This four-week, on-shore, classroom-based course introduces students with a basic familiarity with sailing to the rules, strategies, theories, and techniques that support competent racing. The curriculum is progressive—beginning with foundational topics such as right-of-way rules and race starts, then progressing to advanced racing strategy. If you are an adult or young adult who has completed an introductory sailing class and want to learn the fundamentals of racing, this course is for you!
Valentine’s Day Tea
Celebrate Valentine’s Day the old-fashioned way. Bake festive treats over the open hearth, then sit down for a cozy afternoon tea in the parlor of the Buckingham-Hall House.
Food and the Immigrant Experience: Ireland
Discover the flavors and traditions Irish immigrants brought to 19th-century America. Cook traditional recipes over the open hearth, explore their cultural significance, and enjoy a taste of history in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
Fish Fry
Follow the story of New England’s cod fishery from sea to table. Learn about the life of fishermen, then prepare codfish cakes over the open hearth in the Buckingham-Hall house using traditional techniques—served hot and fresh from the pan.
Letterpress Valentine’s Day Card Workshop
Say it with style this Valentine’s Day. Design and hand-print your own heartfelt cards on our 19th-century press using traditional type and imagery. Learn the basics of letterpress printing and take home your own custom creations. No experience required—feel free to bring your favorite quote!
Letterpress Greeting Card Workshop
Create your own greeting cards using our 19th-century hand press. Learn to set type, arrange your design, and print a custom card—perfect for birthdays, thank-yous, or any special occasion. No experience required—just bring your creativity!
Letterpress Coaster Workshop
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! Design and print your own drink coasters on our 19th-century hand press while learning the art of letterpress printing. Perfect for adding a historic touch to your next gathering—just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! No experience required.
Discover the wonders of astronomy through a maritime lens. The presence of water on our planet is part of what makes Earth unique within our solar system. Where land meets sea, celestial bodies interact with forces on Earth to shape patterns in the sky and influence tides along our shores. Together, sea and sky have guided the methods humans have used throughout history to navigate the world’s waterways.
This class explores Earth’s water cycle; evidence of water elsewhere in space; the Moon’s phases and their influence on tidal fluctuations; constellations recognized by different cultures in maritime settings around the world; and an overview of maritime navigation throughout history using a range of tools and techniques.
Join Supervisor of Sailing Programs and former music history and conducting professor Matthew Forte for an exploration of water- and sea-themed orchestral music from the 18th century to the present. Music selections include Claude Debussy’s La Mer, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony, and John Luther Adams’ Become Ocean. No prior musical knowledge is required—just an interest in learning about and listening to this remarkable music!
Set sail for creativity! Join us for a relaxing evening of art, history, and good company. Instead of painting a canvas, you’ll try your hand at scrimshaw—the sailors’ art of etching detailed designs into bone-like materials. Participants receive an introduction to the historical context, cultural significance, and techniques of scrimshaw, a form of expression that flourished among seafarers during the 18th and 19th centuries. Attendees will then apply these techniques to create a contemporary piece using synthetic materials that replicate the texture and feel of whale bone or ivory.
Enjoy a beverage of your choice, surrounded by the Museum’s maritime atmosphere and historic charm. No experience is necessary—just bring your imagination and a love for the sea!
Your ticket includes all materials and tools, corkage on BYO beer or wine, and a crash course in maritime artistry.
Introducing SeaClass: Digital Learning, the digital series that will inspire curious minds, near and far, through episodes specially curated by our museum experts. This season immerses us in the 19th-century whaling industry through stories, artifacts, and expert-led sessions that explore the impact of whaling then and now.
All episodes now streaming on YouTube.
Why did people hunt whales—and what impact did it have? Join Michael Dyer, Curator of Maritime History, for a deep dive into the motivations and legacy of the whaling industry.
Discover the often-overlooked stories of women in whaling history—their roles, contributions, and challenges. Featuring Maria Petrillo, Director of Interpretation.
What parts of a whale were used—and how? Join Professor Jim Carlton of Williams College as we examine whale anatomy and its many historical applications.
How did sailors find their way at sea? Learn about the tools and techniques of maritime navigation with Brian Koehler, Associate Director of the Treworgy Planetarium.
Get an up-close look at the tools used by whalers at sea. Michael Dyer, Curator of Maritime History, breaks down how these tools worked—and what they tell us today.
Step aboard as we explore large-scale artifacts from the whaling era—ship parts, tools, and more—with Michael Dyer, Curator of Maritime History.
