Champlain Maritime Museum

The enjoyment of visiting new areas is enhanced by knowledge of the history that has occurred there.  Reading is always an avenue of learning, but seeing physical evidence of the history is more effective.  For Lake Champlain, there is a maritime museum. Fortunately for cruising boaters, it is located right on the lake.  Those arriving by car are greeted by a sign flanked by buoys.

The museum is comprised of exhibits in multiple buildings and outdoor areas.

One building is dedicated to the Revolutionary War battles on Lake Champlain.

When arriving at the museum from the lakeside, one is greeted with the view of the Naval ship Philadelphia, General Benedict Arnold's Gunboat.  It was the beginning of the U.S. Navy.  Before Chambly and Champlain Canals, boats could not reach Lake Champlain.  The British sailed their ships up the St. Lawrence, then up the Richelieu River to the rapids.  The ships were disassembled and carried overland to Lake Champlain and reassembled.  General Arnold went to Skenesborough, NY (now Whitehall), at the south end of  Lake Champlain, the location of the only sawmill in what is now upstate New York, and built nine gunboats to battle the British.  The Philadelphia at the museum is a full-size replica.  The original Philadelphia was sunk in battle.  It was found at the bottom of the lake in 1934 and is now displayed at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, DC.

American History Museum Article

The small bay off Lake Champlain next to the maritime museum has a mooring field, operated by a nearby yacht club.  This view is over the Philadelphia's bow-mounted cannon, across the bay and the ridge on the other side of Lake Champlain.

The Philadelphia, which is 54 feet long, carried a crew of 40 men.  Forty men fighting, sleeping, eating, in an area just over 1 foot of boat length each.  Tight quarters.  The gunboats have an interesting design for fighting on a lake - small to make more difficult target, low freeboard for the same reason, small enough to be rowed when there is no wind, and cannons all around the boat.

The cannons ranged from 2" to 10".  The smaller ones were easily aimed by one man, such as this one mounted near the stern.

The docent on the Philadelphia replica was quite knowledgeable, but was not dressed in period costume.  Learned later that he was just filling in, having a much larger and different role at the museum.

One museum building is dedicated to the Revolutionary war history at Lake Champlain.  A scale model of the Philadelphia is one of the displays.

The museum covers all eras of maritime history on Lake Champlain.  The Phoenix, displayed in scale model form, was a steam-powered boat that ferries cargo and passengers along and across the lake.  It was built in 1815 and met its end in 1819.

And a dramatic end it was.  The Phoenix caught fire one night, burning and sinking in the lake.  This event is depicted in oil by Ernie Hass, who served as our guide on the Philadelphia replica.  The Champlain Maritime Museum has many Ernie Hass oils and sells prints as a fundraising source.  His work is well researched, detailed, and expertly painted.

One building display focuses on the history of canoes.

Another building displays a huge collection of outboard boat motors, each with detailed descriptions and history.

Located in a natural, wooded setting, with a variety of wildlife, the museum is a beautiful spot.  Boaters are allowed the use of the dock and access to the grounds 24 hours/day.  A wonderful spot to spend a few nights and a great educational opportunity.