ROCKPORT — From December 1 through 29, 2023, the Rockport Public Library will host a show of enlarged vintage photographs of Rockport schooner launchings from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The images belong to George Henry Jennings, who inherited an extensive collection of nautical photographs from his father. The exhibit entitled “Schooners and the Wooden Wonders of Winter” will also include some original illustrations created by Jennings.

Not only do the show’s photographs capture the drama and scale of the schooner launchings, but they depict Rockport as a busy, thriving nineteenth-century seaport. Jennings urges local residents to come out to see the images proclaiming, “Your house might be in one of the pictures!”

The public is invited to chat with Jennings (and test his extraordinary local history knowledge) at a meet-and-greet Saturday, Dec. 9, from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Rockport Public Library.

Jennings has long been fascinated with Midcoast Maine’s maritime heritage. His father was a ship pilot and a graduate of the first class of students at Maine Maritime Academy in 1943. Jennings spent his youth crewing on a number of summer schooners. He also has experience rebuilding schooners, and even spending winters living on them.

Nowadays, Jennings stays busy as an artist, illustrator, author, and inventor living in Hope. He is currently writing three books and is planning to build a gallery to display his collection of illustrations and vintage photographs of New England shipbuilding and Maine life, dating 1830 through 1970.