LOUISVILLE, Ky. — An iconic rowboat used to help a Louisville woman make a history-making trip across the Atlantic Ocean will stay in the Bluegrass.
Twenty-five years ago, Tori Murden-McClure wrapped up her trans-Atlantic voyage with “The American Pearl.”
The journey spanned nearly three months and 3,300-miles. She became the first woman and first American to row across the Atlantic Ocean in 1999.
Murden-McClure loaned the Frazier History Museum in 2020 where it could be on display to mark the historic moment.
Since then, The American Pearl has become one of the museum’s most iconic artifacts. It will now be housed permanently at the museum.
The former adventurer said she hopes the boat can be used for students to learn.
“The engineering of building the boat, all the mathematics of navigating the boat, all the other elements of nutrition and other things that you can teach. I’m really excited about that, and hope there are some teachers out there who want to help with the curriculum,” she said.
Other items from Murden-McClure’s journey are also now on display, which include a digital camera, a laptop used throughout the voyage and a Discman used for listening to music.
Murden-McClure retired as university president of Spalding University in June 2024.
The check out The American Pearl and other Kentucky artifacts, visit the Frazier History Museum’s website.
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