Vermont's Shelburne Museum fuses history and art in a cluster of buildings housing American arts, architecture and artifacts. The fine arts collection is installed in a building that is a Greek Revival structure outside and a Park Avenue...

Find five lesson plans, about the Titanic, the Empress of Ireland, and the Lusitania, developed by the producers of the PBS documentary "Lost Liners" to complement the film and its companion website. This collection of classroom...

This site presents a brief history and description of the Golden Gate Bridge. It's most impressive features are the wonderful images posted on two pages. Click on each image to enlarge.

Forbisher's second expedition set out to find gold rather than a route to China. Why the change in goals? He claimed the Arctic territory for England and returned with ships loaded with ore. Had he given up the dream of the Passage?

Howard L. Rosenberg writes this article about the area known as "The Devil's Triangle" or "The Bermuda Triangle." Besides discussing famous lost ships and airplanes, Rosenberg gives detailed information about the geography of the sea...

Illustration of a caravel, a sailing ship.

A two-masted schooner currently operated as a windjammer, this 1871 ship is the oldest of its type with a documented history of continuous service.

Fascinating biography on Christopher Columbus. You can also find his biographical timeline, links to additional information, and books related to his life.

Here's a piece of American history you problably know little about. In 1939 a ship filled with Jewish refugees sat off the coast of Miami waiting for permission to land. That permission was denied. Find out what happened to the...

[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the thirteen original colonies. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.

[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about Ferdinand Magellan, the first explorer to sail around the world. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.

An ornament of wooden planks, which constituted the highest part of the poop of a ship. From the representations of two ancient ships annexed, we see the position of the aplustre. It rose immediately behind the gubernator, who held the...

An adze. Muratori has published numerous representations of the adze, as it is exhibited on ancient monuments. We select the three following, two of which show the instrument itself, with a slight variety of form, while the third...

A rudder. Before the invention of the rudder, which Pliny ascribes to Tiphys, the pilot of the ship Argo, vessels were both propelled and guided by oars alone. This circumstance may account for the form of the ancient rudder, as well as...