Museum Ships on Air

Museum Ships On Air: Amateur Radio Event

"Public Event"

The Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum participated in Museum Ships On Air weekend event from June 3-4, 2017.  Amateur radio operators broadcasted from the radio shack on board USS Razorback (SS 394) submarine.  The first contact was made on Friday June 2, 2017 at 21:58 CTZ with Denver, Colorado.  The last contact was with USS Indianapolis in Indiana at 18:13 CTZ on June 4, 2017.

Nine operators made 295 contacts throughout the weekend.  These contacts were from 37 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico.  The states contacted included:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Illinois
  
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Massachusetts
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Missouri
• Mississippi
• Montana
• North Carolina
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
  
• Nevada
• New York
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Virginia
• Wisconsin
• West Virginia

USS Razorback was able to make contact with eight other museum ships.

• USCG Ingham 327
• USS Alabama
• USS Orleck
• Tall Ship Elissa
• USS Stewart/USS Cavalla
• PT 305
• USS Drum
• USS Indianapolis

The operators at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum included two operators out of Kansas and seven operators from Cabot, Arkansas.  John Moore, a submarine veteran, and Don Whitney came from the Kansas City Metro area.  This is John and Don's third time broadcasting aboard USS Razorback (SS 394).  Frank Stars organized a local group from the Cabot Small Town Amateur Radio Service and Cabot American Legion.  

During the event, Josh Carroll from Arkansas Section Bulletin podcast attended the event and spoke with many of the operators.

A big :THANK YOU" to our staff member Joseph Mathis for his work and organization of this event!

The Museum Ships Weekend Event is sponsored by The Battleship New Jersey Amateur Radio Station.  Museum Ships on the Air has become an annual event that many amateur radio operators look forward to each June.  This year there were 109 participating museum ships in 13 countries.

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Canada
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Portugal
• Russia
• Spain
• Sweden
• United States

National Pollinator Week 2017

"National Pollinator Week 2017"

Public Event

National Pollinator Week, which ran from June 19-25, celebrates the animals that pollinate plants and helps raise awareness about conservation issues relating to these animals. The Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum partnered with the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, a part of  the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, for their Pollinator passport program, which was a scavenger hunt where children visited various sites around Central Arkansas and answered questions related to pollinators. The museum contributed with a display about USS Hornet and USS Wasp, the two United States Navy ships that are named after pollinators.

Hornet and Wasp are two of the most prominent ship names in U.S. Navy history. There have been eight Hornets and ten Wasps. the original Wasp and Hornet among the first ships purchased by the fledgling U.S. Navy in 1775 and served in the American Revolution. Ships of these names also fought against the British with distinction in the War of 1812. USS Hornet became the first navy vessel to capture a British warship during the war. During the Spanish-American War, Hornet and Wasp were both civilian yachts that were converted into gunboats which distinguished themselves during operations off the coast of Cuba.

USS Wasp (CV-7) Launched in 1940 and sunk by a Japanese
submarine in September 1942 (Photo Courtesy of: Navsource)

USS Wasp (LHD-1), launched in 1989 seen here as it appears today
(Photo Courtesy of: US Navy)

During the early part of World War II, Hornet and Wasp were aircraft carriers which took part in several of the key battles of the war in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters before both were sunk by the Japanese during 1942. Their names were then given to two later aircraft carriers that served through the end of the war and beyond. Both ships recovered astronauts for NASA during the 1960's before being decommissioned. Wasp was scrapped in 1973 while Hornet was turned into a museum in Alameda, California (click here to learn more about USS Hornet museum). In 1989, the name Wasp was given to an amphibious assault ship which is still serving today. 

Author: Wesley Oliver

USS Little Rock (LCS 9) Crew Visit

USS Little Rock (LCS 9) Crew Visit

"Happenings"

USS Little Rock (LCS 9) is a Freedom-class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy.  This is the second ship named after the capitol city of Arkansas (USS Little Rock (CL 92) is a museum ship in Buffalo, New York).  The keel was laid on June 27, 2013, and christened on July 18, 2015.  The commissioning with take place in late September of 2017 in Buffalo, New York.  The commissioning of  USS Little Rock will mark the first time in the Navy's 240 year history that a ship will be commissioned alongside its namesake ship.  

The North Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau provided lunch for the crew's visit.

United States Naval Academy Parents Club of Arkansas volunteered their time to serve and enjoy a meal with the crew.

The crew members completed some maintenance work at the museum.  They were able to start the Fair Banks Morse engine, as well as paint Hoga's upper deck.

Thank you Little Rock crew and good luck with your sea trials.

Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen

Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen Lunch

"Private Event"

The 2017 contestants for Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen enjoyed a lunch hosted at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum. After lunch the contestants experienced the submarine USS Razorback with guided tours as well as visited our exhibits.

The Miss America's Outstanding Teen was founded in 2005 and has become one of the top scholarship providers for teen girls in the United States. Scholarships paid to date is $1,020,156.14!

Congratulations to 

Miss Aubrey Elizabeth Reed, Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen 2017.

Promotion Ceremony

Promotion Ceremony

"Private Events"

LCDR Jordan Ferris held his promotion ceremony aboard the deck of USS Razorback (SS 394) in North Little Rock, Arkansas.  This ceremony on June 6, 2017, was a beautiful sunny and warm day.  

Congratulations Lieutenant Commander Ferris.

Arkansas Family Fun Days Event

3rd Annual Arkansas Family Fun Days

"Special Event"

The Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, along with six other attractions, offered discounted rates or sales to families.  Hiland Dairy along with local family attractions encourage families to start their summer off with quality family time.  This event offers parents and kids to get out of the house and have fun together.  Did your family participate?  Please share your experience!