Schooner Martha Foundation

09/07/2025

09/07/2025

Thanks for the great weekend Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival!

08/26/2025

Schooner Martha will be open for dockside tours Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this year's Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival after 9 am. Please come by and visit the 118-year old historic landmark vessel.

06/13/2025

Thank you Peninsula Daily News for the coverage regarding Heritage Capital Project funding for 4 District 24 projects! Thank you to Washington State Historical Society for prioritizing public access to history and restoration in Washington State!

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/heritage-projects-awarded-funding/

For more info, please check out: www.schoonermartha.org or for the full list of awardees: https://director9675.wixsite.com/waheritagecoalition

Almost $2 million for Jefferson programs

06/01/2025

Washington State Stands Up for Arts & Culture --
$10 Million Capital Allocation for 18 HERITAGE CAPITAL PROJECTS – 4 OF WHICH ARE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY!

OLYMPIA—2025-27 BIENNIUM SESSION FUNDS 18 WASHINGTON ORGANIZATIONS.

In a show of solidarity, representatives from each of the 18 ranked projects formed a coalition to meet with lawmakers about securing full funding for all applicants: The 30-year program is administered by the Washington State Historical Society. Projects are selected after rigorous review and vetted by a panel of experts from multiple disciplines, including economic and community
development, heritage and historic preservation, and architecture.
This year’s finalists include an impressive four projects in Jefferson County, as follows:

THE SCHOONER MARTHA – awarded $142,000. In many ways, Schooner Martha is in better shape today than she was in 1907 when she launched. With each passing year, Martha's history becomes more significant. Now, with a network of supporters and a community of people dedicated to her stewardship, the next phase of her restoration is to rebuild the cabin and house top (above waterline restoration). While the Schooner Martha Foundation has accomplished maintenance projects, and remedial work in this area, the house remains original to the 1907 construction and is in need of reconstruction and restoration. The Heritage Capital Project fund will aid the housetop and above waterline restoration with $142,000. This is vital to the effort to preserve and protect Martha, and ensuring she is sailing well into the future. More information available at: www.schoonermartha.org - Schooner Martha is currently docked inside Point Hudson Marina.

THE PORT OF PORT TOWNSEND – awarded $1,000,000.00. The Port of Port Townsend looks to further rehabilitate its historic Point Hudson campus through a comprehensive re-roofing project over nine buildings (over 40,000 square feet of roof surface) including the abatement of 28,500 square feet of existing original asbestos-containing roof tiles.
Point Hudson, established as a National Quarantine Facility by the United States Government in 1935, one of only three of its kind, has been the host to many different agencies and uses over the years, but has been under Port ownership since the 1950’s. The campus is one of the most iconic settings of Washington’s National Maritime Heritage Area and is also in Port Townsend’s Downtown National Historic District.

THE NORTHWEST SCHOOL OF WOODEN BOATBUILDING – awarded $498,000.00. The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding preserves traditional skills through active practice, with 50 – 60 fulltime post-secondary students each year learning hands-on craftsmanship involved in boatbuilding and marine systems. This project focuses on the rehabilitation of seven recently acquired historic cottages now used for student housing and it builds connections between the cottages and the rest of the campus through signage, paths, and lighting. The cottages add to the historic character of the working waterfront in Lower Hadlock in combination with the school’s two historic waterfront buildings and the Galster House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

THE JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY – awarded $269,000.00. JCHS is embarking on a transformative project to reimagine the Museum of Art + History in the historic 1892 City Hall building in Port Townsend, Washington. The project has two key components: modifications to our historic building to ensure all spaces are accessible for all visitors, and the fabrication and installation of permanent exhibition infrastructure to serve as the ongoing foundation for dynamic, community-based exhibits. These efforts are part of a strategic, long-term goal to revitalize and sustain interest in and engagement with the diverse art and history of this region.

The Heritage Capital Projects Fund was established by a statutory authority in 1995 (WAC 255-02-010 & RCW 27.34.330). The Heritage Capital Projects Program promotes economic development, fosters stewardship and historic preservation, and provides education and community space for several million residents, visitors, and students annually. Over its 30-year life, the state has invested over $106 million to support 421 projects. These projects have been matched by $212 million in local and private investment. Each dollar invested by the state is matched 2:1 by the projects. In 2025-27, it will generate $36.5 million in matching funds, multiplying the state's investment by 400%, and creating an economic boost of $60.9 million, including $5 million in local sales tax revenue. This program delivers an extraordinary return on investment.

OTHER AWARDEES INCLUDE—FRIENDS OF MUKAI, METRO PARKS TACOMA, COLUMBIA THEATRE, KITTITAS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC., WESTERN FOREST INDUSTRIES MUSEUM, WENATCHEE VALLEY MUSEUM & CULTURAL CENTER, THE MUSEUM OF FLIGHT, GRAYS HARBOR HISTORICAL SEAPORT (LADY WASHINGTON RESTORATION), YMCA OF GREATER SEATTLE, FOSS WATERWAY SEAPORT, KITSAP HISTORY MUSEUM, MOUNT BAKER THEATRE, BAINBRIDGE HISTORY MUSEUM, and CITY OF OLYMPIA.

To learn more about all 18 Funded Projects: https://director9675.wixsite.com/waheritagecoalition

04/23/2025

It's time for Washington's annual "GIVE BIG" fundraising drive for nonprofits. The Schooner Martha Foundation has set a goal of $10,000 towards a major project, beginning this fall.

The foundation will run a limited sail training schedule this summer in preparation for a substantial restoration project targeting the replacement and repair of MARTHA's cabin top, port lights, cabin sides, and cabin top furniture, aiming to authentically restore her to her original above-waterline 1907 construction. We need to raise funds of $100,000 during 2025-2026 to complete this project, so please consider MARTHA in your GiveBig plans.

Our goal for the GIVE BIG drive is only 1/10 of what is needed. Please give generously. A lot of volunteers are pushing hard, giving of their time and labor to make this happen; but we need financial assistance. That's where you come in. Support MARTHA with your donation TODAY. https://www.wagives.org/organization/SchoonerMartha

04/03/2025

The WA State Senate proposed budget is out, and the bottom 3 projects are not approved in the proposal for funding in the Senate (Schooner Martha Foundation, Port of Port Townsend, and City of Olympia). 🙏🏻⚡ Please contact your WA state legislators to encourage full funding! If you're in District 24, here is your legislative info:

Representative Mike Chapman – email: [email protected], Mailing address: Mike Chapman, 132B Legislative Building, PO Box 40600, Olympia, WA, 98504-0600

Representative Steve Tharinger – email: [email protected], Mailing address: Steve Tharinger, 314 John L. O’Brien Building, PO Box 40600, Olympia, WA 98504-0600

Senator Adam Bernbaum - email: [email protected], Mailing address: Adam Bernbaum, 418 John L. O’Brien Building, PO Box 40600, Olympia, WA 98504-0600

02/20/2025

The Washington State Legislature is in its 2025 session looking at the WA State budget for the next biennium - 2025-2027. The Heritage Capital Projects Fund is in the approval process, and the 18 ranked projects could use your support, including Schooner Martha Foundation.

Here is more info to the District 24 Legislator's contact information:

Representative Mike Chapman – email: [email protected], Mailing address: Mike Chapman, 132B Legislative Building, PO Box 40600, Olympia, WA, 98504-0600

Representative Steve Tharinger – email: [email protected], Mailing address: Steve Tharinger, 314 John L. O’Brien Building, PO Box 40600, Olympia, WA 98504-0600

Senator Adam Bernbaum - email: [email protected], Mailing address: Adam Bernbaum, 418 John L. O’Brien Building, PO Box 40600, Olympia, WA 98504-0600

Please see the postcard below showing the 18 ranked projects. The website includes more info: https://director9675.wixsite.com/waheritagecoalition

12/03/2024

As summer approaches, we are gearing up for another season of sail training programs with Schooner Martha Foundation. Our mission is to inspire and educate individuals of all ages about the beauty of sailing and maritime heritage.

We're reaching out to ask for your support! Your donations will help maintain our vessel, provide training resources, and expand our programs to reach even more aspiring sailors.

Every little bit helps! Consider making a one-time donation or becoming a monthly supporter. Visit https://www.schoonermartha.org/donate/ to contribute and make a difference!

Thank you for being part of our sailing community! Together, we can continue to empower and inspire future generations.

12/03/2024

It's GIVING TUESDAY. We are looking ahead to major work on MARTHA next year. You can see what we are planning and leave a donation at schoonermartha.org. Your help is what keeps MARTHA sailing!

10/28/2024

Last week - Port Townsend Leader, cover photo of Schooner Martha under the full moon!