Ralph Stanley, photo by Peggy McKenna, PMM Photo Archives
Saturday, May 27, 2017, Penobscot Marine Museum will host an afternoon of boat talk and music in celebration of the career and talents of MDI boatbuilder, National Heritage Fellow and Penobscot Marine Museum Trustee Ralph Stanley. Stanley will be at Penobscot Marine Museum’s Searsport campus to celebrate the day. The Museum will be offering $1 admission all day as part of this event.
Ralph Stanley is recognized in the State of Maine and nationally as a master boatbuilder. In 1946 Ralph Stanley began his wooden boat building career. During this time he built and restored more than 70 boats including lobster boats and yachts, dories, rowboats and Friendship Sloops. Stanley became a National Endowment of the Arts, National Heritage Fellow in 1999 for his contributions to boatbuilding as a traditional art. Along with boatbuilding, Stanley is a musician who enjoys making his own violins.
At 1:00 p.m. view the film Ralph Stanley: An Eye for Wood with a live commentary by film director Jeff Dobbs.
At 2:00 p.m. enjoy a selection of traditional fiddle music presented by Belfast Bay Fiddlers & Friends. Belfast Bay Fiddlers is a group of local musicians who enjoy playing and sharing their music. Feel free to bring your instrument and join in with the group.
Raise a glass in a toast to Ralph Stanley at 3:00 p.m. and hear stories and tributes about Ralph and his influence on the coast of Maine. Many thanks to Marshall Wharf Brewing Co. of Belfast for their generous support.
At 4:00 p.m. Old Grey Goose will play a selection of American folk songs on a variety of acoustic instruments. Their music focuses on core American values through songs of love, work, diversity and achievement.
The celebration event runs from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 27, 2017. Penobscot Marine Museum is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission for this special day is $1 per person.
About Penobscot Marine Museum
Penobscot Marine Museum’s theme for the 2017 season is Gone Fishing! with its featured exhibit, The Net Result: Our Evolving Fisheries, explores the world of Maine’s commercial fisheries through exhibits and programs that will entertain and educate children and adults alike. Gone Fishing! runs May 27, 2017 through October 15, 2017 at Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport, Maine.
Penobscot Marine Museum brings Maine maritime history to life in twelve beautiful historic buildings in the charming seacoast village of Searsport, Maine. Exhibits include hands-on activities for children and adults, as well as a ship captain’s house, marine paintings, scrimshaw, 19th century Chinese and Japanese pottery, paintings and textiles, historic Maine boats, a fisheries exhibit, and an heirloom vegetable garden. The Museum has over 200,000 historic photographs, and a maritime history research library. Check the website for daily activities and events. The Museum is open seven days a week, Memorial Day weekend through the third weekend in October. PMM Visitors Center, 2 Church Street, Searsport, Maine. For more information go to www.penobscotmarinemuseum.org or call the Visitors Center 207-548-0334 or Administrative Offices at 207-548-2529.