National Historic Landmark 1988–Present
Gift to Gloucester — 1988
Captain Sharp donated Adventure in 1988 to The Gloucester Adventure, Inc., a non-profit group formed in Gloucester, Massachusetts, to preserve the schooner, “as a monument to the history of Gloucester and for the education and pleasure of the public.” The group is dedicated to restoring and preserving Adventure for educational use.
Sailing and Education — 1988–1994
For the first few years back in Gloucester, Adventure served as a passenger sailing vessel and education facility for school groups. Adventure made appearances at Tall Ship and Maritime festivals along the North Shore (including winning the Mayor’s Cup during the Schooner Festival in Gloucester) with Skipper Tim Lord and crew.
Restoration — 1994–present
By 1994, it was apparent that focus needed to be turned to restoration in order to save Adventure, and an 18 year project was started. To date, over $4.5 million dollars has been raised to completely restore the aging vessel. That restoration is now almost complete and Adventure is sailing again!
Sails are flying!
A rare survivor, Adventure is an irreplaceable artifact from an extraordinary era in American history. Adventure was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1994 and was honored to be selected as an Official Project of Save America’s Treasures by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1999. A prominent destination site on the Essex National Heritage Area Maritime Trail, Adventure serves as a living memorial to the more than five thousand Gloucester fishermen lost at sea.
