Letters: Vision, funding needed to save maritime heritage
Visit the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City and you will see a successful combination of funding that has transformed this museum into a world-class organization. Why can this not be done in Philadelphia ("Historic ship Olympia gets more time," Thursday)?
Visit the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City and you will see a successful combination of funding that has transformed this museum into a world-class organization. Why can this not be done in Philadelphia ("Historic ship Olympia gets more time," Thursday)?
Here on the Delaware River, we have the ingredients for another world-class organization. Upon the shores of this great river sit the USS New Jersey, the SS United States, the USS Olympia, and the Seaport Museum. The New Jersey is already up and running as a museum ship. Both the United States and the Olympia need funding for repair, preservation, and restoration in order to make them viable components of a new maritime museum - not a restaurant, as was done to the ruination of the Moshulu.
What we need now is leaders with a vision for Penn's Landing, who can combine funding with the ships that would provide a living history experience for generations.
Billions a month are spent rebuilding Iraq and Afghanistan, while our national parks, museums, libraries, and public buildings crumble. This is one of those defining moments. We must bequeath to future generations a maritime heritage worthy of our great city. If New York City can do this, should Philadelphia do anything less?
Harold N. Boyer
Folsom