The FULLER SHALLOP Sets Sail: Carrying History Beyond Plymouth
The boat went to sea to share a story and came home with many new ones to tell. This summer, the FULLER SHALLOP carried our educational mission from Plymouth to communities across the South Coast and Islands, where she was welcomed with enthusiasm and curiosity. Along the way, new connections were made and old ones renewed, bringing the stories of 17th-century coastal communities to life in new waters.
This summer, the Fuller Shallop set out from Plymouth on a journey that was about more than sailing. For the first time in decades, the shallop entered waters and harbors where a vessel like her would have been a rare sight for generations. From the South Coast to the Islands, she carried something just as important as her crew: the mission of Plimoth Patuxet Museums.
Nantucket, MA
Dartmouth, MA
The voyage was part of “Blockade Runners,” an event organized by the Westport Historical Society in commemoration of Revolution250 and the role of Captain Paul Cuffe in running the British blockade during the Revolutionary War. Over the course of the journey, the Fuller Shallop visited Westport Point, Padanaram Harbor, Cuttyhunk, and Nantucket, offering communities throughout the region an opportunity to encounter a remarkable piece of maritime history up close.
At every stop, she was greeted with enthusiasm and curiosity.
In Westport Point, visitors gathered along the waterfront to meet the boat and learn about her connection to the vessels of the 17th century. In Padanaram Harbor, conversations continued between sailors, historians, and curious visitors. In Cuttyhunk, where Paul Cuffe was born there were panel discussions, and screening of Anita Allison’s short film, Cuffe:Taxed. In Nantucket, she was welcomed into another historic maritime community, where Museum staff and local hosts shared stories and made new connections.
Local organizations and yacht clubs also helped bring the voyage to life, arranging special activities and gatherings along the way. At each port, visitors had the opportunity to speak with Whit Perry, Captain of Mayflower II and the Fuller Shallop, and the Museum’s Kenneth Shaw Safe Jr. Director of Maritime and Historic Preservation, and members of the Museum's maritime team about the Shallop, her construction and history, and the people whose lives were shaped by the sea in the 17th century.
Nantucket, MA
Paul Cuffe Wooden Coin to Commemorate Revolution 250, Dartmouth, MA
For Captain Perry, the voyage was an opportunity to take the Museum's educational mission beyond its home campus. “The Fuller Shallop gives us a wonderful way to bring our educational mission to people where they live, work, and spend time along the coast,” said Perry. “Sailing her into these communities allows us to share living history in a very immediate way. People can see the boat, talk with our team, ask questions, and make a connection with the past right there on the waterfront. That is what makes this kind of voyage so special.”
Every stop offered a chance to share the story of the Fuller Shallop and the people whose lives were shaped by the sea in the 17th century. Just as importantly, the voyage created opportunities for conversation between historians and sailors, museums and communities, and people who share a deep curiosity about the past.
The Fuller Shallop is a remarkable vessel, but her significance reaches far beyond her timbers and rigging. She is a tool for connection and a way to bring history into the present to invite people to see the past from a different perspective. This summer, she carried that invitation farther than she has in many years.
As the Fuller Shallop made her way from Plymouth and back again, she became a familiar and welcome sight in new waters. She carried the spirit of Plimoth Patuxet Museums with her, introducing new audiences to the Museum's mission and reminding longtime friends that history is not confined to a museum campus. Sometimes, it sails into the harbor.
We are grateful to everyone who welcomed the Fuller Shallop along her journey, helped make the voyage possible, shared their docks and their stories, and came aboard to meet her. The voyage may be over, but the connections made along the way will carry forward.
