This link takes you to a site where you can vote on a number of historical preservation projects up for grants in the Chicago area. Among them is “The Viking.”
“The Viking” was (I’m pretty sure) the first Viking ship replica ever sailed. It went from Norway to America in 1893 for the World’s Columbian Exhibition. Since that time it has languished in less-than-ideal storage conditions in various places, and it won’t be around much longer if a restoration isn’t done and suitable shelter found.
The deal here is that you can vote on which of several projects will get preservation grants. You don’t have to be a Chicagoan (I’m registered) and you can vote once a day until the deadline. As I understand it, it’s not winner-take-all, and the voting won’t be the only determining factor in the final decisions. But it can’t hurt.
The ship is doing pretty well in the race so far. It’s Number 3 in votes. If you’re at all interested (or if you’re interested in another of the projects), I encourage you to register and vote. “Early and often,” as they say.
That’s interesting. I voted a few minutes ago. There’s a Frank Lloyd Wright house in the selections too.
But did you vote THE RIGHT WAY?
Yes, yes, yes. So when do I see the money? 🙂
Sorry. Can’t hear you. Must have a bad connection.
Well, I registered and voted for the Viking ship, but I’d have to say that it has some worthy competitors. I might have to log in and vote for the Russian Orthodox cathedral and the AME church on other days.
Beautiful lines on the ship.
That’s something I talk about in one of my lectures. If you look at pictures of Viking ships in old books, before the 1880s, you’ll see they’re portrayed as ugly tubs–like Greek triremes, but clumsier.
Then they opened the ship graves in Norway and discovered vessels of such exquisite grace and aerodynamic efficiency that everyone had to begin to re-think their views on the culture that produced them.