[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 90 (Wednesday, July 12, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE RESTORATION, PRESERVATION AND RENEWAL OF THE ``CHARLES W. MORGAN''

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                            HON. ROB SIMMONS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 12, 2006

  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to today to talk about the Charles 
W. Morgan--built in 1841 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 
1966--she is the only surviving wooden, square-rigged commercial vessel 
still remaining from the Nation's great age of sail. The Morgan is a 
treasured symbol of America and Connecticut, and the cornerstone of 
Mystic Seaport's collection. The Morgan is an icon of an industry that 
fueled the early American economy.
  After her whaling days ended in 1921, the Morgan was preserved and 
exhibited in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, until 1941 when she came 
to Mystic Seaport. Today, the Charles W. Morgan dominates the Museum's 
waterfront. Preserved afloat in her natural element, much as she 
appeared during her active whaling career, the Morgan is a featured 
part of the Mystic Seaport visitor experience. Through the years 
millions of visitors have climbed onboard the Morgan to experience, 
first-hand, the living and working environment of a large 19th-century 
wooden whaling vessel.
  On Saturday, July 15, I will visit Mystic Seaport to help celebrate 
the restoration, preservation and renewal of the Charles W. Morgan. A 
program of restoration and preservation on the Morgan began in 1968 and 
continues to the present day. The Charles W. Morgan's past restoration 
at the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard at Mystic Seaport helped 
define the standards of maritime preservation and historic vessel 
documentation as practiced today, worldwide. This preservation work has 
been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Advisory Council 
on Historic Preservation's National Historic Preservation Award in 1992 
and the World Ship Trust Millennial International Maritime Heritage 
Award in 2000. The Morgan was also included on the Connecticut Freedom 
Trail in 1997.
  Substantial restoration work is underway to ensure the Morgan's 
survival as an authentic 19th-century wooden vessel. The next phase of 
the Morgan's restoration will focus on an eight-foot band around the 
vessel's waterline. Mystic Seaport estimates that this 2\1/2\ year 
project will address the Charles W. Morgan's major structural needs for 
the next 20 years.
  As my colleagues from Mississippi and gulf coast region may be aware, 
Mystic Seaport's Preservation Shipyard and the Charles W. Morgan have 
made national headlines recently due to the Museum's efforts to salvage 
live oak from the devastated Gulf Coast region. Residents of four 
coastal Mississippi cities can take some comfort from knowing that 
centuries-old trees uprooted during the storm will be used to restore 
the Morgan's frame, backbone, and stem and stem posts. By helping to 
keep the Morgan ``alive'' for future generations, these extraordinary 
trees will continue to touch the minds and hearts of Museum visitors, 
perhaps for centuries to come.
  As many of you may know, Mystic Seaport--the Museum of America and 
the Sea is a leading national center for maritime research and 
education, with over 18,500 members and 1,500 volunteers. On average 
300,000 people visit Mystic Seaport each year, and over 1.4 million 
more access the Museum's resources electronically via the Web site, 
www.mysticseaport.org. The Museum is the nation's fourth largest 
history museum and is considered to be one of the finest maritime 
museums in the world. Seventeen waterfront acres are devoted to 
floating exhibits, exhibition galleries, demonstrations, and 
educational programming. The Museum's facilities include a 19th century 
New England coastal village, a new 41,000 square-foot Collections 
Research Center, a 70,000-volume research library, a planetarium, four 
national historic landmark vessels, and a working preservation 
shipyard.
  The Charles W. Morgan is being restored ``famously'' at Mystic 
Seaport's preservation shipyard, and I am honored to help Mystic 
Seaport celebrate the restoration and preservation of Charles W. 
Morgan, now in its 3rd century under sail.

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