Axe Men - Members' Appreciation Reception

Last year the Museum received a grant from Mass Humanities to produce a short film about one of the most remarkable
tools in our collection - the Sibley axe. In 1928, a man named Reuben Sibley donated a shipbuilder's axe to the growing collection of artifacts displayed on board CONSTITUTION. According to the family story, his great grandfather Jacob Sibley used this axe in the 1790s to shape timber for USS CONSTITUTION. This makes it one of the only two tools known to exist that were used to build our beloved frigate.

Join us on May 1 for a special screening of the new film, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers and historians. Blacksmiths from Resurrection Iron Works in Millbury, MA will share stories about reproducing the 18th century axe using historic techniques. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be available following the presentation.