Lunch & Learn: Project Mayflower Book Discussion and Signing

Books will be available for sale

Options of Online or In-person available .

The Mayflower II—the replica of the 1620 ship that brought the Pilgrims to America and launched a nation—is seen by some 2.6 million visitors to Plymouth annually and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But there is much more to the replica’s story than meets the eye. In fact, the origins of Project Mayflower began in the 1950s not with an American, but with a British World War II veteran named Warwick Charlton who had what seemed an impossible dream: to build a historically accurate replica, sail her across the Atlantic, and present the finished product as a thank-you to his country’s wartime ally.

What Charlton didn’t know was that the son of a powerful New England financier had the same idea. Henry “Harry” Hornblower II wanted a replica just as badly, though for a different reason: as the star attraction for a new museum he was building in Massachusetts, soon to be known as Plimoth Plantation, where the original Mayflower had landed centuries before. Despite clearly different personal motives, Charlton and Hornblower agreed to join forces when they met by chance in 1955. Charlton would be responsible for financing, construction, and the vessel’s safe passage across the Atlantic, while Hornblower promised mooring, maintenance, and exhibition. Neither man could imagine what would happen next…

Author Dick Stone, will discuss the inspiration behind writing Project Mayflower and the stories he uncovered along the way.

Speaker Bio:

Richard A. Stone is the founder of Mayflower Event News, an information platform devoted to stories related to the Mayflower and Mayflower II. A graduate of Harvard College (BA in economics) and the University of California, Los Angeles (MA in journalism), he worked for decades with America’s premier media groups, including NBC, HBO, Time Inc., and ESPN/Disney. He has additionally provided expertise to the Canadian Football League, advised Panasonic Avionics on in-flight entertainment, and worked as a consultant to the Plimoth Patuxet Museums. The Imperial War Museum in London (home of the Churchill War Rooms) has recognized Stone as a Subject Specialist. Richard Stone | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk) Originally from Southern California, he now lives in Connecticut.

This program is made free to the public, both virtually and in person, through support from the Plymouth Local Cultural Council.

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Connect with the Project Mayflower publisher here: https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781493084364/Project-Mayflower

FAQs

What can I bring into the event?

You may bring a bagged lunch or snack to enjoy while you experience the lecture series. Our Plentiful Café is open from March 23-December 1. Lunch is not included in the ticket price.

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Please contact Christina Coleman, Director of Public Programs and Hospitality, at (508) 746-1622 ext. 8107 or by emailing [email protected], with any questions or if you would like to purchase tickets over the phone.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

You do not have to bring your printed ticket to the event. You may give your name to the Event Facilitator at check-in.

Host or Publisher Plimoth Patuxet: Commemorating 400 Years 1620-2020