Pride of Baltimore, Inc. was founded to manage the operation of Pride of Baltimore, a replica 19th century Baltimore Clipper topsail schooner, which the City of Baltimore built as an Inner Harbor attraction in 1976-1977. The City managed the vessel for the first two years of her sailing life.

Soon realizing that the ship could travel further and touch more people than originally imagined, in 1980 Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer turned to the business community to create a Board of Directors and a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization to operate the vessel. The new Board took on that responsibility and aggressively expanded the mission and the voyages of Pride of Baltimore in the following years. The ship sailed over 150,000 miles in nine years as a Goodwill Ambassador for the City of Baltimore. On May 14, 1986, the Pride of Baltimore capsized and sank in a freak squall, 240 miles north of Puerto Rico. The Captain and three of eleven crew were lost.

Following the loss of the original Pride, it was evident that the citizens of Baltimore and Maryland wanted to build a replacement vessel. Funds for construction of Pride of Baltimore II were raised in the corporate and private sectors, and the new ship was launched in 1988.

Pride, Inc. Today

In recognition of the evolution of the vessel's mission, ownership was transferred to the Maryland Port Administration, an agency of state government. However, the vessel continues to be managed by Pride of Baltimore, Inc., the non-profit established in 1979.

Pride, Inc.'s Board of Directors is composed of 25 civic and business leaders who set policy and actively oversee the operation of the vessel. The day-to-day operation of the vessel is managed by a small staff headquartered in the World Trade Center Baltimore, home of the Maryland Port Administration. The staff includes:

• Executive Director: Linda E. Christenson, Esq.
• Development Manager: Janet Caslow
• Public Relations and Marketing Manager: Missy Berger 
• Executive Administrative Assistant: Jane Wilcoxson
• Captain Jan Miles

The staff raises revenues for Pride II's continued operations, plans the itinerary for the ship, works with the corporate community in arranging economic development opportunities, fosters positive media relations and coverage, and coordinates educational projects. While on her world wide travels, headquarters staff in Baltimore are in daily contact with the ship through satellite communication, including e-mail, fax, and satellite/cellular phone service.

Board of Directors

Policy of the organization is set by a Board of Directors which oversees fundraising, the annual schedule, and overall maintenance of the vessel.  The Board is composed of community-minded, and community-involved individuals of diverse talent and background, as well as ex-officio state officials.