Friendship of Salem facts for kids
Friendship of Salem, docked at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Friendship of Salem |
| Namesake | Friendship (1797) |
| Owner | National Park Service |
| Builder | Scarano Brothers Shipyard |
| Launched | November 1996 |
| Acquired | September 1, 1998 |
| Homeport | Salem, MA |
| Identification |
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| Status | in service |
| Badge | Woman in classical dress offering a bouqet of flowers |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Full-rigged ship |
| Length | 171 ft (52 m) bowsprit to spanker boom |
| Beam | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Height | 20 ft (6.1 m) keel to deck at midship |
| Decks | main deck, 'tween deck, and holds |
| Installed power | onboard generators |
| Propulsion | 21 sails, twin diesel engines |
| Speed | 7.2 maximum / 5.8 average knots |
| Boats & landing craft carried |
1 jolly boat |
| Complement | 25 crew, up to 45 persons |
The Friendship of Salem is a large sailing ship that looks just like the original Friendship, a ship from 1797. This replica is 171 feet long. It was built in 2000 in New York.
Most of the time, the Friendship of Salem stays docked as a museum ship. But it can also sail! It is approved by the United States Coast Guard to carry passengers and crew. This means it makes special trips at different times of the year. You can find the Friendship of Salem docked at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site in Massachusetts. This site was the first of its kind in the United States, created in 1938. The National Park Service takes care of the site, which includes old buildings, items, and records.
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Building the Replica Ship
The National Park Service asked for this replica ship to be built. They wanted it to look like the old 18th-century ship but use modern building methods. The hull, which is the main body of the ship, was made with layers of wood and a strong glue called epoxy.
The design for the replica came from a small model of the original Friendship. This model is now at the Peabody Essex Museum. Two crew members from the original Friendship made the model as a gift. They made it for their captain's baby son during a long trip to China and Sumatra. The colors of the replica ship come from a painting of the original ship done in 1805.
How the Ship Operates
A team of volunteers helps run the Friendship of Salem. They work under the guidance of the National Park Service. The ship often sails as a special "ambassador" ship for the Essex National Heritage Area. This means it helps represent the history and culture of the area.
The Original Friendship (1797)
The first Friendship was built in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1797. It was a large ship, about 102 feet long and 27 feet wide. It weighed 342 tons. The ship was very fast for its time, often sailing at 10 knots (about 11.5 miles per hour). It could even reach a top speed of 12 knots!
During its time at sea, the Friendship made fifteen long voyages. It traveled to many places around the world. These included India, China, South America, the Caribbean, England, Germany, and Russia.
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On its first trip in 1797, the Friendship sailed to Batavia (now Indonesia). The captain, Israel Williams, was interested in science. When the ship ran out of fresh water, he figured out a way to make drinking water from seawater.
Later, the Friendship became a "letter of marque" ship. This meant it was an armed trading vessel. The government allowed it to capture enemy ships during wartime. Even though it carried guns and 30 men to protect itself from French privateers, its main job was still trading goods.
Captain William Story commanded the Friendship from 1801 to 1804. Before that, he was the ship's first officer. Under his command, the ship made profitable voyages to places like Russia, Spain, Italy, and China. In 1803, a trip to Canton, China, earned a lot of money.
In 1807, a law called the Embargo Act stopped American ships from leaving port. The Friendship had to stay docked in Salem for two years. This made the ship fall into poor condition.
After the embargo was lifted, the Friendship tried to sail to Sweden. But it was leaking badly and had to return to Salem for repairs. Later, it made three more voyages to Russia.
Sadly, in 1812, the Friendship was captured by a British warship. The captain did not know that the United States and Great Britain were at war. The ship was taken as a prize of war and its fate after that is unknown.
Another Ship Named Friendship (1830s)
In 1815, the same owners had a second ship built with the name Friendship. This new ship was a bit larger. It was used for trading, especially in pepper.
In 1831, this second Friendship was anchored off a town called Quallah Battoo in Sumatra. While the captain and other officers were on shore trading, Malay pirates attacked the ship. They captured the ship, hurt some of the crew, and stole the cargo.
The captain and officers on shore tried to help, but there were too many pirates. They then went to other American ships nearby for help. The captains of those ships quickly sailed to rescue the Friendship. They had to use small boats to get to the ship because of dangerous shallow waters.
When the captain returned to Salem, he told President Andrew Jackson what had happened. President Jackson then sent the warship USS Potomac to punish the pirates. This event helped start the diplomatic career of a New Hampshire merchant named Edmund Roberts.
The later history of this second Friendship is not fully known. It is believed to have belonged to Joseph Peabody, a famous Salem merchant.
Images for kids
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The Custom House at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
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The Friendship of Salem is docked at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site. This site is managed by the National Park Service, which oversees all U.S. national parks. The National Park Service was created in 1916 by Congress.
See also
- List of large sailing vessels
- List of maritime museums in the United States
- List of museum ships
