Charting the Future of the AWI Privateer Museum

From a traveling museum to a lasting home for America’s privateering heritage.
The AWI Privateer Museum is entering an exciting new chapter in its history.

For years, our museum has traveled from community to community, bringing the stories of America’s Revolutionary War privateers to life through historical interpretation, educational exhibits, and hands-on experiences.

As a mobile, pop-up museum, we have demonstrated that history does not need to remain confined to the pages of a book or behind the glass of a display case. It can be experienced, explored, and brought to life wherever people gather.

Now, with our recent recognition by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we are looking toward the future and exploring opportunities that could transform how we preserve and share a piece of America’s maritime heritage.

Our ambitions are growing, and we invite you to become part of the journey.

A Permanent Home Along the Delaware River

For generations, the Delaware River served as a vital artery of American commerce, shipbuilding, and maritime activity. During the American War of Independence, its waters played an important role in the struggle for independence.

It is only fitting that our museum should seek to establish a permanent presence along the very river whose history we work to preserve.

We are currently exploring opportunities to acquire or establish a suitable waterfront property along the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, between Morrisville and Marcus Hook.

Our vision is to create a permanent home for the AWI Privateer Museum, providing a place where visitors can experience the history of American privateering throughout the year.

A suitable property could allow us to develop:

• A permanent museum featuring historical exhibits, artifacts, and educational displays.
• Dedicated spaces for living history demonstrations, workshops, and community programming.
• Facilities for the preservation, maintenance, and interpretation of maritime exhibits.
• Waterfront access capable of accommodating historic vessels and future floating exhibits.
• A gathering place where volunteers, historians, educators, and visitors can come together to explore America’s maritime heritage.

While our search is still in its early stages, establishing a permanent home would represent a significant step forward in our mission to preserve, educate, and inspire.

We are seeking individuals, businesses, property owners, and community partners who may be able to help us turn this vision into reality.

Whether through a potential property donation, financial sponsorship, fundraising partnership, or simply connecting us with the right people, your involvement could help us establish a lasting home for the museum.

Expanding Our Floating Exhibits

Our vision for the future extends beyond the shoreline.

As we explore opportunities for a permanent waterfront location, we are also considering possibilities for expanding our collection of maritime exhibits, including the potential addition of another vessel to our educational programming.

Imagine stepping aboard a vessel, exploring the working environment of an eighteenth-century sailor, and discovering the challenges, dangers, and opportunities faced by those who took to the sea during the American War of Independence. An additional floating exhibit could provide new opportunities for historical interpretation, maritime education, community engagement, and immersive learning.

Although no new vessel acquisition has been finalized as of yet, we remain open to opportunities that could strengthen our museum’s ability to preserve and interpret America’s privateering heritage.

The prospect of expanding our maritime exhibits is an exciting one, and we look forward to sharing further developments as opportunities become realities.

Help Us Build the Future

The next chapter of the AWI Privateer Museum cannot be written by our crew alone.

Establishing a permanent home, expanding our exhibits, and developing new educational opportunities will require the involvement of individuals, businesses, and organizations who recognize the importance of preserving our nation’s maritime history.

There are several ways you can help us prepare for the future.

Property Donations & Opportunities

Help us identify a suitable waterfront property along the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, between Morrisville and Marcus Hook.
We welcome conversations with property owners, real estate professionals, municipalities, and organizations interested in helping us establish a permanent museum location. Property donations, favorable purchase arrangements, and other partnership opportunities may help make this vision possible.

Corporate & Individual Sponsorships

Become a partner in preserving America’s maritime heritage.
We are seeking sponsors interested in supporting museum expansion, educational programming, exhibit development, and future maritime preservation projects. Sponsorship opportunities may include financial contributions, donated materials, professional services, and other forms of assistance.

Make a Donation

Every contribution helps move our mission forward.Your financial support helps sustain our existing mobile museum, expand our educational outreach, and prepare for future opportunities. Contributions of any size can make a meaningful difference in our ability to preserve and share the history of American privateering.

Volunteer & Join Our Crew

History comes to life through people like you.We welcome individuals interested in historical interpretation, maritime preservation, education, research, fundraising, event support, and museum operations. Whether you enjoy working directly with the public or prefer supporting our mission behind the scenes, there may be a place for you aboard our crew.

Our Mission Continues, Wherever the Journey Takes Us

While we look toward establishing a permanent home, our mobile museum will continue bringing the history of American privateering directly to the public.
Our commitment to community events, historical demonstrations, educational outreach, and living history remains at the heart of everything we do. A permanent location would not replace the work we have accomplished as a traveling museum. Instead, it would provide a foundation from which our educational programs, exhibits, and community partnerships could continue to grow.

With the right support, we envision a future where visitors can explore our exhibits along the Delaware River, step aboard floating representations of America’s maritime past, and experience the history of privateering in ways that inspire curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the people who helped shape our nation.

The opportunities ahead are exciting, but realizing them will take more than vision alone.

It will take a community willing to help preserve the past while building something meaningful for the future.

The Next Chapter Begins With You

Help Us Turn Possibility Into Reality

A permanent waterfront home. Expanded maritime exhibits. New opportunities to bring history to life.

These are the possibilities we are exploring as the AWI Privateer Museum charts its course toward the future.

Whether you can help us locate a suitable property, sponsor our mission, make a financial contribution, or volunteer your time and talents, we invite you to become part of our journey.

The next chapter of our museum’s history has yet to be written. With your help, we can make it one worth remembering.

How would you like to get involved?