National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico Set to Break Ground
Mar 20th, 2009
WHO: National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of MexicoWHAT: Groundbreaking / “Keel Laying” Ceremony
WHEN: 10 a.m., Thursday, April 9, 2009
WHERE: Michael C. Dow Mobile Landing (between Cooper Riverside Park and the Alabama Cruise Terminal in Mobile, Ala.)
CONTACT: Stephanie Bradford, (251) 436-8901, sbradford@nationalmaritime.us
The National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico, in partnership with the City of Mobile, will hold a public groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m., Thursday, April 9 at Mobile Landing, the city’s downtown riverfront development and the museum’s future site.
City, state and federal officials, museum trustees, campaign donors, civic leaders and numerous Gulf Coast citizens will gather to witness a ceremonial “keel laying” for the Maritime Museum facility. The news media and general public are invited to attend the ceremonies.
Scheduled to speak are Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, Mobile City Council President Reggie Copeland and E.B. Peebles III, chairman of the Maritime Museum Board of Trustees. Musical accompaniment will be provided by the United States Navy Band New Orleans.
Slated to open in late 2010, the Maritime Museum will become the centerpiece of Michael C. Dow Mobile Landing, which is already home to the Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center, Alabama’s only cruise ship terminal, and Cooper Riverside Park.
In addition to restoring public access to the downtown waterfront, the Maritime Museum will be only the third maritime museum in the U.S. to feature hands-on, interactive exhibits instead of a collection of maritime artifacts and memorabilia.
For more information, please contact the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico, with temporary offices at the International Trade Center (250 N. Water Street, Suite 131) in Mobile, at (251) 436-8901 or visit www.nationalmaritime.us.