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CHARLESTON, SC – The Freedom Schooner, Amistad, visited the port city of Charleston as part of Harbor Fest 2008, and Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (S.C.) joined with other dignitaries in welcoming the tall ship as part of Harbor Fest 2008. In addition to the replica of the famed 19th century two-masted schooner, the Schooner Virginia, the Corwith Cramer and the Spirit of South Carolina participated in the maritime celebration. In today’s welcoming ceremony, Brown noted:
“Like our own Spirit of South Carolina, the Amistad is a wonderful reminder of the days when these tall ships dominated this harbor, as well as the harbors up and down the Atlantic seaboard. In addition to teaching future generations about maritime history, the Amistad is also dedicated to educating the public about the historic of slavery, discrimination and civil rights, truly a worthy and important mission.
As the Amistad completes its Atlantic Freedom Tour, I am proud to have it in port here and to celebrate its mission, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in this country.”
The original Amistad was a symbol of the abolitionist movement after a group of African captives aboard the ship revolted in July 1839. Following this revolt and the vessel’s recapture, a legal battle was fought in the U.S. Supreme Court over the status of the captive men and women.
The recreated schooner was built between 1998 and 2000 in Mystic Seaport, Mystic Connecticut, using traditional skills and construction techniques common to wooden vessels built in the 19th century.
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