Historical Museum News

The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum has received a $200,000 grant from the Department of Interior, National Park Service (NPS) through the National Maritime Heritage (NMH) grant program, for the repair of USS Slater’s mast and hull.Thirty-four of these grants totaling $2.6 million were awarded in collaboration with the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs). With these funds, organizations and agencies conduct education and preservation…

To answer, USS Slater is at Caddell Dry Dock and Repair in Staten Island. Typically, the ship is open to the public in Albany near the beginning of April. This season, after several years of fundraising, the ship has been taken to drydock for repairs to her hull. It’s been over 20 years since the ship has been in drydock, so this project is due. Drydocking is being funded by private individuals and foundations as no government funding is being used for this project. In fact, the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum…

USS Slater is expected to move to her winter berth in the Port of  Rensselaer. It is estimated that she will pull away from her mooring in Albany at 9:00 a.m. Towing services are being provided by New York  State Marine Highway of Troy with the pilot  provided by Hudson River Pilots’ Association. A lot of people question why SLATER must leave Albany for the winter. The  answer is that until there is a permanent mooring and ice deflection  system at the Albany location, the ship must be moved to prevent damage to the retaining wall. Cost of the permanent mooring and ice deflection  system is currently estimated to be approximately $1.5 million. Once this  system is in place, the ship will remain open in Albany year-round.

In honor of their 100 year anniversary, Viking Pump has created a historical museum highlighting the unique innovations on which the company was founded. The museum allows visitors to travel with Viking Pump through the last 100 years. The Museum starts with the Granddad pump, the original created 100 years ago, and flows through to our current applications, literature and pumping innovations. Complete with artifacts through the years and interactive displays, this museum is designed to engage all visitors with a mixture of history and current technology. An idler display highlights the range of idler sizes that are created and machined by Viking Pump. Their size ranges from ¾ inch to almost 1½ feet.

Following a unanimous board decision, the International SeaKeepers Society welcomed Dean C. Klevan as its new President and CEO. Klevan joins SeaKeepers following a distinguished career in the financial services industry. Most recently, he was the President of the Coral Gables Trust Company, an institution he helped to found. Klevan also served in senior positions with Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, and Citicorp in the United States and abroad. He brings a business perspective to the challenges faced by a not-for-profit in today’s weakened economic environment.

Appropriate, isn’t it, that a man name Flood made his mark on the world painting nautical scenes. Born on the fourth of July in Philadelphia, James Flood has been sketching and painting from the time he was four. His early years embody the stereotypical mold of the artist type — restless and distracted at school, doggedly pursuing his craft and developing his talent, often to the dismay of family. His dedication to the subject was instilled in him at a young age, and was a passion that had outlets beyond the paintbrush and canvas. Flood recalls with joy memories of a young boy who would meticulously create and "sail" his very own fleet of motorized ship models. "I've had a lifelong fascination and attraction to water," he said.