From Mark Wilkins, Director and Curator...

It has been a productive spring indeed at the Cape Cod Maritime Museum; with the completion of renovations on the first floor, getting Sarah ready for her summer tour, and completing two new exhibits!

Renovations… The old boat-shop portion of CCMM in which catboat Sarah was constructed is now a beautiful new multi-purpose room complete with new walls, ceiling, carpeting, track lights and a fresh coat of paint. You would never guess that a boat was built in this room! In addition, we have added two new office spaces for CCMM’s hard working staff as well as modifications to the gift shop and vestibule, which combine to form a bright and spacious entry to the Museum.  We hope you will find the museum’s new look as attractive as we do!

Catboat Sarah… Catboat Sarah also received generous amounts of attention this spring: CCMM had Arey’s Pond Boat Yard sand and paint her bottom and topsides, and strip her brightwork. The cabin sole, staving, deck, cabin top and trim was painted and oiled by volunteers: Shana Brogan, Bob Dusseault and Lee Marchildon- Sarah is looking her best, and this year she even has seats, which I am sure will be a welcome sight (and seat) to the hundreds of passengers that will walk her decks this summer.

Sarah, the Museum’s floating educational ambassador will be making her first “South Shore Tour” this summer.  Starting at Stage Harbor, she will then visit Harwich, Hyannis, Osterville (original Sarah’s birthplace), Falmouth and Woods Hole in late August. Be sure to check CCMM’s newly re-designed website for dates; you will not want to miss sailing aboard her this summer! Contact the historical society in the town of your choice for tickets, or contact CCMM with questions.

Exhibits Transformations and Gone Fishing…CCMM’s second major exhibit Transformations is complete; an exhibit which examines the transformative process experienced by Cape Codders during the 17th and 18th centuries, as they evolved from land-lubberly farmers; interested only in raising crops and cattle- to bold seafarers searching for whales on the high seas around Cape Cod and beyond. European as well as Native Peoples ideologies are explored and contrasted in the exhibit, and the centerpiece is the 1626 shipwreck Sparrow-Hawk.

Making use of the Museums new rotating exhibit space; our first short-term exhibit entitled: Gone Fishing features photos of fishing around Cape Cod by local youths, and brief anecdotes by wives of Cape fishermen. Be sure to take a look at this important aspect of Cape maritime life.

Arrivals and departures… The Cape Cod Maritime Museum is expanding its already ambitious educational programming. To meet this challenge we welcome some new staff and say goodbye to some old. Erin Trainor hails from the Cape, has studied museum studies and theater, and will be helping us on weekends and with exhibits, programs and much more. CCMM also welcomes its second intern Jacalyn Gorczynski from Mount Holyoke College.  Jackie is proving to be a tremendous asset in dealing with all the many tasks involved in running a small but high quality non-profit maritime museum.

Alas, please join me in bidding a fond ‘fare thee well’ to museum administrator/educator Cathrine Macort, who will be adding her many talents to the staff at the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod. We will miss our bonnie lass Cathrine and we wish her all the best in her new endeavors. She extends her best wishes to everyone for the future.

By no means filling Cathrine’s shoes rather offering her own unique talents please welcome aboard Kathleen (Kate) Parker who will be working four days a week as administrator and educator as CCMM rises to meet an ever-increasing array of programmatic challenges. Kate has worked for the USPS and Bourne middle schools and brings her own interesting perspective to the Museums educational offerings.

New Programs… As CCMM's principle strength is her educational programs every staff member must also serve as an educator. Director/Curator Mark Wilkins has initiated a weekly lecture series on selected topics of both Cape and National maritime history in an effort to better serve our constituency. Another initiative that will be occurring over the next few months will be classes in boat-building, model-making, lofting, knot-tying, boat restoration and much much more. Please keep a weather eye on our website in the next month or so for these classes.

Membership… If you love the sea and all that is associated with it you should join us! If you value all the hard work and educational offerings put forth by CCMM please show your support by becoming a member.  Whether it’s sailing aboard our replica 19th century catboat Sarah, or contemplating artifacts and information found in an exhibit we depend on your support to make great ideas a reality.