Slideshow discusses world’s most dangerous sea voyage

CAMDEN – On Tuesday, October 5 at 6:30 p.m., Camden Public Library once again welcomes maritime historian Charles H. Lagerbom for a slide show on his new book, From Maine to Cape Horn: the world’s most dangerous journey (Arcadia Publishing, Aug 2021).

This is the first program in the library’s one-month Discover History Series. To learn more and to register, visit the “What’s Happening” Adult Events Calendar at librarycamden.org.

Cape Horn conjures up images of windswept waters and desperate sailors in frozen rigs. Long recognized as a maritime touchstone for sailors, it marks the spot where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans meet in a twisted mass. The “doubling” of Cape Horn became the ultimate test, earning a special place in Maine’s maritime history. At the tip of South America, it shares exactly 67 ° West longitude with Cutler, Maine, a direct north-south line of seven thousand miles. The Cape Horners of Maine were recognized by a gold earring. If they did not survive this most difficult journey in the world, the earring covered the costs of their funeral, should the body ever be found. Maritime historian Charles H. Lagerbom has traveled the ends of the earth to help research this gripping tale of daring Mainers and their exhilarating and often deadly dance with danger.

Published author and avid collector of Polar, Maine Colonial and Maritime books, Charles H. Lagerbom is a frequent guest speaker who presents on cruise ships, sailboats and ashore. It covers topics on the history, life, politics and science of Antarctica, Cape Horn and the South Atlantic, as well as the colonial maritime history and archeology of Maine and New Brunswick. England.

Lagerbom is the former president of the Antarctic Society, where he is currently an archivist / historian. He is the author of The Fifth Man: The Life of HR Bowers (Editions Caedmon, 1999) and Whaling in Maine (Arcadia Publishing, 2020) and publishes a weekly column in the Camden Herald entitled “Half Seas Over: Interesting Research Related to Maritime Maine”.

Lagerbom teaches AP US History at Belfast Area High School and lives on the coast of Maine.

Lagerbom will also be signing and selling copies of his book in the library’s kindergarten on Saturday, October 2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Discover History Month at Camden Public Library is generously sponsored by Camden Riverhouse Hotel & Inn, with additional support provided by The Smiling Cow.