Photo by George Sass.
A bit over a year ago, we posted about the construction of a new Maryland Dove by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum shipyard. The ship, a reproduction of the 17th-century trading ship that accompanied the first settlers to what is now Maryland in 1634, has been completed after three years of construction and is on her way to her homeport of Historic St. Mary’s City.
The new Maryland Dove is the third replica of the historic ship to be built. The first was built in 1934 to commemorate Maryland’s tercentenary. The second, in 1977, has served as a floating exhibit for Historic St. Mary’s City.
“I could not be prouder of the work that CBMM has achieved on the project,” said Kristen Greenaway, President & CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. “We were absolutely honored to be awarded the build contract, and it has been an organization-wide effort, and an absolute delight, to fulfill it.”
Upon arriving at Historic St. Mary’s City, Maryland Dove will serve as the organization’s floating ambassador, flagship exhibition, and a key tool in its educational programming. And thanks to key design elements and a summer of testing and certification, the new ship is authorized to carry passengers by the U.S. Coast Guard, allowing HSMC to take passengers for an on-the-water experience.
The public is invited to help honor the arrival of the new Maryland Dove to Historic St. Mary’s City on August 27, 2022.