Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

05/27/2026

Did you get to visit Avery Hick's booth at Comic Currents? Now’s your chance to learn from him firsthand during a fun afternoon of comics, storytelling, and creativity at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum!

Join featured Drawn to the Sea artist Avery Hick for a hands-on workshop exploring comic storytelling and zine-making while learning more about Avery’s creative process inspired by maritime history and the museum’s collection in conversation with curator Tania Sammons.

After the workshop, guests are encouraged to explore the museum and experience our newest exhibition, Drawn to the Sea: Maritime Stories from Savannah.

🎟 Tickets available now via🔗link in bio!
📅 Saturday, June 20
⏰ 10AM–12PM
📍 Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

05/26/2026

There is something deeply moving about the early history of Memorial Day.

Long before it became a federal holiday, Americans observed a tradition known as Decoration Day. In the years after the Civil War, communities gathered in cemeteries to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, flags, and wreaths.

When the observance was formally established in 1868, May 30 was chosen in part because flowers would be blooming across the country. Beauty was used to honor those brave souls who gave everything in service to their country.

At Ships of the Sea, our connection to military history often begins with maritime warfare — with ships, sailors, and service members who faced danger across oceans, rivers, and harbors in defense of their country. Still, our gratitude extends to all who gave their lives in service across all branches of the United States military.

May we continue to remember them with gratitude, humility, and respect.

05/24/2026

05/22/2026

Happy National Maritime Day! ⚓

Today, we’re celebrating one of Savannah’s most exciting maritime stories: the Steamship Savannah, the first steamship to cross the ocean.

In 1819, the SS Savannah set out from our hostess city bound for Liverpool, combining the familiar world of sail with the daring new power of steam. At a time when ocean travel still depended on wind, the idea of a steam-powered vessel crossing the Atlantic was bold, experimental, and thrilling.

Her voyage helped point toward the future of maritime travel, and her story remains one of Savannah’s proudest connections to world history.

You can explore the SS Savannah here at the museum through our model and interpretation, but you can also experience her story in a brand-new way through Avery Hick’s comic, The Great Experiment, featured in our current exhibition Drawn to the Sea: Maritime Stories from Savannah.

Avery’s comic imagines the SS Savannah’s first voyage to Liverpool from the perspective of the cook on deck, bringing humor, humanity, and a fresh voice to this remarkable journey.

Come by and see the SS Savannah model and Avery's work in our new exhibit, Drawn to the Sea: Maritime Stories from Savannah!
🔗shipsofthesea.org/visit-us

05/21/2026

Ships of the Sea has officially entered the podcast world! 🎙️⚓

The first episode of our brand-new podcast is now out, produced by Dee Daniels Media. We’re excited to share a new way to dive into maritime history, Savannah stories, museum moments, and the fascinating connections that make Ships of the Sea so special.

Whether you’re a longtime museum supporter or just discovering us for the first time, this podcast is another way to explore the stories behind the ships, the Scarbrough House, and Savannah’s rich maritime past.

Listen to the first episode now and come aboard!

https://shipsofthesea.podbean.com/

05/20/2026

For seventy years, the Savannah Line connected our hostess city to the world. ⚓

From 1872 to 1942, the Ocean Steamship Company of Savannah carried passengers and freight between Savannah, New York, and Boston aboard elegant steamships that became icons of Southern travel. At one point, there were up to ten ships in service at a time, making regular voyages up and down the East Coast.

These ships carried everything from cotton and cargo to families, travelers, and dreams of adventure. Some vessels became known for luxury and speed, while others faced storms, collisions, hurricanes, and even German submarines during the World Wars. Through triumphs and tragedies alike, the Savannah Line became deeply woven into the story of this city and its maritime legacy.

One of our favorite hidden details in the museum is the Savannah Line house flag, a bold blue and white design you can spot tucked amongst a few of our ship models if you look carefully enough. 👀

Next time you visit, see if you can find it for yourself while exploring the stories of the ships that once connected Savannah to the sea.

Plan your next trip!
🔗shipsofthesea.org/visit-us

05/19/2026

There’s something magical about watching someone discover our ship models for the first time, especially when that someone is a child completely in awe.

Every vessel in our collection is filled with tiny details waiting to be noticed: rigging, lifeboats, carved figures, painted decks, delicate masts, and all the little pieces that make each ship feel alive. The closer you look, the more you find.

Many of our models were crafted by master ship model maker William Hitchcock, whose careful hands helped bring maritime history down to a scale where we can truly study it. His work is currently featured in our latest exhibition, Drawn to the Sea: Maritime Stories from Savannah, through Lucy Bellwood’s comic “The Scale of a Man.” Visitors can learn more about Hitchcock through Lucy’s research and storytelling, and then see his remarkable models throughout the museum.

Come wander, look closely, and see what tiny treasures you can spot. You never know what detail might make you stop in awe!

Plan your next visit with us!
🔗shipsofthesea.org/visit-us

Love the story behind the ships?
Pick up the Drawn to the Sea exhibition comic in the gift shop during your visit. ⚓

05/18/2026

What an incredible day at Comic Currents! ⚡📚🌊

A huge thank you to all of the talented artists who filled Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum with creativity, storytelling, color, and energy this weekend. It was amazing to see so many different artistic styles and mediums represented throughout the museum and gardens, and even better getting to meet so many new faces and connect with Savannah’s creative community.

Thank you as well to our wonderful staff and volunteers who helped everything run so smoothly throughout the day, and a very special thank you to Lee Heidel and Neighborhood Comics for being such incredible partners and sponsors. Comic Currents would not have been possible without Lee’s passion, organization, and vision for creating a space to showcase local and regional sequential artists here at the museum.

We also may have spent a little too much money supporting all the artists and buying merch… but honestly, no regrets. 😅

And the fun is not over yet! Our next Drawn to the Sea event is the Zine Workshop with featured exhibition artist Avery Hick on Saturday, June 20. Guests will explore comic storytelling techniques and create their own folded mini-publication inspired by maritime history and the museum’s collection. Tickets can be found on our website!

Shipsofthesea.org/drawn-to-sea (link in bio! 🔗)

Thank you again to everyone who made Comic Currents such a special day at Ships of the Sea!

05/16/2026

Comic Currents arrives tomorrow at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum! ⚡📚🌊

Join us for a full afternoon celebrating comics, illustration, storytelling, and creativity with talented local and regional sequential artists throughout the museum and gardens. Meet artists, explore their work, discover new comics, and enjoy a fun and inspiring day with the whole family.

It’s also the perfect opportunity to experience everything Ships of the Sea has to offer, from our historic gardens and maritime collections to our newest exhibition, Drawn to the Sea: Maritime Stories from Savannah! Pick up exclusive merch, explore the exhibit, and spend the day surrounded by art, history, and creativity.

🎟 FREE admission all day
📅 Sunday, May 17
⏰ 1–5 PM
📍 Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Presented by Neighborhood Comics & Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

05/14/2026

A huge thank you to WJCL and Frank Sulkowski for featuring Drawn to the Sea and Comic Currents this week! We’re so grateful to help share this exciting new collaboration between Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum and Neighborhood Comics with the Savannah community.

Thank you as well to Avery Hick and Lee Heidel for joining the interview and helping bring this project to life through comics, storytelling, and creativity.

Comic Currents takes over Ships of the Sea this Sunday, May 17 from 1–5 PM with 20+ artists, comics, illustration, creativity, and free admission to the museum all day. We hope to see you there!

An afternoon of comics, conversation, and inspiration at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum FULL STORY ⬇️