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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 already 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 also discussing 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. CWB would operate the site in partnership with NW Schooner Society.
Preservation of the Schooner Wawona
MHI partner Northwest Seaport is working with the Seattle Parks Department on a final plan for preservation of the 1897 schooner Wawona, a designated city landmark that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Wawona is currently in deteriorating condition at Lake Union Park. The City of Seattle has earmarked $400,000 for a project that includes displaying all or parts of the vessel on land near the park for educational purposes. Fragile components of the vessel are proposed for an indoor exhibit in MOHAI's new location at the Naval Reserve Armory. Badly decayed sections of the vessel may have to be demolished. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is now currently reviewing permits for removal of the ship from its current location.
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 an 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 in the early stages of exploring the potential for a National Maritime Heritage Area in Western Washington. Designated by Congress with technical assistance from the National Park Service, a national heritage area is a place where natural, cultural, historic and recreational resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape arising from patterns of human activity shaped by geography. The Advisory Team is now working with the regional umbrella group Pacific Northwest Maritime Heritage Council, and the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation on a proposal now before the State Legislature to study the feasibility of the heritage area concept.
Arthur Foss Haul Out and Pilot Study
Northwest Seaport was recently retained to conduct 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. If successful, the project could result in other efforts to make use of private maritime businesses in conjunction with programs that provide public benefit.
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