An early dream of the Harbor Historical Association of Georgetown was to establish a maritime museum in Georgetown.  It looks now as though that dream is coming true.

We will be teaming up with the Chamber of Commerce in restoring an historic structure that was moved from Screven Street to the waterfront on the Harborwalk Marina property.  Many of you have seen this project underway, though it doesn’t look like much right now.  The architect visualizes the finished product to have the look of a Lowcountry single house.  The Chamber will occupy the second floor.  Our group will be on the first floor together with a visitor kiosk that the Chamber will man.  The first floor area will be about 1100 sq. ft. which will be a good start.

What will go into the museum is being hashed out right now.  We feel that ship models would be the most appropriate in the beginning.  Here’s what we’re considering for the initial lineup:

• The City of Georgetown, a four masted lumber schooner that was sailing around 1900.
• The Harvest Moon, the Union flagship that was torpedoed and sunk in Winyah Bay in 1865.
• A modern-day fishing vessel (e.g. a shrimp trawler) and a model of an early fishing vessel used prior to having  engines.
• A bulk cargo ship that uses the Georgetown port facilities today and possibly a typical sailing vessel that was  used when Georgetown first became an official port in 1732.
• A rice punt like the kind used to transport rice in the plantation era. The Henrietta, the biggest wooden ship ever built in South Carolina, constructed on the Waccamaw River  30 miles from Georgetown.

To do the job properly, we think that $200,000 will be needed to build models, to properly display them, and to have other exhibits such as relief maps, nautical charts, paintings and the like.

Since the Harbor Historical Association of Georgetown is a 501(c)(3) organization, contributions are tax deductible.  We plan to develop several ways to make gifts; outright donations, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts and possibly other ways.  This is an endeavor that you will want to become a part of and recognized for.  The museum will be a source of pride for all our participants and for the people of coastal South Carolina. 

For additional information contact the Harbor Historical Association, PO Box 2228, Georgetown, SC 299442. Call toll-free at 877-285-3888 or call locally at 843-545-0015.