Maryland Federalist facts for kids
The Maryland Federalist at BWI Airport, June 25, 2011.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 Maryland |
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| Name | Maryland Federalist |
| Owner | Maryland State Archives |
| Builder | Allen C. Rawl |
| Laid down | 1987 |
| Status | Displayed at BWI Airport or Maryland State House |
| General characteristics | |
| Length | 15 ft (4.6 m) |
| Beam | 5 ft (1.5 m) |
| Sail plan | Square rig (7 sails on three masts; 132 sq ft (12.3 m2) of sail area) |
Maryland Federalist is a small, 15-foot (4.6 m) replica ship. It was built in 1987 and you can see it today at BWI Airport near Concourse D. This ship is a copy of an even smaller ship called Federalist, which was built way back in 1788.
Contents
The Original Federalist Ship
Celebrating the Constitution
In 1788, the people of Baltimore were very excited. Maryland had just agreed to the United States Constitution. This important document set up the rules for the United States government. To celebrate, merchants in Baltimore built a tiny 15-foot (4.6 m) ship. They named it Federalist.
A Gift for George Washington
The ship was designed by Joshua Barney. He was from Baltimore and became a very important officer in the United States Navy. The Federalist was the main attraction in a big parade in Baltimore. After the parade, Barney sailed the little ship. He went down the Chesapeake Bay and up the Potomac River. His goal was to reach Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. The Federalist was a special gift for Washington.
Washington wrote in his diary that Barney arrived on June 8, 1788. Sadly, the Federalist sank in a big storm on July 24 of that same year.
Searching for the Wreck
Many years later, in 2010, a group of experts teamed up. They included people from Mount Vernon and other history groups. They used special equipment to search the Potomac River near Mount Vernon. Their main goal was to find the sunken Federalist ship.
In October 2010, they announced some exciting news. Their sonar equipment found signals that might be a boat the size of the Federalist. However, more searching in 2013 did not find anything directly linked to the ship. So, the original Federalist is still a mystery!
The Modern Maryland Federalist
How It Was Built
The Maryland Federalist we see today was built with money raised by a group called the Maryland Federalist Foundation. A designer named Melbourne Smith created its plans. Allen C. Rawl built the ship. He said it was made to look exactly like the original Federalist. They used old writings and notes to make it as accurate as possible.
Special Features and Display
The ship has seven sails. This is a special way to remember that Maryland was the seventh state to agree to the United States Constitution. The Maryland Federalist is painted in the colors of the flag of Maryland: red, white, black, and gold. It also has other symbols of the state.
On July 1, 1988, the Maryland Federalist Foundation gave the ship to the Maryland State Archives. You can often see the Maryland Federalist on display at BWI Airport. Sometimes, it is also shown at the Maryland State House.
