Freedom Figurehead - St Michaels, MD - Figurative Public Sculpture on Waymarking.com

The sign says, "Where did such a big figurehead come from? A big ship? In this case, it was made for a relatively small vessel—the 88-foot schooner yacht, Freedom. Yacht designer John G. Alden never intended for Freedom to have a figurehead when she was built in 1931. But just before World War II, the schooner was given to the U.S. Naval Academy to train midshipmen in sailing. One of the captains of the vessel requested a figurehead, and the Academy's patternmaker, John M. Cook made a big one. After a few years, it was removed because it added 450 pounds to the bow and was vulnerable to damage.

Made c. 1950 by John M. Cook
On loan from the U.S. Naval Academy Museum

"...it was removed and placed in the Naval Academy Museum... Somehow some of the midshipmen entered the Museum where the Freedom figurehead was and rubbed their hands on the large bosoms for luck. One midshipman wrote his mother and told her what he did and the luck he had. Apparently his mother didn't agree. She wrote the Admiral a letter, and the Admiral's orders were, "Move it." So this is the reason the figurehead 'Freedom' is on indefinite loan to the Maritime Museum.""

Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Freedom Figurehead Figure Type: Fantasy creature Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Unknown Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 1931 Materials used: Wood Location: Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

Visit Instructions:
Please upload at least one photo you have personally taken of the sculpture and tell us a little about your impressions of the piece. Additional photos are always appreciated.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   11/07/2023 wildernessmama visited it 06/24/2021 bluesnote visited it

View all visits/logs