The Joseph Conrad arrived in St. Petersburg in 1939 as a training vessel for the United States Coast Guard as Bayboro Harbor had been selected as a training facility for novice sailors. According to Museum historian and curator Nevin Sitler, the ship made frequent training voyages to Haiti, Jamaica and Havana. The Joseph Conrad also sailed in the St. Petersburg to Havana Yacht Race in 1941. After the U.S. entered World War II, the Joseph Conrad was turned over to the Maritime Administration and served as a training ship until the war ended in 1945….History repeats itself as the tall ship Lynx now calls St. Petersburg its home each winter. Docked behind the Museum of History on the Pier Approach, the Lynx is an interpretation of a privateer built in 1812 and was among one of the first ships to defend the United States against the British. The Lynx now serves as a hands-on educational vessel that provides tours and cruises for students of all ages!
The St. Petersburg Museum of History is located at 335 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. For more information about exhibits, hours, and ticket pricing visit SPMOH.com.