The 177-foot three-mast sailing vessel Gazela Primeiro will glide up the Kennebec in time for visitors to board the ship Friday and Saturday as part of the Maine Maritime’ Museum’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Built and launched in 1901 in Portugal, the vessel is the oldest active wooden squarerigged sailing vessel in the United States, and was previously a member of the Por- tuguese White Fleet.
The vessel appeared in movies, including “Interview with a Vampire” and “The Widow of St. Pierre.”
In 1970, philanthropist William Wikoff Smith purchased the ship for the Philadelphia Maritime Museum, and the following year it arrived in Philadelphia.
AS PART of Maine Maritime Museum’s 50th anniversary celebration this summer, tall ships will be visiting Bath. This weekend, Gazela Primeiro, inset at top left, will arrive at the museum. Next month, Pride of Baltimore II, above, will visit and offer river sails. Also this summer, the museum’s War of 1812 exhibit highlights the war largely fought on the sea and in the Great Lakes 200 years ago, according to Jason Morin, director of public programs for the museum.
Also this summer, the museum’s War of 1812 exhibit highlights the war largely fought on the sea and in the Great Lakes 200 years ago, according to Jason Morin, director of public programs for Maine Maritime Museum. To mark both the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the museum’s 50th anniversary celebration, a second tall ship, the replica ship Pride of Baltimore II, will dock at the museum on August for boarding. It also will offer two river sails daily.
The Gazela Primeiro can be boarded from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Maine Maritime Museum. Cost is $5.
For more information about the Gazela Primeiro and the ongoing anniversary celebration, visit www.mainemaritimemuseum.org.
bbrogan@timesrecord.com
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
