Mention the name Nimphius around the boating crowd at any marina from Green Bay to Chicago and you are likely to find someone who is familiar with it. And to boat enthusiasts the name is synonymous with some of the best racing sailboats that ever plied the waters of Lake Michigan and any number of inland lakes in Wisconsin and elsewhere. The tradition of quality wooden boat building is the foundation on which Ferdinand "Red" Nimphius built his humble but highly successful boat building business in Wisconsin.

This year we celebrate the life and legacy of Red Nimphius, the year Red would have celebrated his 100th birthday. As part of this celebration, the Wisconsin Maritime Museum has developed "Ferdinand "Red" Nimphius: Boat Builder Extraordinaire", an exhibit that chronicles Nimphius' career. This exhibit coincides with delivery into the museum's collection of Tops-O-Cotton, Nimphius' first sailboat built in 1934. Tops-O-Cotton will serve as a sailing ambassador for the museum.

Through July 5, 2008