Hannah in Context: What really happened, and why did it matter?

Captain Michael Rutstein recounts the events leading to the battle between schooner Hannah and HMS Nautilus, Oct. 1775.

Join Captain Michael Rutstein as he covers the events leading up to the famous battle between the armed schooner Hannah and HMS Nautilus in October 1775. He will walk us step by step through the engagement, and wrap up with the repercussions of this event and its impact on the course of the Revolution here on the North Shore.

Michael Rutstein: After drafting and then reluctantly abandoning a business plan to create a replica of Hannah, Rutstein commissioned local boatbuilder Harold Burnham to build a representation of the 1812 Salem privateer FAME in 2003. For 23 seasons, FAME sailed out of Pickering Wharf in Salem to critical and popular acclaim. In April 2026, FAME was sold to the Liberty Fleet of Tall Ships in Boston.

While admission is free, space is limited; registration is strongly encouraged.

CLICK HERE to Register

This program is part of the Conflict & Community: Salem, Essex County, and the American Revolution lecture series. This series is a partnership between Essex Heritage and Salem Maritime National Historical Park and highlights the unique role of Essex County communities during the American Revolution. CLICK HERE or more information about Conflict & Community programs.