Step Aboard History: NJ's Tall Ship Docks In Mercer Co. May 14-18

MERCER COUNTY, NJ – New Jersey's Official Tall Ship, the oyster schooner A.J. Meerwald, will be anchored at The Docks on the Delaware River next to Waterfront Park in Trenton from May 14 to 18.

The ship's visit was arranged by The Bayshore Center at Bivalve and the Mercer County Park Commission. The 115-foot-long, 70-foot-tall vessel features two masts and three sails.

The Schooner A.J. Meerwald will arrive between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, followed by a "Dockside Reception" for invited guests and the public at 3 p.m.

During its port visit to Trenton, the ship will host Education Sails for schools and youth organizations as well as Public Sails. Students will have the opportunity to help raise sails, explore hands-on education stations, and experience sailing the Delaware River.

"The Schooner A.J. Meerwald is an excellent opportunity for Mercer County residents to see a historic oyster dredging schooner," Mercer County Executive Dan Benson said. "This event is at the nexus of tourism and history and will provide fun for anyone who attends the reception."

The A.J. Meerwald is a restored oyster dredging schooner from Bivalve, New Jersey.

Launched in 1928, it represents the true spirit of schooners that were adapted to fulfill the specific demands of their native waters.

The A.J. Meerwald was one of nearly 500 schooners built along the Delaware Bay before the local shipbuilding industry declined in the 1930s. The ship normally resides at the Bayshore Center at Bivalve in Port Norris, New Jersey.

Education sails will take place on Thursday, May 15, and Friday, May 16, departing around 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. for 45 passengers each. Free public dockside boat tours and educational activities will be held on Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Public Sails are available at the following times - Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17 at 5 p.m.; Sunday, May 18 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Tickets cost $50 per person, and guests can bring their own snacks and beverages. These 2-hour evening sails will cruise along the scenic Delaware River, part of the national Wild & Scenic Rivers system.

For more information, visit www.bayshorecenter.org or contact the Bayshore Center at Bivalve at 856-785-2060 or info@BayshoreCenter.org.