Preservation

Elissa - Full Sail NMHS Archives

National Maritime Historical Society has diligently supported groups endeavoring to rescue historic ships in trouble. True to its pioneering heritage as a savior of historic ships, NMHS has been a leader in bringing national attention to the preservation of the rapidly dwindling number of historic ships.

The Society has spearheaded a number of preservation initiatives, collaborating with or creating institutions to maintain vessels as focal points for sea history programs. Notable among these efforts was the adoption of the Maritime Heritage Act of 1979, which provided $5 million for distribution through the National Trust for Historic Preservation and State Historic Preservation officers.

"Historic Ships on a Lee Shore," highlighting the plight of ships that need help, is a regular feature of Sea History magazine. The NMHS also seeks to increase the inventory of historic replica vessels and has developed collaborative relationships with many of the sail training ships now active in the fleet.

"(These ships) are far more than quaint relics of a bygone era. They embody the noblest aspirations of a people. They speak not only of what is past, but to what endures: ingenuity, intrepidity and the insatiable appetite for freedom and a better life in a better world