Tall ship to be on display at 37th Wooden Boat Show in Georgetown

Tall ship to be on display at 37th Wooden Boat Show in Georgetown

A big surprise will await attendees of this year’s Wooden Boat Show in Georgetown, one of the most popular events on South Carolina’s Hammock Coast®.

For the first time, the Spirit of South Carolina, a tall ship that serves as an educational vessel to celebrate the heritage of the Lowcountry’s working watermen, will be docked and open for tours during the two-day event on Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18. See more about the event by clicking here.

Hope McFadden, director of the South Carolina Maritime Museum and the Harbor Historic Association, which oversees the Wooden Boat Show, said she and other organizers of the event are thrilled to welcome the Spirit of South Carolina this year.

“Our visitors and community already come out to see wooden boats, meet their owners, enjoy the festivities of the show, and celebrate our maritime heritage,” McFadden said. “Now they’ll also be able to step aboard a working tall ship. We hope this connects what people see throughout the show to experience a tall ship.”

She said that the Spirit of South Carolina has been to Georgetown before, docking at Georgetown Landing Marina, but it has never been docked downtown where the festival is held. McFadden said it will be an exciting opportunity in Georgetown to see a vessel of this kind — up close and personal. 

“This visit is possible thanks to the dredging completed this summer, which allows the tall ship to reach our waterfront,” she said. “Seeing the Spirit of South Carolina along the Harborwalk in downtown Georgetown during the Show will be a special and unique experience for our community and visitors.”

Adam Reed, executive director of the Spirit of South Carolina, said the tall ship is a one-of-a-kind vessel that was built by hand.

“Our educational and developmental programs coupled with this unique platform provide an unmatched experience for our participants and volunteers,” he said. “Involvement in the Wooden Boat Show is an exceptional opportunity to showcase what we can accomplish together.”

He said most people never get to see a ship like this, let alone come aboard.

“Since our programs are educational and participatory, events such as this give everyone the opportunity to see what a working tall ship is all about,” Reed said. “They can see demonstrations of the rigging, learn about her history and the history that brought her into contemporary form; come to know the programs we offer, and hopefully go home understanding a bit more about how traditional vessels like ours fit into the modern maritime seascape.”

McFadden said that Georgetown County, the City of Georgetown, and Delta Marine Construction have helped make bringing the Spirit of South Carolina to the 2026 Wooden Boat Show possible.

By Clayton Stairs / tourism manager for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce and South Carolina’s Hammock Coast®