sparrow-Hawk, bound for a new life in the tobacco plantations of Virginia. Hundreds of miles off course, without firewood, water or - horrors - beer, he and the rest of the crew and passengers found themselves washed into Pleasant Bay. With planks torn asunder, the ship was going nowhere.

Luckily the hapless bunch were met by two Wampanoags, who sent word of their plight over to Governor Bradford.  Bradford, being a relatively decent sort, brought over materials to repair and restock the ship. However, he'd only been back in Plimoth for a few days when he received word that the newly spiffed-up Sparrow-Hawk had broken loose of it's mooring during a storm, had washed ashore on the Outer Beach and was beaten to pieces.

To cut a long story short, Mr. Sibsie and his posse spent the winter of 1626 as guests at Plimoth Plantation. They continued their journey south in Spring 1627, much to the relief of the good people they'd been staying with. Apparently the newcomers were a bit too fond of drinking and womanizing for the Pilgrims liking.

I'm sure you could ask Mr. Sibsie about that too. If you wanted. Maybe you should wait until the kids are occupied elsewhere though. Just in case...

So - Saturday, October 6th at 2:00 pm.  A Date With Mr. Sibsie and a chance to see Sparrow-Hawk too. Good, family friendly edu-tainment.  Don't miss it!

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METTLE - Book Launch/Reception on Friday October 5th at CCMM

October is here, but have we taken the time to sit back and smell the candy corn? Heck No!! October at Cape Cod Maritime Museum is packed with great events and activities for you and the kids to enjoy.

We kick off this Friday (October 5th at 6:00 pm) with a reception to celebrate to launch of G. F. Michelsen's latest work - METTLE: A Novel.  Following a short discussion about New England's working waterfront, Mr. Michelsen will read select passages from the novel before answering your questions and signing copies of his book. Refreshments will be served. This is a free event, but donations to the Museum are always appreciated.

METTLE

I read this book in a day and loved it - I suspect you will too. I did try to summarize the plot for you, but Booklist did a much better job, so here it is:

"Lorenzo is a seasoned Cape Cod seaman who is called to captain the behemoth grain freighter Pacific Debenture up the east coast of Africa. Mettle's fast-paced story alternates between Cape Cod, the off-Cape Islands, and the Debenture's African ports of call. Woven into the narrative are short, highly charged passages relating to corruption in the Chinese steel industry. Michelsen sustains the adrenaline rush of his seafaring drama with personal conflicts involving Lorenzo's son, a woman they both love back on the Cape, a stowaway on board, and the Pacific Debenture's rebellious officers

Ultimately, Lorenzo's extraordinary "mettle" is forced into a life-or-death confrontation with the Chinese "metal," with shocking results. Michelsen's crisp prose and brilliant, unpredictable plotting will keep you guessing until the last page. This superb novel will stay with you long after you have enjoyed it for the first time."

I'm not the only one who loved the book; just check out this review William Martin, author of Back Bay, Harvard Yard, and The Lost Constitution, Recipient of the 2005 New England Book Award for Fiction

"G.F. Michelsen knows a lot... and his knowledge infuses this fine novel with a powerful sense of reality. Whether he's writing about a mighty ship fighting a rising sea or about the loneliness of winter on Cape Cod, he knows how to take you into his world. And whether his
characters are at sea or on land, he knows that his real subject is the human heart, with all its hopes and disappointments. He's a writer's writer, and in Mettle, he's at the top of his form."

Can't say better than that!

If you'd like more information about this event, or would like to reserve a seat or two, please call (508) 775 1723 or email Cathrine at Lchmacort@yahoo.com. Look forward to seeing you all on Friday, October 5th at 6:00 pm at Cape Cod Maritime Museum, 135 South Street, Hyannis.

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