News and Events
Sail the Sultana: History on the Water
August 17-19, 2008
Sailing aboard the 18th-century schooner Sultana, eight incoming freshmen explored the rich history of the Chesapeake Bay, their home for the next four years. Organized by Washington College's C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, this new pre-orientation trip offered students with an interest in history or American studies an opportunity to live aboard an 18th-century vessel, meet a buccaneer from the Golden Age of Piracy, and hear ghost stories of the Chesapeake by candlelight. A Town Ball (18th century baseball) game and a climactic naval battle on Langford Creek rounded out the trip, leaving participants eager to jump into the exciting new world of college life (and very, very wet). Future historians will undoubtedly draw one conclusion from this epic battle, waged with canoes and water guns: while freshmen may be able to remain upright in a canoe while executing a sneak attack, faculty and staff members are not.
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Schooner Sultana
Preston Hildebrand '12 and Jack Wells '12 try out the Chester River.
Jim Bannar '09 goes fishing.
Participants debate the wisdom of trying to catch a snake.
Katie Manion '12 nails the ball.
Starr Center Director Adam Goodheart makes a run for it during a game of Town Ball.
Chuck Weisenberger '12, Hannah Lindecke '12, Pat Moran '12, and Leona Dalton '04 read Sultana's 18th century logbook.
Hannah Lindecke '12 and Anna Striegl '12 coil rope.
Historical interpreter Cliff Long shares tales of 17th century piracy with the group.
Jeremy Rothwell '09 encourages participants to make the most of their four years at Washington College.
Starr Center Program Manager Michael Buckley gets an 18th century sailors' tattoo.
Anna Striegl '12 gets a tattoo from Kat Bennett.
Chuck Weisenberger '12, Preston Hildebrand '12, and Kevin Lynch '12.
An 18th century surgeon's kit.
Participants haul the line.
Sultana crew member Deb Rowan teaches Elizabeth Clay '08 to steer the ship.
Students and faculty gather for a "Capture the Flag" naval battle on Langford Creek.
The teams ready for their assault.
Starr Center Associate Director Jill Ogline and history professor Janet Sorrentino attack Kevin Lynch '12 and Katie Manion '12.
Chuck Weisenberger '12 and Preston Hildebrand '12 return victorious.
Jeremy Rothwell '09 and Starr Center Director Adam Goodheart right themselves after capsizing.
Sultana at sunset.
Crew member Brian Bytnar climbs the rigging.
Adam Goodheart encourages students to write their own stories about the river.
Jan Van Ewijk '09 and Dr. Ken Schweitzer of the American Studies program joined the group for a cookout.
Three days on the river exhausts Jack Wells '12.
The group upon arrival back into Chestertown.
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