The National Sailing Hall of Fame and Herreshoff Marine Museum & America’s Cup Hall of Fame have announced at partnership to open an America’s Cup Hall of Fame location in Newport, RI.
Every sport has its legends, comprised of people who provide inspiration to take on new challenges and achieve new heights. Sailing is no different, and the accomplishments of inductees to these halls of fame illustrate the breadth of talents and contributions that have shaped the sport over time. From skippers to writers, boat designers to sailmakers, coaches to syndicate heads, these are the many faces of sailing’s legends.
Plans for this long term partnership include joint development of the Hall of Fame exhibits in Newport that will be continually enhanced through the collaboration of the National Sailing Hall of Fame and the Herreshoff Marine Museum & America’s Cup Hall of Fame. Several American inductees are members of both halls of fame, and there are meaningful synergies between the organizations that will enable them to create a world-class visitor experience.
In early 2019, the National Sailing Hall of Fame purchased the historic Armory Building on Thames Street in Newport. As the location for many America’s Cup-related activities during the Cup’s 12 Metre era (1958-‘83), the Armory holds special significance for many sailors. A broad range of compelling and interactive exhibits are currently being developed with the goal of creating a space where sailing comes alive for both sailors and non-sailors alike.
“Sailing is a sport for a lifetime,” said National Sailing Hall of Fame Executive Director Heather Ruhsam. “The partnership between the National Sailing Hall of Fame and the America’s Cup Hall of Fame creates an opportunity to introduce visitors to some of sailing’s most interesting personalities.”
“Combining the resources of these two organizations makes perfect sense, and Newport is the ideal place to bring this collaboration to life,” said Herreshoff Marine Museum President Bill Lynn. “We’re excited about the opportunity to introduce the America’s Cup Hall of Fame experience and its inductees to a new and bigger audience in this historic building in the sailing capital of the United States.”
In addition to the collaborative exhibits in Newport, the Herreshoff Museum is significantly investing in new exhibit development on its Bristol campus. The experience will focus on the Herreshoff Era of the America’s Cup (1893-1934) and other stories that illustrate the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company’s legacy of excellence in design, engineering and manufacturing combined with a relentless drive for innovation. The opening date for the combined exhibits at the Thames Street venue will be announced this summer. For more information, visit nshof.org and herreshoff.org. ■