Herreshoff Marine Museum facts for kids
The museum in 2017
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| Established | 1971 |
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| Location | 1 Burnside Street, Bristol, Rhode Island, U.S. |
The Herreshoff Marine Museum is a special museum in Bristol, Rhode Island, that celebrates the history of boat building. It is dedicated to the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, a famous boat builder that operated from 1878 to 1945. The company was known for creating some of the fastest and most beautiful sailing yachts in the world.
This company was a big deal in the world of sailing. It built eight winning boats for the famous America's Cup race. Besides sailing yachts, the company also built powerful steam-powered boats.
The museum is located right on the same grounds where the company once built its amazing boats, near Narragansett Bay. It's a perfect place to learn about the golden age of yachting and the incredible skill of the Herreshoff builders.
Contents
What Can You See at the Museum?
The museum is filled with incredible things to see. It has a collection of more than 60 historic boats. One of the highlights is Clara, a boat built by the legendary designer Nathanael Greene Herreshoff way back in 1887. You can also see Trivia, a yacht once owned by Harold Vanderbilt, and Defiant, a high-tech racing yacht from 1992.
The Model Room and Library
One of the coolest parts of the museum is the Nathanael Greene Herreshoff Model Room. It contains over 500 detailed models of yachts and steamships. These tiny models show the amazing designs the company created.
The museum also has the Rebecca Chase Herreshoff Library. It holds a large collection of books and original papers about the company, the Herreshoff family, and the history of yachting. It's a treasure trove for anyone who wants to dive deep into sailing history.
History of the Museum
The museum was started in 1971 by members of the Herreshoff family. They wanted to make sure the amazing work of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company and its founders was never forgotten. The founders were two brothers: John Brown Herreshoff (1841–1915) and Nathanael Greene Herreshoff (1848–1938).
A Surprising Start
The museum's beginning is a fun story. In 1970, Nathanael's grandson, Halsey Chase Herreshoff, learned that a yacht named THANIA had been left in a will to a "Herreshoff Marine Museum." The only problem was that no such museum existed!
This surprise gift, along with two other boats, gave Halsey the idea to create a floating exhibit in 1971. For years, the museum was just a collection of boats on the water. It didn't have a building on land until 1978, when Halsey bought a warehouse on Burnside Street.
Growing Bigger
During the 1980s and 1990s, the museum grew much larger. In 1985, it bought most of the old Herreshoff company's land and its main building. In 1990, the historic Richmond/Herreshoff House next door was also added to the museum. By 1996, the famous Model Room and Workshop were created.
The America's Cup Hall of Fame
In 1992, Halsey Herreshoff and the museum created the America's Cup Hall of Fame. This was made to honor the amazing people who have made the America's Cup race so exciting since it first began in 1851. As of 2025, the Hall of Fame includes over 100 sailors, designers, and supporters who have made a big impact on the sport.
Famous Boats
The Herreshoff company built many famous boats. One of them, the sailing yacht Doris, is so important that it is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This list recognizes the most important historic sites in the United States.
See also
- Herreshoff family
- List of maritime museums in the United States
- List of museum ships
