 The 17th Century English merchantmen pinnace Maryland Dove at St. Mary's City, Maryland, constructed for state 350th Anniversary, 1975-1978.
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Maryland | |
| Name | Maryland Dove |
| Owner | State of Maryland |
| Operator | Historic St. Mary's City Commission |
| Ordered | 1975 |
| Builder | James B. Richardson, shipyard, Cambridge, Dorchester County, Maryland |
| Laid down | 1975 |
| Launched | August 14, 1978 |
| Commissioned | October 8, 1978 |
| Decommissioned | January 17, 2023 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 40 |
| Length | 76 feet (23 meters) overall, and 56 ft (17 m) on deck. |
| Beam | 17 ft (5.2 m) |
| Draft | 7 ft (2.1 m) |
| Propulsion |
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Maryland Dove is a re-creation of the Dove, an early 17th-century English trading ship, one of two ships (Dove and The Ark) which made up the first expedition from England to the Province of Maryland. The 1978 Dove was designed by the naval architect and naval historian William A. Baker. The Dove was a trading vessel that could be sailed by a crew of seven. The much larger Ark, was a passenger ship, and was sailed by a crew of 40 or more. The Dove was left behind as a local trading vessel to facilitate commerce between Maryland and the other colonies.