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February 27 2006

For more information:

Todd Scott - Himmelrich, Inc.
410-528-5400
todd@himmelrich.com

John Smith Shallop Coming to Maryland Science Center

A replica of the sailboat Captain John Smith used to explore the Chesapeake Bay in 1608 will be on display at the Maryland Science Center beginning Saturday, March 28, 2006. Visitors to the Maryland Science Center will be able to examine the ship up close and study early maps of the area that Smith drew while on his expedition.

The 30 foot long shallop is part of the John Smith Four Hundred Project, a multi year project celebrating the 400th anniversary of the English settlement in America. A small group of volunteers took nearly a year to build the craft using only 17th century tools and techniques. The boat and its accompanying display at the Maryland Science Center are part of a promotional tour to raise awareness of the project throughout the region. The shallop will sail in November 2007 to recreate Smith's 1,700 mile journey.

Originally referred to as a "knock down" boat, the 1608 shallop was brought over from England in pieces and then put back together in Virginia. Smith used the boat to explore the unchartered Chesapeake Bay region. His travels took him from Jamestown, VA, to the mouth of the Susquehanna River, and up various tributaries along the way.

The Maryland Science Center is located at 601 Light Street at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. For information and tickets, visit www.marylandsciencecenter.org or call the 24-Hour Information Line at 410-685-5225, TDD: 410-962-0223.

The Maryland Science Center at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is visited by more than 550,000 people each year. Popular exhibits include: Dinosaur Mysteries which features more than a dozen full-size dinosaurs and interactive paleontology activities, an exploration of the day in the life of the human body in Your Body: The Inside Story, and add... dozens of interactive experiments in Newton’s Alley. Other popular attractions in the museum include the Kids Room, the five-story St. John Properties IMAX Theater, and the world-famous Davis Planetarium.