Vermont Humanities

Douglas Brooks

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Photo of Douglas BrooksA boat builder, writer, and researcher, Douglas Brooks specializes in the construction of traditional wooden boats for museums and private clients. He studied with nine boatbuilders from across Japan between 1996-2019, and is currently working with the Henry Sheldon Museum of History on a comprehensive survey of historic boats and boatbuilding in the Lake Champlain Basin.

He teaches classes in boatbuilding and regularly publishes articles on his research, and is the author of five books, including Japanese Wooden Boatbuilding, the first comprehensive survey of the craft. More information about his work can be found at his website.  Brooks is a graduate of Trinity College and Middlebury College Language School.

Contact Information

  • Phone: (802) 877-3289

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Talks by Douglas Brooks

Photo of historical boat scene

From Skiffs to Sail Ferries: The Story of Vermont’s Small Boat Traditions

Douglas Brooks shares his research on Vermont’s boatbuilding traditions and his work recreating some of these historic small vessels.

Vermont Humanities*** June 24, 2016