October 2015
Lecture Series with John van-Schalkwyk
John van-Schalkwyk, an experienced coastal and offshore sailor, will speak at the Mathews Maritime Foundation (MMF) speaker’s meeting on October 14th. He will relate his experiences on the 53 foot ketch “Super Maramu,” from Florida non-stop to Ireland, in May of this year with a couple who had not been offshore before. He will discuss about the couple, his decision to sail with them, the boat, the weather and routing (and how it’s vastly superior to his early offshore experiences),…
Find out more »April 2016
Mathews Maritime Lecture Series
In anticipation of the book signing by author Bill Geroux for his soon-to-be-released book about the Hodges family and other WWII Merchant Marines from Mathews, our April 21st speaker meeting will be presented by Jesse Thornton. Jesse was raised by Henny Hodges (the mother of 14!) and tells fascinating stories of their life on the Homestead. You don't want to miss this!
Find out more »May 2016
WWII EXHIBIT at Mathews Maritime Museum
WWII Exhibit of Merchant Marines and veterans from Mathews, VA. Event opens Friday May 27th, 2016 and runs through November 30th, 2016. Admission is free. WWII calendars also for sale. Museum Hours: 10 AM-2 PM Fri. & Sat., April-Nov.
Find out more »June 2016
British Ships Scuttled in the York River in 1781
“British ships scuttled in the York River in 1781” will be the topic of the upcoming Mathews Maritime Foundation’s Speaker’s Meeting. Mike Steen, Director of Education at the Watermen’s Museum in Yorktown, will present information about the ships thought to be buried in the York River bottom, from Cornwallis’ fleet to other eras such as the Civil War. The public is invited to enjoy this presentation on Thursday, June 16th, at 7PM, at the MMF Museum, 482 Main St., in Mathews…
Find out more »September 2016
Maritime Yard Sale
Yard Sale at Maritime Museum during Market Days. Mainly nautical items and boats.
Find out more »November 2016
“Traveling to Cuba”
Traveling to Cuba will be the topic presented by Ed Tillett at the Mathews Maritime Foundation speaker meeting. His extensive travels to Cuba over the past 17 years culminated in a book titled, Cuba Bound, The North Coast: Ports of Entry and Anchorage. Ed is an award winning film and video producer, author and journalist. His initial travels to Cuba resulted in a film documentary produced with the University of Richmond’s Dr. Mike Davison that examines the relationships between American…
Find out more »January 2017
Maritime Speaker Meeting – Luna
The construction of an 18th century Bermuda sloop named “Luna” will be the topic as presented by Mr. John Collamore. He will describe the current construction of the “Luna” as well as the history of this “coastal workhorse” that at one time hauled goods from one port to the next and spread the day’s news. Mr. Collamore and crew intend to sail her to historic ports from North Carolina to Maryland “to be able to tell the maritime history of…
Find out more »February 2017
Braving the Wartime Seas
The book Braving the Wartime Seas is the subject of this month’s Mathews Maritime Foundation Speaker Series. Presented by the author, Tom Schroeder, it is a tribute to the Cadets and Graduates of the US Merchant Marine Academy who died in World War II, honoring the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. Of the estimated 243,000 men and women who served in the Merchant Marines, it is estimated that 8,421 were killed at sea, as prisoners of…
Find out more »March 2017
Maritime Lecture: Adonia
Ed Tillett will present an overview of his work on renovating motor vessel Adonia at the next Mathews Maritime Foundation Speaker’s meeting. His 60 foot 1947 John Trumpy & Sons diesel cruiser was launched in 1947 as contract #330. The vessel’s home port is now Urbanna, VA, after spending the past 40 years on Long Island Sound. Ed, his wife and various crew spent the summer of 2016 sailing over 1,200 miles in the Chesapeake Bay and south along the…
Find out more »September 2017
Project Liberty Ship
The Mathews Maritime Foundation's first speaker for the Winter Speaker Series will be CDR John "Jack" Yunker, Sr., U.S.N. (Retired) on Thursday, September 21 at 7pm at the Maritime Museum, 482 Main Street. He will tell the story of the Liberty Ships that were designed to be built quickly in order to transport all objects and people during WWII. A Mathews man, he was one of the Naval Architects involved in the top secret planning of these vessels that played a critical…
Find out more »October 2017
Mathews Maritime Speaker Event
John Emory Horner and Bill Walters discuss extensive careers at Milford Haven Coast Guard Station. Mr. Horner spent 25 years as Officer-in-Charge there, and Mr. Walters has been with the Coast Guard Auxiliary for 52 years. Both brought a wealth of experience to their service at Milford Haven. In WW II Mr. Walters served on a seaplane in the Pacific Theater for 3 years, and later became a licensed Surveyor for The Virginia Marine Resources Commission, and with the Coast Guard accurately…
Find out more »November 2017
Destroyers, Cutters & Tugs…Oh My
The Mathews Maritime Foundation's speaker this month will be Mr. Tom Robinson, presenting an historical background on the launching of the Navy's first destroyer, and other ships of war and peace from a little-known Virginia shipbuilder. Plan to be surprised!
Find out more »January 2018
1984 Re-Voyage of the Godspeed
The Jamestown Foundation's 1984 re-creation of the 1607 Voyage of the Godspeed from England to Jamestown will be presented by one of her crew, Mr. Joe Gowdey, at the January Speaker Meeting of the Mathews Maritime Foundation. On April 30, 1985, a replica of the 1607 ship Godspeed departed London to begin her journey across the Atlantic in commemoration of the original voyage some 379 years earlier. The replica vessel was as close a representation of a 17th-century sailing ship…
Find out more »February 2018
Maritime Speaker Series
Matt Williams, owner of Under Boats, will be the presenter at the February Speaker Meeting of the Mathews Maritime Foundation. He will describe various aspects of diving and salvage operations such as raising your sunken boat, cleaning the hull, underwater construction and removal, and underwater videos. This is a free public event.
Find out more »June 2018
Mathews Maritime Foundation Yard Sale
Please check your houses, garages, boats for items you feel ready to part with that can be enjoyed by the next person. We ALL have some! Please keep in mind that the new SEA SCOUT program is looking for camping gear (sleeping bags, tents, cook ware, etc.) to add to the fun as they learn boat handling techniques, cooperation, and building of spirit and skills. Items for the yard sale can be brought in the previous day, Friday June 1, from 10-2.
Find out more »November 2018
Mathews Maritime Speaker Meeting
Mr. Tim Roscher will present his experiences as a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, speaking on his training and high profile rescues. He will review the movie The Perfect Storm with the REAL account of how that whole series of events played out... much more suspenseful and heroic than the movie! He will also present the role of the Coast Guard in maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, aids to navigation and our roles in WWI, WWII, Vietnam, the Gulf Wars…
Find out more »February 2019
Speaker Meeting
Carol and John McCormack present their Road Scholar Trip to the WWII D-Day beaches in France, including a painting made during the D-Day landing, and some original D-Day landing charts stamped “TOP SECRET”.
Find out more »March 2019
Mathews Maritime Event Speaker Meeting
The Mathews Maritime Foundation speaker series presents Dr. Wesley Wilson telling the story of African American waterman, and the Pamunkey and Mattaponi tribes, involvement in the transportation of wounded Union soldiers from around Richmond to the White House, down the Pamunkey and York Rivers to a Hospital ship anchored off Gloucester Point. They transported thousands under cover of darkness. Mr. Wilson is a retired Lt. Colonel Army combat aviator having served as a helicopter gunship pilot. He has a PhD…
Find out more »April 2019
Mathews Maritime Museum Open
The Mathews Maritime Museum will be open every Friday and Saturday 10am to 2pm until September!
Find out more »February 2020
Mathews Maritime Speaker Meeting
Mathews Maritime Speaker Meeting at Mathews Maritime Museum Thurs., 2/20/20 at 7pm A world wide travelogue of adventures will be presented by Mr. Sam Forrest at the Mathews Maritime Foundation speaker meeting. Mathews native and current owner of the Hyco House, Mr. Forrest has sailed across the Atlantic twice, traveled the Trans-Siberian railway, been to China twice, and has traveled to 37 countries. Stating he has been mugged on both sides of the Andes, he has had many experiences…
Find out more »June 2020
Mathews Maritime Museum Open
The Mathews Maritime Museum will reopen Fridays and Saturdays 10 AM to 2 PM, and continue through the summer months Fridays and Saturdays. We welcome visitors to view 2 new exhibits. A history of the steamboat era and its importance to Mathews County when it was the life line of this area. Also a display of the rich history of Fitchetts Wharf from the shipwright activities of the early 1800’s, to its prominent role during the Civil War including the blockade runner C.…
Find out more »July 2021
Maritime Heritage Day Festival
The Mathews Maritime Foundation (MMF) will be having a Maritime Heritage Day Festival Sat., July 17 10 am - 3 pm Come join us at this outdoor event which will take place on the lawn beside the Maritime Museum. Tents will be set up showing various activities and projects we are currently working on. Many photos of past and present will be displayed. MMF members can sign up for a Sunday Cruise on our buy boat The Peggy, or for…
Find out more »May 2022
Mathews Maritime Museum Open
Owned and operated by the Mathews Maritime Foundation, the Mathews Maritime Museum houses artifacts, documents, and photographs depicting the history and legacy of Mathews County and the Middle Peninsula of Virginia. This area has a varied, rich maritime history from colonial times through today, playing a vital role in all the major events of our country, the Chesapeake Bay, and world-wide commerce. The Mathews Maritime Museum will be open Fridays and Saturdays 10 AM to 2 PM, May through November.…
Find out more »September 2023
Mathews Maritime Heritage Day
This event will celebrate Mathews Maritime Heritage along with exhibits of current maritime projects at two locations: the Mathews Maritime Museum and Gwynn's Island Boat Shop. There will be local exhibitors present, with info about boat safety, boat building, antique outboard motors, food, music, storytelling, kids' activities, oyster harvesting, and the opportunity to meet author Benn Trask, and visit the vessels Peggy, Freya, and Yellow Submarine!
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