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The Maritime Heritage Task Force Advisory Team, a committee of Maritime Heritage Initiative partners, meets regularly to further the goals of the Task Force. These are some of the projects actively supported by the Maritime Heritage Initiative:
Heritage Programming at Lake Union Park
The Center for Wooden Boats, one of the MHI partners, is leading an energetic, cooperative effort among maritime heritage groups to deliver new maritime heritage programming at Lake Union Park. The collaboration among groups, such as Northwest Seaport and the Steamer Virginia V Foundation, has resulted in many new programming initiatives, such as a bi-weekly children's story hour on board the tugboat Arthur Foss, a National Historic Landmark vessel. An active working group, led by CWB, is currently collaborating on joint marketing efforts to promote greater visibility of maritime heritage efforts at the park and beyond.
Northlake Wharf Renovations
The Center for Wooden Boats, the Northwest Schooner Society, and Historic Seattle are leading the push to create a new maritime heritage facility at the King County METRO dock site. Northlake Wharf, which is just west of Gas Works Park, is envisioned as hands-on classroom for traditional maritime skills, a small boat center, a large vessel repair and maintenance facility, and a maritime museum. All activities would be open to the public. A $500,000 state Heritage Capital Projects grant will allow for initial renovation. Historic Seattle is currently negotiating with METRO for site control, and may also act as development consultant for the structures and improvements.
Maritime Heritage Network
Maritime Heritage Network is a web-based collaborative marketing effort among more than 80 western Washington maritime heritage organizations to jointly promote their attractions and activities. MHN continues to grow its audience and add new features to its website, including a weekly blog and interactive mapping application that helps area residents and visitors locate heritage attractions. MHN is also working on a plan that would move the project out of 4Culture to another, existing organization or independent status.
Western Washington National Maritime Heritage Area
The Task Force Advisory Team is working to promote a new maritime National Heritage Area—the first in the country to be focused on this important theme. A National Heritage Area is a federal designation that recognizes a region's significant cultural and historical resources, and that region's role in the nation's history. The designation supports local citizens in preserving, sharing, and promoting the region's heritage, and does not increase federal regulation. The Washington State Legislature has provided seed funding to complete a feasibility study overseen by the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, with guidance by a regional steering committee. The proposed Maritime National Heritage Area would include Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the San Juan Islands, and most of the Pacific Coast of Washington State. More details about the expected impact of the proposal are available on Maritime Heritage Network.
Arthur Foss Haul Out and Pilot Study
Northwest Seaport launched a pilot project which combined a maritime survey of the tugboat Arthur Foss at Northlake Shipyard on Lake Union, with a public education program on marine surveying. To view the 2007 reports for the Haul-Out & Hull Survey Workshop or the Pilot Shipyard Project visit Northwest Seaport's projects page.
Legacy of the Schooner Wawona
On March 4, 2009, the 1897 schooner Wawona was towed from its berth at Lake Union Park in Seattle to Lake Union Dry Dock for dismantling. MHI partner Northwest Seaport is still working with the Seattle Parks Department on a plan for preservation of the salvageable components of the historic landmark. The City of Seattle has earmarked $400,000 for a project that includes displaying parts of the vessel on land near the park for educational purposes. 4Culture is the proud recipient of a ships knee from the Wawona, which we will display in the upstairs office area. Other components of the vessel are proposed for an indoor exhibit in MOHAI's new location at the Naval Reserve Armory.
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