St. Michaels in Talbot County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Freedom's Figurehead
| | Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum | |
Where did such a big figurehead come from? A big ship? In this case, it was made for a relatively small vesselthe 88-foot schooner yacht, Freedom. Yacht designer John G. Alden never intended for Freedom to have a figurehead when she was built in 1931. But just before World War II, the schooner was given to the U.S. Naval Academy to train midshipmen in sailing. One of the captains of the vessel requested a figurehead, and the Academy's patternmaker, John M. Cook made a big one. After a few years, it was removed because it added 450 pounds to the bow and was vulnerable to damage.
Made c. 1950 by John M. Cook
On loan from the U.S. Naval Academy Museum
" it was removed and placed in the Naval Academy Museum Somehow some of the midshipmen entered the Museum where the Freedom figurehead was and rubbed their hands on the large bosoms for luck. One midshipman wrote his mother and told her what he did and the luck he had. Apparently his mother didn't agree. She wrote the Admiral a letter, and the Admiral's orders were, "Move it." So this is the reason the figurehead 'Freedom' is on indefinite loan to the Maritime Museum."
From letter by carver John M. Cook to CBMM, 1984
Erected by Chesapeake Bay Maritime
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1931.
Location. 38° 47.332′ N, 76° 13.291′ W. Marker is in St. Michaels, Maryland, in Talbot County. It can be reached from the intersection of North Talbot Street and Dodson Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 213 N Talbot St, Saint Michaels MD 21663, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, on the Delmarva Peninsula, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bell Tower at Tolchester Beach Wharf (within shouting distance of this marker); Hooper Straight Light's Twin (within shouting distance of this marker); Last Bell Foundry (within shouting distance of this marker); A Light Survivor (within shouting distance of this marker); Heard Through the Fog (within shouting distance of this marker); Mystery Shipwreck (within shouting distance of this marker); Mitchell House (within shouting distance of this marker); Log House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Michaels.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.
Additional keywords. Freedom's Figurehead
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 24, 2019
2. Freedom's Figurehead Marker
This is a photo of the marker in its prior environs.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 25, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 421 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 5, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on August 25, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on October 5, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on August 25, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
