Unwanted, But Much Loved PRESERVING AND PRESENTING THE TILIKUM IN VICTORIA
Large artifacts that are important to our heritage pose unintended consequences for our communities. Whether they are aircraft, locomotives, boats or other large objects the big question always boils down to “who is going to look after them—and where (and how)?” As desirable as saving these super-sized artifacts is there are always unanticipated consequences of doing so.
One famous example is the Tilikum, a 10 metre dugout canoe modified and sailed by Captain John C. Voss to England from Victoria in 1901–1904. She was a well-known part of the street scene in Victoria for years. The voyage caused a media sensation worldwide. Voss and the canoe became media darlings, ‘rock stars’ of their day.
Captain Voss, a mariner and Victoria hotel owner, envisioned fame and fortune for his efforts, enduring hardship and fatigue, as he traveled to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil and finally, England. For Voss, the voyage became an opportunity to pass on his ideas about small craft handling and to promote his patented sea anchor. The exhibition of the at the many ports of call he visited was always a resounding success, impressing civic leaders and
