Author: Clifford Wilkey
Wilkey, Clifford, 2024 Historic shipbuilding of the Pacific Northwest of North America: A thematic analysis of regional museum exhibits, Flinders University, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
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Objects within maritime museum exhibits provide an opportunity to engage and educate the public about the history of shipbuilding. As experience with woodworking has decreased over the years, museum displays hold the potential to bridge that knowledge gap for visitors. Previous research has concentrated on other maritime subjects, such as shipwrecks, or performed comparative analyses of maritime exhibitions linked to specific regional histories. Using a thematic analysis approach, a comparison of shipbuilding exhibits in six museums across the Pacific Northwest region of North America was conducted through on-site visits, photography, and data collection. While all the museums included exhibits on shipbuilding, utilising maritime objects to varying degrees, the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site in Richmond, British Columbia, showcased an active boat restoration and offered an immersive experience that was both educational and engaging.
Keywords: Maritime, shipbuilding, boatbuilding, Pacific Northwest, thematic analysis, Puget Sound, Strait of Georgia
Subject: Archaeology thesis
Thesis type: Masters
Completed: 2024
School: College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Supervisor: Wendy Van Duivenvoorde