The men of Deer Isle have been famous for their maritime skills for well over a hundred years. In 1895 and 1899 the America’s Cup was won by all-Deer Isle crews, the first and last time in history a single town supplied an entire crew for the race. At Penobscot Marine Museum on Thursday, October 8 at 7:00 pm, anthropologist William Haviland will discuss why the men of Deer Isle developed such an excellent reputation and were sought after as crewmen especially for the big steam yachts of the early 20th century. Haviland’s book on the subject, Floating Palaces: America's Queens of the Sea which he wrote with Deer Isle native Barbara (Greenlaw) Britton, was published this year. Admission is free.
William Haviland is Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of Vermont. Growing up he spent summers on Deer Isle and is now a full-time resident. He is on the boards of the Deer Isle-Stonington Historical Society and the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor.
Floating Palaces: America's Queens of the Sea is part of Penobscot Marine Museum’s Boat Talk Series. The talk will take place onThursday, October 8, 7:00 pm, at Douglas and Margaret Carver Memorial Art Gallery, 11 Church Street, Searsport, Maine. Admission is free.
About Penobscot Marine Museum
Penobscot Marine Museum is in the historic seacoast village of Searsport, Maine. Eight of its twelve exhibit buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. Check the website for daily activities and events. The museum is open seven days a week, Memorial Day weekend through the third weekend in October. For more information go to www.penobscotmarinemuseum.orgor call the Visitors Center 207-548-0334 or Administrative Offices at 207-548-2529.
