Brent Johnson Design recently teamed with Jonathan Levi Architects to develop a master plan and exhibit concepts for the Herreshoff Marine Museum & America’s Cup Hall of Fame. The museum, located in the Historic District of Bristol, Rhode Island, is dedicated to the history and innovation of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Between the late 19th century and the mid-20th century, Herreshoff designed and built steam-powered vessels and sailing yachts, including eight defenders of the America’s Cup.

The museum has a collection of over sixty boats, as well as artifacts from Nathanael Greene Herreshoff’s workshop containing hundreds of half hull models, tools, manuscripts, and drawings. The renewed museum will house these collections and storytelling displays, along with a store and café, and a connection to the outdoor campus where some of the original Herreshoff Manufacturing Company buildings remain.

A one-sixth scale model of the 1903 America’s Cup winner, Reliance, will mark the cornerstone of the new exhibits. This fully rigged model, currently under construction, will be 33’ long and more than 37’ high. To learn more about this incredible model, check out The Reliance Project blog.