During WWII, seamen and aviators needed to be able to recognize and distinguish enemy from allied vessels, in order to determine threats and prevent friendly fire. The US Navy commissioned Comet Metal Products Co., Inc. to fabricate sets of spotter models that coule be used to teah pilots and sailors. These sets included fleets of…
Prominently displayed in the Sailing Merchant Marine room at Houston Maritime is the model of the Flying Cloud, modeled by Ken Marshall. The Flying Cloud was an extreme clipper designed and built by Donald McKay at his shipyard in East Boston, MA, and launched in April 1851. The vessel’s commissioner intended the Flying Cloud to…
On my first visit to the Houston Maritime Museum over a year ago, I was delighted by the beautiful ship models on display, especially the models of wooden sailing ships, with their artful lines and fine workmanship. One model stood out as it was the largest of its type on display. The model is the…
The submarine U-596 was one of over 1100 U-boats (for “Unterseeboot” = “under-sea boat”) built by Germany both before and during World War II. The TypeVII was the most numerous of all U-boats built by German, with over 700 being built. The U-596 was constructed at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, and…
This past month, Technip generously donated a new model, which is now on display in our Offshore Energy exhibit. Spars are floating oil platforms that consist of a vertical steel structure, measuring up to 900 feet from the top of the drilling mast to the submerged ballast tank. Pipelines from multiple oil wells feed into…
This pair of binoculars was donated to Houston Maritime by our Wednesday docent, Laurence Shallenberger. His father, George G. Shallenberger, purchased these Carl Zeiss Jena binoculars while on vacation in Glacier National park, Montana, 1936. Founded in 1846, German optics manufacturer Carl Zeiss Jena’s lenses are considered some of the best in the world leading…
Whit Drake combines incredible knowledge of the maritime world with humorous anecdotes of the ships, people, and places related to the stories in our museum. His fun and engaging tours are the highlight of our Tuesdays! What is your maritime background? None! I’m the first docent without a maritime background; my hobby is history, especially…
Did you miss this event? Don’t worry, we’ll have similar events in the future, and here is a recipe to tide you over until then! The Houston Maritime Museum was packed on February 17, 2017, as guests came together to enjoy a “walking tour” on the history and mixing of the favorite drink for sailors…
In collaboration with the USS Houston CA-30 Survivors Association, the Houston Maritime Museum has opened our new exhibit “USS Houston: Ships Named in Honor.” This exhibit not only tells the unique histories of the four ships that have been named USS Houston, but also the heart-wrenching saga of the brave men who fought against all…
Laurence Shallenberger’s life-long interest in the sea, boats and airplanes lead him to the museum. Following military service and a long career with Exxon, Laurence docked at the maritime museum. Since joining the crew nine years ago, Laurence has become one of our most sought after docents. His knowledge and enthusiasm for the maritime stories…
