ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Days after the Tall Ship Providence Foundation announced it is suspending operations amid mounting losses and debt, a connected nonprofit has gone public with plans for a national maritime museum on Alexandria’s waterfront — and says it is assessing whether to acquire the historic vessel as part of the project.
The Providence, which calls Alexandria’s waterfront home, has operated since 2017 as a floating exhibit dedicated to educating students and visitors about the Continental Navy’s role in the American Revolution. Recognized for three consecutive years as a top tourist destination by Travelers’ Choice for its Living History Tours, the ship has also served thousands of local students through a Field Trip Program that provided free educational experiences for Title I schools. Its educational and tour programs are set to suspend June 26.
The United States Maritime Foundation is under contract to acquire a site at 1 Prince St., adjacent to Waterfront Park, for a planned museum of approximately 50,000 square feet, according to the Washington Business Journal. The nonprofit, formed last June, is aiming to raise between $30 million and $50 million for the project, which could involve demolishing and redeveloping the existing 1980s-era building on the site, pending city approval…