Geneva Viking ship open Saturday

An open house today will give the public a chance to check out recent renovations to a replica Viking ship at Geneva's Good Templar Park.

The 75-foot ship, built in 1892 in Norway and known as the Raven, will be open for viewing from 2 to 5 p.m. at 528 East Side Drive. Admission is free.

Elizabeth Safanda, of Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley, said the event is intended to showcase more than $50,000 in work done to the ship through a historic preservation contest sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Express Foundation.

The vessel, modeled after a circa 880 warship unearthed in the 1880s, placed second in the contest and has undergone work since June.

"After we finished the very last project of the grant, we decided it would be nice to have an open house before winter arrives," she said. "There really won't be another opportunity."

Safanda said there will be at least four guides, possibly some dressed in costume, to answer questions and talk about the ship's history.

The public can take advantage of a new, low-slope ramp, which should make it easier for seniors and people with disabilities get up close and see inside. The ship itself - sagging from years out of water - also has been stabilized, and the old tarp covering the vessel and viewing area has been replaced with a larger one, creating a broader gathering place for crowds.

Because the ship is kept at a private park, it is open for viewing only during special events. But Safanda said she hopes to have open houses more often next year.

"We're going to try to have it open two days a month," she said.

For more information, call (630) 377-6424 or visit ppfv.org.