Tisbury’s Tabletop Fleet: Van Ryper Ship Models, 1933-1962
Tisbury’s Tabletop Fleet: Van Ryper Ship Models, 1933-1962
Join the Museum for an online talk with MVM Research Librarian Bow Van Riper exploring the remarkable legacy of his grandfather, Charles K. Van Riper—known as “Charlie” or “C.K.” to his friends.
By his own exacting standards, C.K. claimed he couldn’t build a ship model good enough for himself. Yet between 1933 and 1962, his modest shop on Beach Road in Vineyard Haven produced more than 15,000 finely crafted ship models. Specializing in high-quality mementos of ocean voyages—whether across the Atlantic, Pacific, or Vineyard Sound—the shop made these keepsakes widely accessible through innovative production techniques developed by C.K. and his eccentric band of craftsmen.
In this talk, Bow Van Riper looks back at an iconic Island business, the people behind it, and the creative ingenuity that helped define a uniquely Vineyard enterprise.
[Please note: This is an online program]
Admission: $10 per participant. Registered attendees will receive a link to join by email before the program begins.
DETAILS
| Date | March 12, 2026 |
|---|---|
| From | 5:00 pm |
| To | 6:00 pm |
| Type | Talk |
| Venue | Live on Zoom |