One boat leads to another, and there is a remarkable cache of content for me contained in the records of Expo ’86 in Vancouver. The Golden Hind replica of London, Phinisi Antar Bangsa from Indonesia, the York Boats I know so well from Fort Edmonton Park and others. And, of course, famous Haida artist BillContinue reading “Clio’s Armada: Loo Taas and the Not So Lost Art of Haida Canoe Carving”
Category Archives: Clio’s Armada
New History Talks: Heritage Boats and Boat-Building
Based on our popular blog series, Tom has prepared a few new talks discussing heritage boat-building projects around the world. The wealth of examples means this presentation can be tailored to your interest in at least four different ways. Want something centred on Vancouver and the Pacific Coast? Or on Indigenous heritage projects? See below!Continue reading “New History Talks: Heritage Boats and Boat-Building”
Clio’s Armada: The Bartolomeu Dias Caravel and Challenging History in South Africa
I’ve been lucky enough to travel widely in my life. This has often contributed heavily to my passions, including history but more specifically museums and heritage watercraft. In 2017, my partner and I visited Mossel Bay in South Africa, home of the historic Post Office Tree and I was delighted to find another replica vesselContinue reading “Clio’s Armada: The Bartolomeu Dias Caravel and Challenging History in South Africa”
Clio’s Armada: Indonesian “Phinisi” and the Fyrstyx Legacy
Expo ’86 is not something in my own memory, although I was alive and only a dozen hours from Vancouver at the time. Strangely, despite often driving to visit relatives on Vancouver Island, my family didn’t go. Instead I formed connections with it through my work on Fort Edmonton park’s York Boat project (soon toContinue reading “Clio’s Armada: Indonesian “Phinisi” and the Fyrstyx Legacy”
Clio’s Armada: Fraser River Flat-Bottomed Skiffs and Britannia Shipyards Nat’l Historic Site
In the 1990s, the Britannia Shipyard National Historic Site Society built two replicas of the Fraser River flat-bottomed skiff. These craft fished the Fraser River in what is now British Columbia in the 1870s and 1880s before being replaced by round-bottomed boats. They could be maneuvered by oars as well as sprit-sails in favourable weather.Continue reading “Clio’s Armada: Fraser River Flat-Bottomed Skiffs and Britannia Shipyards Nat’l Historic Site”
Clio’s Armada: Mi’kmaq birch bark canoes and Todd Labrador
Two of my longed for Canadian pilgrimages (besides York Factory NHS!) is the Canadian Canoe Museum and Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site. The former because its obvious connection to my passions of fur trade history and boat history, and the latter because of how much they value Indigenous interpretation and crafts. And thatContinue reading “Clio’s Armada: Mi’kmaq birch bark canoes and Todd Labrador”
Clio’s Armada: The Endeavour and the Australian National Maritime Museum
I was lucky enough to visit Sydney last year (2023) and even more lucky to experience the Australian National Maritime Museum (stupendous) and its exhibit of the replica (or simulacrum, if you prefer) of His Majesty’s Barque, Endeavour, the famous ship of Captain Cook. It was a stunning exhibition and the volunteer tour guide wasContinue reading “Clio’s Armada: The Endeavour and the Australian National Maritime Museum”
Clio’s Armada: The Dehcho Moosehide Boat and the Nahanni River
At the time of the build, a moosehide boat hadn’t been seen on the Nahanni in over a hundred years. The trade was not entirely lost, but the Dehcho First Nations were looking for a project that would share those skills and commemorate their past. Herb Norwegian was the visionary behind the project, but hisContinue reading “Clio’s Armada: The Dehcho Moosehide Boat and the Nahanni River”
Clio’s Armada: The Golden Hinde in London
There are not many places in the world where a full-sized galleon replica can survive (and even thrive) as a museum ship. The Golden Hinde replica is that ship and London is that place. Many ordinary citizens, let alone history enthusiasts, don’t need to be told who Sir Francis Drake was (athough they might notContinue reading “Clio’s Armada: The Golden Hinde in London”
Clio’s Armada: Hōkūleʻa and the Polynesian Voyaging Society
I’ve tried hard to devote serious attention in this blog to Indigenous boatbuilding and replica craft. And honestly, it hasn’t been difficult. Maritime Indigenous nations around the world have been using heritage boatbuilding as a celebration, as a chance to share skills, and sometimes to rediscover lost or endangered arts. One of the stellar examplesContinue reading “Clio’s Armada: Hōkūleʻa and the Polynesian Voyaging Society”
North Wind Heritage Consulting 