An exhibit of four-masted schooners and models of other historic vessels entranced those who entered the S.C. Maritime Museum on Front Street Thursday night.
The exhibit, the first to be held in the new museum, displayed large photographs and aerial maps that told some of the history of the shipping industry in Georgetown.
Museum officials said there will soon be other exhibits detailing other maritime stories from other parts of South Carolina.
“We want to be a South Carolina maritime museum,” said historian Robert “Mac” McAllister, who attended Thursday’s event.
“All of the steamboats that took cotton and lumber to Georgetown used the rivers. We also want to tell the story of the Marquis de Lafayette, who came here in 1777 and made his first landing in America.”
The museum is located in a storefront that has been empty for at least 25 years.
The museum now holds large photographs, elaborate scale models and information about the historic vessels of Georgetown.
This includes pictures of “The City of Georgetown,” a vessel that once shipped lumber from South Carolina to New England.
Some photographs show the vessel under construction while others show it in use.
Still another picture depicts when it was rammed by a much larger boat and sank.
“In February of 1913, the “Prinz Oskar” was proceeding at full speed as her officers plotted their course to Hamburg, Germany,” according to information provided by the museum.
“Neither they nor their lookout saw the navigation lights of the “City of Georgetown.” The ships collided bow to bow.”
Some photos were received from the Maine Maritime Museum. Others were found in the digital collection of the Georgetown County Library.
Museum Director Susan Saunders was on hand Thursday night to tell more about the pictures and greet guests as they entered the building.
Sally Swineford, owner of the River Room, also talked to guests and discussed future plans for the museum.
Swineford has worked for many years to get the museum opened and also organizes the yearly Wooden Boat Show.
The pictures and replicas of the vessels impressed the crowd who attended the drop-in event.
Anne Marie and Bill Hoyle strolled around the museum and said it was “fascinating.”
“We’re very fortunate to have it,” said Bill Hoyle.
“The models are very unique. I was in the Navy for 28 years and this is interesting.”
“My favorite part is the photographs,” said Georgetown City Councilman Paige Sawyer. “It tells how important shipping and lumber were to Georgetown.”
The museum is located at 729 Front Street. For more information, call 520-0111 or go to www.scmaritimemuseum.org.
By Kelly M. Fuller
Kfuller@gtowntimes.com
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