Twenty Years of Conservation
Improvements through CAP
USS Constellation Museum | CAP Year: 2001 |
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USS Constellation |
The USS Constellation is the last all-sail warship built for the U.S. Navy, and one of two vessels still afloat that, prior to the Civil War, served in the U.S. African Squadron fighting the illegal slave trade. In 2001, the 150-year-old, Baltimore-docked Constellation participated in the Conservation Assessment Program. Nancy Davis conducted the collections assessment while Captain Paul Haly provided the assessment of the vessel. According to Constellation staff, the reports offered great insight and suggestions on how to improve the conservation and preservation practices for the museum’s collections.
Using the CAP assessments as a guide, the staff at the USS Constellation Museum relocated artifacts and archives to a secure, climate-controlled facility. In addition, exhibits were upgraded to include acid-free mounts and installations, as well as reduced light levels where possible. In accordance with the assessors’ recommendations, the Museum completed the installation of a state-of-the-art fire detection and security system aboard Constellation, and addressed several water intrusion issues in the vessel’s wooden decks and topsides.
CAP assisted the Constellation with receiving grants, corporate support and sponsorship. "Having CAP on the application always helps bring a degree of credibility, and is a demonstrative sign that an organization is committed to the long-term care and conservation of its collections and/or historic structures," says Ken Hickman, former Curator at the USS Constellation Museum.
Currently, the Museum is planning for the construction of a new building. The design of this structure, from a collections and exhibit standpoint, will be guided, in part, by the recommendations made in the CAP report. Issues of climate control, light levels, and long-term preservation will be central to the design of the relevant areas of the facility.
The timely implementation of its CAP recommendations helped the museum to prepare for a very large change. In the spring of 2008, the USS Constellation Museum merged with the Baltimore Maritime Museum to form Historic Ships in Baltimore. In addition to the USS Constellation, the museum is also steward of the USCG Cutter Taney, Submarine USS Torsk, Lightship 116 "Chesapeake," and the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse. As well as the ships and the lighthouse, the museum is responsible for the combined collection of approximately 50,000 objects, photographs, and archival materials.
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The USCG Cutter Taney |
The Submarine USS Torsk |
The Lightship 116 "Chesapeake," |
The Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse |
Thanks to Dayna Aldridge for her assistance with this article.
Photos courtesy of Historic Ships in Baltimore
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