The retrospective application of the word "clipper" to these vessels has caused confusion. In the final days of the slave trade ( circa 1835–1850) – just as the type was dying out – the term, Baltimore clipper, became common and remained current in the last quarter of the 18th century through to the first half of the 19th century. At first, fast sailing vessels were referred to as "Virginia-built" or "pilot-boat model", with the name "Baltimore-built" appearing during the War of 1812. The first application of the term "clipper", in a nautical sense, is uncertain. "To clip it", and "going at a good clip", are remaining expressions. The term "clip" became synonymous with "speed" and was also applied to fast horses and sailing ships. Dryden, the English poet, used the word "clip" to describe the swift flight of a falcon in the 17th century when he said, "And, with her eagerness the quarry missed, Straight flies at check, and clips it down the wind." The ships appeared to clip along the ocean water. The term "clipper" most likely derives from the verb "clip", which in former times meant, among other things, to run or fly swiftly. The era ended with the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. The boom years of the clipper era began in 1843 in response to a growing demand for faster delivery of tea from China and continued with the demand for swift passage to gold fields in California and Australia beginning in 18, respectively. Dutch clippers were built beginning in the 1850s for the tea trade and passenger service to Java. Clippers sailed all over the world, primarily on the trade routes between the United Kingdom and China, in transatlantic trade, and on the New York-to-San Francisco route around Cape Horn during the California Gold Rush. Clippers were mostly constructed in British and American shipyards, although France, Brazil, the Netherlands, and other nations also produced some. "Clipper" does not refer to a specific sailplan clippers may be schooners, brigs, brigantines, etc., as well as full-rigged ships. Clippers were generally narrow for their length, small by later 19th-century standards, could carry limited bulk freight, and had a large total sail area. On display are 23 lithographs of famous American and British clipper ships half-hull models of locally built, historic ships rare plans of the most famous East Boston clippers by Donald McKay, the era's peerless builder and many other intriguing objects, including a model of McKay's Lightning, launched in 1854.A clipper was a type of mid-19th-century merchant sailing vessel, designed for speed. (The Hart Nautical Museum merged with the MIT Museum in 1981.)Ĭlark's collection makes up a substantial portion of the current exhibit. Clark began his career at 17 on board a clipper ship out of Boston, and wrote the pioneering book "The Clipper Ship Era," published in 1910. Clark, served as a basis for the first Hart Nautical Museum exhibition in March 1924. The founding collection of the new museum, bequeathed by Capt. The building and gallery opened in 1922 as part of the new Pratt School of Naval Architecture. On view through July 10, "The Clipper Ship Era"exhibit marks the 80th anniversary of the first exhibition held in MIT's first dedicated exhibition space, now called the Hart Nautical Gallery, which is on the first floor of Building 5. Through 19th century lithographs, rare plans, photos, clipper ship advertising cards and models, the exhibition focuses on the design, construction, economic impact and social experience of the clipper ship era. The clipper ships emerged as trade and the global economy expanded, bringing American enterprise and naval engineering to the forefront. It presents the key technical and historical stories and explores the important economic motivations that sparked the brilliant success and lore of the clipper ship." "The exhibition captures their beauty yet goes beyond the romance. "Clipper ships have always captivated the general public as well as countless writers, artists, even corporate logo designers," says Kurt Hasselbalch, curator of the MIT Museum's Hart Nautical Collections. "The Clipper Ship Era," now in its final days, examines the romance and reality while exploring the design, construction and commercial uses of these merchant ships, which ruled the seas from 1843-1869. As America celebrates its birthday this weekend, an exhibition at the MIT Museum celebrates a powerful symbol of American ingenuity and entrepreneurship: the clipper ship.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |