Lake Champlain Maritime Museum facts for kids

The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (LCMM) is a special place in Vergennes, Vermont, USA. It's like a treasure chest that keeps alive and teaches about the history of Lake Champlain. The museum looks after sunken ships found in the lake. It also shares stories about the people and culture of the Lake Champlain area by studying old objects.

Discovering the Museum's History

The museum started in 1985. It first opened its doors to visitors in 1986. Its first home was an old stone schoolhouse. This building was on the grounds of the Basin Harbor Club, which is a resort right by the lake.

Since then, the LCMM has grown a lot! It now has 18 buildings across two locations. These buildings hold many collections and exhibits. There's also a boat shop and a small shipyard. You can find blacksmith tools and a lab for taking care of old archaeological finds. The museum also has a store, offices, and places for talks.

Expanding to Burlington

In 2001, the museum grew even more. It opened the Burlington Shipyard in Burlington, Vermont. This city is about 20 miles north of the main museum. The next year, the museum bought the Capt. White Place. This was a ship captain's home built around 1815. By 2004, the museum moved its Burlington offices and exhibits. They went from the shipyard to the Lyman Building, which is owned by the city.

Saving the Spitfire Gunboat

In June 2017, the museum shared an exciting plan. They wanted to raise and save the Spitfire. This was a gunboat that sank during the Battle of Valcour Island. The plan would cost $44 million and happen in five steps.

Exploring Replica Ships

The museum has a collection of replica ships. These are copies of old boats. They help us learn about the ships, their crews, and the times they sailed.

The Perseverance and Philadelphia II

The first replica built was the Perseverance. This was a Bateau boat from the French and Indian War time. It was finished in 1986. Because it was a success, the museum then built the Philadelphia II. This was a gunboat from the Revolutionary War. It was launched in 1991. This replica is a very exact copy of the real ship. The original Philadelphia sank in a battle at Battle of Valcour Island. It was brought up from the lake in 1935. Today, you can see the original at the Smithsonian Institution.

The Canal Schooner Lois McClure

The museum's main ship is the canal schooner Lois McClure. It was launched in 2004. This ship was built by the museum and the Lake Champlain Transportation Company working together. Its design is based on two other old ships. One was the General Butler, which sank in Burlington Harbor in 1876. The other was the O.J. Walker, another sailing canal boat that sank in 1895.

Educational Programs and Events

The LCMM offers many fun and educational programs. These include classes about building boats and going boating. They also host talks, yearly photo shows, and historical re-enactment events.

Learning and Crafting

The museum offers classes that range from exploring the lake to learning traditional crafts. During winter, museum teachers visit schools. They help students learn about the American Revolutionary War. They also teach about trade on the lake in the 1800s. Students learn about the old things found in Lake Champlain.

Young people's groups also work with the museum. They build boats like a Cornish pilot gig or a Whitehall pulling boat. This is a team effort.

Exciting Annual Events

In 2005, the Lois McClure traveled around the lake and down the Hudson River. In 2007, it took a similar trip on the New York State Barge Canal. This canal is what the Erie Canal is called today.

Some of the museum's regular yearly events include rowing races. There's also the Rabble In Arms weekend. This is a big event with people acting out history. The museum also has an annual small boat show. They show photos taken by people from all over the region.

External Links

• Lake Champlain Maritime Museum Official Website: http://www.lcmm.org/