McKay Creek Boat Shop
This replica of a boat shop has been designed to celebrate the importance of coastal living and recognize the practical and recreational nature of boating in our county’s history. In addition to forthcoming exhibits, the Society has also started to preserve the memories of those involved in boat building along Pinellas County.
We had the official ribbon cutting ceremony
during the annual Country Jubilee on
October 24, 2015. Thanks to the hard work of
our volunteers and the
generosity of our donors, the
McKay Creek Boat Shop is a reality. The McKay Boat Shop is a major accomplishment
and a great addition to Heritage Village in which
everyone involved can take pride.
Our first exhibition will be focused on Clark Mills and
his boats. There will be a couple of prams from the early
days of the Optimist Pram story and example of a Windmill,
the boat Clark designed to be the next step for young
sailors. The original Sun Cat will be on display after being
kept in storage for a number of years. And of course joining
them will be Honey, the 1947 Clark Mills built Snipe, which
Francis Seavy sailed for almost 50 years, winning the Snipe
nationals in 1951.
We are building our permanent collection of Pinellas
County marine artifacts to be a comprehensive reflection of
maritime history reflecting the integral part it has played in
our county’s history. In keeping with the mission of Heritage
we will be planning for interactive educational exhibits to
engage all ages in marine skills and history.
We are actively seeking more stories, photos, and
artifacts to help create an all-inclusive history of the nautical
life of Pinellas County. Thank you for helping us reach this
mile marker. We hope you will continue to support us with
funds and information as we begin to develop the exhibits.
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