Maryland Dove To Undergo Maintenance And Rest Over The Winter

ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. — A video of the Maryland Dove, captured by deckhand and interpreter Noah Busby, was posted to Facebook on Dec. 16. Busby filmed the Dove being hauled out for the winter. During the frigid months, the historic recreation will undergo repairs to prepare it for spring.

Though the new iteration of the beloved Dove doesn’t embark on the same ocean-spanning journeys as the original, it still requires basic maintenance each year to repair cracks and other common issues.

Decay is common in wooden ships due to moisture, especially compared to steel vessels. The Dove may also receive a new coat of paint in 2025, which is important for historic recreations.

Busby’s clip shows the Maryland Dove at Dennis Point, and commenters on Facebook have expressed a deep respect for the vessel and what its replica represents to the Southern Maryland community.

One commenter, Robert Tagert, wrote: “A replica of the original Dove. Twin screws as I remember … still a magnificent vessel and thanks to St. Mary’s College and the state for remembering the tidewater sailing history.”

The modern Maryland Dove is a replica, but there’s a unique history behind the original vessel. The Dove was a trading ship that sailed from England to the Maryland colony between 1633 and 1634. Though it wasn’t large, the ship was invaluable in assisting the settlers with transportation.

A History of the Maryland Dove
At a maximum capacity of 40 tons, the original Dove wasn’t very large, but it was a necessary tool for colonists. The Dove was also accompanied by the much larger Ark vessel, which could carry 10 times more weight. The Ark played a key role in securing supplies for the early colonists, similar to the Dove.

Though the Ark sailed back to England, the Dove stayed behind as a trading vessel. The Dove eventually sailed back to England in 1635, but its history suggests it was lost during a voyage. While the fate of the first Dove remains unknown, the recreation has reignited its spirit in the Southern Maryland community.

When Was the New Maryland Dove Built?
The creation of the new Maryland Dove began in June 2019 and was completed in 2022. It was built in public view by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. According to MarylandDove.org, the reimagined Dove has an overall length of 84 feet, and the height of its main mast reaches an impressive 64 feet.

Iver Franzen and his firm, Iver C. Franzen Maritime, LLC, designed the newest Maryland Dove. Franzen is a well-known naval architect based in Annapolis with a long history in maritime design. One of his past projects involved the reconfiguration and design of the USS Constitution.

Though the Maryland Dove is currently out of commission for the winter, you may be able to visit it in spring 2025. In previous years, the Dove was available for public viewing on set schedules during spring, summer, and fall.

To learn more about the Maryland Dove, visit MarylandDove.org.