[Regia-NA] Raven/Viking Update

[Folo Watkins]

Ah, the wonders of the internet. Most of the 
details come from Jørn Løset of Norway. I find it 
amusing that I had to talk to someone from Norway 
to get the skinny on something in Chicago...

Good Templar Park asked for $52,000 for 
preservation of the ship, and Partners in 
Preservation granted them that amount.  Full 
details at 
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/649347,2_1_AU14_HISTORIC_S1.article

This is enough for Level 1 preservation 
("Preservation as it is now, but stop it from 
further rotting, nails from rusting etc."). Level 
2 was to restore "the ship to museum state, but 
not seaworthy. Display it with full original 
equipment.make it museum worthy." Level 3 was to 
restore "the ship back to full seaworthyness, 
with full gear, rig, sail, oars etc. Involves 
changing broken ribs and strakes, new rig etc."

Jørn notes that Captain Anderson published an 
account of the voyage, etc., in a book published 
in Norway in 1895. It is called _Vikingefærden_ 
and is in Norwegian' he doesn't know of any 
reprints or translations. he saw a copy in a 
Norwegian library and said it had many photographs.

The book has information on the journey to New 
Orleans. "The Viking left Chicago around  Nov.1st 
and sailed to St. Louis. Date of arrival unknown. 
3 weeks later, ca Nov. 21, they left St. Louis 
and started the Mississippi stage. They arrived 
New Orleans "2 days before Christmas", Dec. 22. 
1893. After that, the ship was "transported" back 
to Chicago. Maybe towed back by another ship, but 
this is not mentioned. The end of story wasn't 
without a bitter taste for capt. Anderson. The 
ship was promised fundings from the norwegian 
goverment, ut they did not receive enough to 
cover the debt. Andersons plan was either to 
donate the ship to the city of Washington, or to 
sail it back to  Norway. But in Chicago a group 
of people raised funds to buy the ship to hand it 
over to "The Field Columbian Museum" for further 
exhibition, so it returned to Chicago."

Jørn 's page is 
http://home.online.no/~joeolavl/viking/viking-kopi-gokstadskipet.htm. 
It starts out in Norwegian, then has an English 
translation. It has several nice photos, including a stereo-opticon view!

Cheers, Folo