Tamanend, USNA

Print on Paper

11 x 14" Matted

The figurehead called "Tamanend" has, for many years, played a prominent part in the traditions of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD. 

The original wooden image was sent to the Naval Academy in 1866 after being salvaged from the wreck of the old ship of the line "Delaware," which had been sunk at Norfolk during the Civil War to prevent her from falling into Confederate hands.

The builders of the "Delaware" intended the figurehead to portray Tamanend, the great chief of the Delawares, a lover of peace and friend of William Penn. When the wooden figurehead of the Delaware Indian Chief was brought to the Naval Academy following the Civil War, there was no indication who the statue portrayed and the midshipmen eventually settled on the nickname "Tecumseh", a nickname that lasted for over a century.