Jacksonville Maritime Museum lends out replicas

Jacksonville Maritime Museum lends out replicas The Jacksonville Maritime Museum Society has loaned out four of its historic ship replica models to Naval Station Mayport for public display.
   The detailed World War II replicas, hand crafted by WWII veteran Ray Arthur, are constructed from fiberglass, metal, wood and other materials and have authentic-looking paint and finish. Arthur spent four to six months building each replica.
   'I picked each ship because each one had a particularly significant historical event,' he added.
   Maritime Museum Society President Peter Baci said the replicas are being loaned out the naval station because the museum society does not have a facility that can house the group's extensive historical collection.
   'It was agreed upon that it would only be fitting for the naval station to display the exhibits until the museum has the space to display these great pieces of history in an appropriate fashion,' Baci said.
   Other exhibits are on loan to Jacksonville University and to the Port of Jacksonville.
   Baci can be contacted at pbaci@seastarline.com .