Celebrating 4th of July with American Ship Model Collection from Old Modern Handicrafts
The 4th of July is just around the corner. We take the celebration of these great American holidays one step further with our special American Ship Model Collection.
Through out the history, ships has brought our ancestors to the New World, that fought in battles to protect our shores, that moved people and goods from one coast to another and along the continent’s great waterways, and that opened up commerce in foreign lands. Great American Ships for the first time celebrates this part of our national maritime heritage.
1. T110 USS Constellation
On 27 March 1794, the United States Congress passed the Naval Act of 1794, which provided for building the US Navy its first new ships: the frigates Chesapeake, Congress, Constellation, Constitution, President, and United States. Constellation was the first to be commissioned. Constellation was built at Harris Creek Shipyard in Baltimore’s Fells Point and launched on 7 September 1797, just as the United States entered the Quasi-War with France. On 9 February 1799, under the command of Captain Thomas Truxtun, Constellation fought and captured the frigate L’Insurgente of 36 guns, the fastest ship in the French Navy — the first major victory by an American-designed and built warship. In February 1800 Constellation fought a night encounter with the frigate La Vengeance of 54 guns. Constellation was victorious after a five-hour battle. The French commander just managed to save his ship from capture and -upon returning to port- was so humiliated he later boasted that the American ship he had fought was a much larger and more powerful ship of the line. Since the encounter, the Constellations incredible speed and power inspired the French to nickname her the "Yankee Racehorse”.
2. T012 USS Constitution
The U.S.S. Constitution, a three-mast frigate, is the world’s oldest commissioned warship. Built primarily with dense southern live oak, its hull was 21 inches thick in an era when 18 inches was common. Paul Revere forged the copper spikes and bolts that held the planks in place. The 204-foot-long ship was first put to sea in 1798 and its most famous era of naval warfare was the War of 1812 against Britain, when it captured numerous merchant ships and defeated five warships, including the H.M.S. Guerriere. It was during the ferocious battle with the Guerriere that British seamen, astonished at how their cannonballs were bouncing off the Constitution’s hull, cried out, "Sir, Her sides are made from Iron!" Hence, the nickname, "Old Ironsides." The Constitution today is a national landmark and is currently docked in Boston.
3. T133 Lady Washington
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The original Lady Washington was a 90 ton merchant sloop that participated in the fur and pelt trade with the coastal Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest as well as tea and porcelain across the Pacific in China. She was the first American vessel to sail around Cape Horn as well as the first American vessel to reach Japan. Lady Washington was originally captained by Robert Gray and then later John Kendrick, where she was refitted as a brig. She became the first American vessel to reach the island of Japan in an unsuccessful attempt to move some unsold pelts. The Lady remained in the Pacific trade and eventually foundered in the Philippines in 1798. Today, a replica of Lady Washington was built for the 1989 Washington State Centennial celebrations and sails along the Pacific Coast, providing tours to educate students of the lifestyle and history of merchant trading.
4. T209 US Coast Guard
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The USCGC Eagle (WIX-327) (ex-SSS Horst Wessel) is a 295-foot (90 m) barque used as a training cutter for future officers of the United States Coast Guard. She is the only active commissioned sailing vessel in American military service. She is the seventh U.S. Navy or Coast Guard ship to bear the name in a line dating back to 1792. Each summer, Eagle conducts cruises with cadets from the United States Coast Guard Academy and candidates from the Officer Candidate School for periods ranging from a week to two months. These cruises fulfill multiple roles; the primary mission is training the cadets and officer candidates, but the ship also performs a public relations role. Often, Eagle makes calls at foreign ports as a goodwill ambassador.
5. Y001 America
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The 19th century racing yacht, America, was given its name after the first international sailing trophy that it won - the America’s Cup. This schooner was designed by George Steers for Commodore John Cox Stevens and a syndicate from the Yacht Club of New York. On Aug 22, 1851, the America won by over 20 minutes in the Royal Yacht Squadrons 53 mile regatta around the Isle of Wight, capturing the "One Hundred Sovereign Cup”. Queen Victoria, who was watching at the finish line, was reported to have asked who was second, the famous answer being: "Ah, Your Majesty, there is no second.”
6. B044 Shrimp Boat
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Seen across the Gulf of Mexico and featured in the movie Forrest Gump, shrimp boats are known by the phrase “By night they work the nets, and by day they rest and clean”. They anchor up just after dawn and begin cleaning their decks and holds of by-catch and trash fish. They are the shrimp boats that spend the night dragging their nets for pink gold. By night they work the nets, and by day they rest and clean.