FRIENDS
HISTOBRICK
Founded in 2020 by my colleague Tom Webert, Histobrick offers no less than 39 unique models of different subjects from history, including Edmund Fitzgerald and other great ships like the Olympic-class liners, SS United States, and the Cunard liner Carpathia. They’ve shipped over 2,500 kits to customers in 40 countries
TITANIC INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY
Founded in 1989, the Titanic International Society continues to help keep the history of Titanic and the other great ocean liners alive. Their printed quarterly journal, Voyage, continues to publish new and exciting research that sheds light on history. I’ve personally worked with their President, Charles Haas, as well as some of their trustees, including Michael Poirier, who co-authored Lusitania: An Illustrated Biography (Volumes One and Two) with our team.
ATLANTIC LINERS
My longtime collaborator and friend J. Kent Layton, co-author of books like On a Sea of Glass: The Life & Loss of the RMS Titanic, Recreating Titanic and Her Sisters: A Visual History, and Lusitania: An Illustrated Biography (Volumes One and Two), launched his personal website about the great ocean liners back in late 2004, and he continues to add information to help keep the site up to date. When we launched The Steam & Splendor Network in October 2024, we did so as a joint venture between HFX Studios and Atlantic Liners.
TITANIC SOCIETY OF ATLANTIC CANADA
The TSAC is a Halifax-based organization dedicated to educating the public, gathering stories, and preserving the history surrounding the RMS Titanic and its connection to Nova Scotia. The group is closely associated with the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, which holds the world’s largest collection of wooden Titanic artifacts. They have co-hosted international conventions and work with other Titanic historical groups.
TRANS-ATLANTIC DESIGNS
The official website of noted artist and “visual historian” Ken Marschall, with whom I have worked closely during the past decade.
WESTERN PLACES
Western Places is not your Hollywood version of the Old West. Sometimes, it’s much more interesting! This site offers many publications based on extensive research, official records, and oral histories. What is truly fascinating is that you can visit all of the places that you learn about through their publications, seeing where history happened for yourself!
REVERGE STUDIOS
Reverge Studios was founded in 2006 as a side project of video game veterans Richard Wyckoff and Emil Dotchevski. Their mission was to create new technology for video games, and new ways to use video game technology in other kinds of software.
THE RMS OLYMPIC STEINWAY ASSOCIATION
The RMS Olympic Steinway Association is a legally-registered non-profit organization attempting to purchase, preserve, and display for the public a surviving piano from Titanic‘s sister ship, RMS Olympic. I was asked to serve as an Honorary Member and Advisor to the Board of Directors, and was happy to introduce the work of the Association to the maritime community at large. (See video below)
THE WHITE STAR LINE QUINTET
Formed in late 2024 by violinist Patrick Cornelius Vida, President of the RMS Olympic Steinway Association, The White Star Line Quintet has a two-fold purpose: 1) to help the Association raise the funds to purchase the piano from RMS Olympic, and 2) to help bring back to life the music of Olympic and Titanic‘s time.
As of February 2026, I have proudly released three albums of period music performed by the Quintet, some of which was recorded using the historic piano from Olympic. You may stream these albums on most streaming services around the world, or you can even purchase special edition physical copies of the albums directly from the Quintet on their site.
You can also watch performances by the Quintet on The Steam & Splendor Network here.
MUSEUMS
AGE OF SAIL
Overlooking the tidal Greville River, this center pays tribute to the heritage of the communities along the Minas Channel. Through pictures, videos, and storytelling models, artifacts, and hands-on exhibits, the museum brings to life the history of shipbuilding, lumbering, and the lives of local community members. This is definitely a “must see” stop in the region.
RAILROADERS MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Overlooking the tidal Greville River, this center pays tribute to the heritage of the communities along the Minas Channel. Through pictures, videos, and storytelling models, artifacts, and hands-on exhibits, the museum brings to life the history of shipbuilding, lumbering, and the lives of local community members. This is definitely a “must see” stop in the region.
CHIMES TOWER PRESERVATION
In 1925, William Wrigley, Jr. and his wife Ada purchased a set of Deagan Chimes and had a tower designed and built on a hillside above Avalon to house them. Their efforts and vision have brought joy to generations of Avalon residents and visitors ever since. In 2013, the Chimes Tower Foundation assumed ownership of this “jewel” of Avalon, taking responsibility for preserving and building on the dreams of this dynamic couple. Through contributions from those near and far, the organization plans to refurbish the chimes and care for them in perpetuity.
MARITIME MUSEUM OF SAN DIEGO
The Maritime Museum of San Diego is renowned for its excellence in restoring and operating historic vessels, including the world’s oldest active ship, Star of India. With one of the finest collections of historic ships and exhibits available for public tours, it’s been named one of the top three maritime museums globally. A must-see for your bucket list!
COLUMBIA RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM
More than a traditional museum, the Columbia River Maritime Museum is a unique combination of experiences where an extensive collection of seafaring vessels, maritime artifacts, and fine art come to life through exciting and informative exhibits, demonstrations and hands-on activities.
CAPE MAY MARITIME MUSEUM
The Cape May Maritime Museum is dedicated to preserving southern New Jersey’s maritime heritage by partnering with established local and national museums. In addition to restorations, they will display USCG, military, and other maritime artifacts with lectures upon request.
YARMOUTH COUNTY MUSEUM
The Yarmouth County Museum & Archives is an award-winning museum with over 20,000 artifacts that document Yarmouth County’s heritage, in a historic former church. It’s also home to the third-largest ship portrait collection in Canada.
EASTLAND DISASTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Eastland Disaster Historical Society (EDHS) was founded to create lasting legacies for the victims, survivors, heroes, and anyone affected by the tragedy of the Eastland. It was founded in 1998 by Susan Decker and Barbara Decker Wacholz, the granddaughters (and only grandchildren) of brave survivor Borghild Amelia Aanstad. Together with Susan and Barbara’s mother, Jean Decker, and Barbara’s husband, Ted Wacholz, these four were the EDHS founding family.
ARCHELAUS SMITH MUSEUM
The Archelaus Smith Museum is a community museum with free admission, open rain or shine. In their downstairs exhibit, you’ll find an extensive array of long-lost shipwreck items, boat displays, nautical paintings and tools, as well as countless photographs. In the upstairs part of the building, they have many items that would have been used in everyday life in the past, ranging from carpentry tools to children’s’ shoes, along with a large photo album by Flo Atkinson. They also feature a lot of genealogical information about their area.
MAINE MARITIME MUSEUM
Founded in 1962, Maine Maritime Museum sits on a beautiful 20-acre campus on the banks of the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, the “City of Ships.” Outdoors, stroll through the country’s only surviving shipyard to see where large wooden sailing vessels were once built. Step indoors to explore the incredible stories of people who have lived, worked, or played on Maine’s waters. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an art lover, or simply curious, their immersive exhibits have something for everyone.
THE ELECTRIC CITY – LA NOUVELLE FRANCE SOCIETY
In the early 1890s “La Nouvelle France” or, as it came to be known, “Electric City” was the name of a very successful, innovative family-run wood milling settlement located over 17 miles inland from Weymouth, NS, and the Sissboo River. The story of this settlement is one of family love and devotion, of adventure and daring, of war and peace, of entrepreneurship and friendship, a truly universal tale.
OTHERS
K&L Trainz
K&L Trainz is a small 3 member collaboration of rail enthusiasts named Steve Lerro, Bill Klene and Mark Cole, who together create high detailed steam locomotive add-ons for Trainz Simulator. Since it’s founding in March of 2012, K&L Trainz has grown exponentially each year and has an ever growing library of locomotives and rolling stock covering almost 3 dozen railroads from both the US and Canada.