Our purpose is to memorialize the efforts of those who built “Virginia”, the first English ship built in North America to cross the Atlantic. Virginia was constructed by the Popham Colonists at Fort St. George, in 1607-8, thirteen years before the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth. Popham Colony, the first English settlement north of Jamestown, was located near the mouth of the Kennebec River. Maine’s First Ship will build and operate a 51’ reconstruction of the pinnace Virginia to promote an understanding and appreciation of Maine’s shipbuilding heritage and general history of this area and its peoples. We will offer a range of educational programs, centered on historic ship design, construction, operation, and maintenance skills designed to promote interest and participation in our local history and community. We will engage students of all ages in the “hands on history” reconstruction and operation of Virginia on the rivers and coast of Maine.