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About Us

Captain Edward H. Adams (1860-1950)

Mission and History

Between 1690 and 1900, gundalows dominated the waters of the Piscataqua region. Captain Edward H. Adams (1860–1950), the builder and captain of the Fanny M, the last commercial gundalow, worked hard to generate concern about the health of Great Bay Estuary. His efforts inspired the Piscataqua Gundalow Project, through which a group of visionaries and volunteers built a historically accurate replica gundalow in 1982 that bears his name. Built on the grounds of Strawbery Banke using traditional methods, Captain Edward H. Adams represents 300 years of local maritime heritage. Twenty years later, the Gundalow Company was formed as a nonprofit organization to acquire ownership of the gundalow, and to expand onboard programs.

The Fanny M as drawn by Captain Adams

Today the Gundalow Company’s mission – to protect the Piscataqua Region’s maritime heritage and environment through education and action– has never been more important. Our programs – held throughout the tidal towns of the Piscataqua – connect our maritime history with contemporary coastal issues such as water quality, habitat restoration, conservation, and stewardship.