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”
Tag Archives: Heritage
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”
Steal This idea: Sitting with Meaning
There will be lots of time when visitors need or want to sit in your museum. Or your neighbourhood. Why not make that an experience in and of itself? It can be as complex as building a custom theatre for your exhibition… …or as simple as using the right materials and ensuring those taking aContinue reading “Steal This idea: Sitting with Meaning”
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”
Steal this Idea: Empty Cases
Museums generally organise their stories around objects. But what to do when you don’t – or shouldn’t -have an object? Sometimes drawing attention to the lack of a material history can be just as effective. Steal This Idea is a new series of blog posts designed to promote some of the best heritage practices thatContinue reading “Steal this Idea: Empty Cases”
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”
North Wind Heritage Consulting 