| A day at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut is a link to the | | | | There are over 40 delightful exhibits for you to enjoy, |
| glorious seafaring past of New England. The Museum | | | | but two must-see displays are the Mystic River Scale |
| of America and the Sea is an entertaining journey | | | | Model, and the Shipsmith shop. Further down from the |
| through 19th century nautical life as you visit the three | | | | village check out the galleries and make sure you |
| main exhibits at Mystic Seaport: the historic ships, the | | | | spend time inside both the Voyages and Figurehead |
| authentic seaport village and exhibits, and the | | | | exhibits. |
| preservation shipyard. | | | | The three-floor exhibit of Voyages celebrates the |
| The coastline in this part of New England was once | | | | legacy of America and the sea, and how it continues |
| home to huge whaling fleets and many where built | | | | to impact our lives in many subtle ways. And across |
| along these shores. The area of Mystic had its share | | | | the street is the Figurehead exhibit, and a wonderful |
| of shipbuilding yards and the recreation of the seaport | | | | collection of ship carvings. Unfortunately, these |
| village is an authentic and accurate depiction of life in a | | | | carvings are a bittersweet display. The desire for |
| New England seafaring town. | | | | these on ships has dwindled and it's now become an |
| Open year-round Mystic Seaport is on the Mystic | | | | endangered art form. |
| River a short hop from the historic downtown area. | | | | THE PRESERVATION SHIPYARD... |
| Here's what you'll see and how to get the best out of | | | | In the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard many of |
| your trip... | | | | the old mastercraft shipbuilding skills are still practiced |
| THE JEWELS AT THE DOCK | | | | to keep the museum ships in tip top shape. |
| Tall ships still fascinate people and Mystic Seaport has | | | | Unfortunately many of these skills are being lost as the |
| an amazing collection in the museum dock area. I'm | | | | economics of our time reduce the need for them. |
| drawn like a magnet to these magnificent vessels, and | | | | Wooden ships are a thing of the past, and so the |
| the most popular to tour is the Charles W. Morgan - a | | | | wonderful carpentry and shipwright skills have |
| wonderful example of a wooden whaling ship. It made | | | | dwindled throughout the world. |
| 37 whaling trips from its launch in 1841 and before | | | | But in this corner of the world they are practiced and |
| retiring in 1921. Other exquisite Tall Ships in the Mystic | | | | preserved. |
| museum collection are the Joseph Conrad and | | | | In the yard you'll see a rigging loft, a paint shop, |
| L.A.Dunton. | | | | carpenters and metalworking shops, a lumber shed, |
| Additional ships beautifully restored with a rich legacy | | | | and an old-fashioned sawmill. The documentation shop |
| include the Sabino and Emma C. Berry. The Emma C. | | | | contains vital records used by the museum's |
| first launched in 1866, and since then has undergone | | | | craftsmen to maintain accuracy as they work on |
| many changes as a fishing vessel and a coastal | | | | preserving the ships. At the nearby shipbuilding display |
| freighter. Allocate plenty of time to tour all the ships as | | | | you'll not only see the keel of the whale ship Thames, |
| they remain the centerpiece of the Mystic Seaport | | | | but take in a revealing exhibit of the many stages of |
| Museum. And when you're finally ready for a rest take | | | | building a ship. |
| a 30 or 90 minute cruise on the Sabino steamboat as | | | | Mystic Seaport celebrates the historic seafaring past |
| she travels up and down the Mystic River. | | | | of New England. Its one of my favorite three living |
| THE AUTHENTIC VILLAGE AND EXHIBITS... | | | | museums in New England. The other two are Old |
| A short walk from the ships is the village exhibits and | | | | Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Central Massachusetts, |
| galleries. Painstakingly recreated and authentic, the | | | | and Plimoth Plantation and Mayflower at Plymouth, |
| village consists of many buildings moved from other | | | | Eastern Massachusetts. All three for different reasons |
| locations in New England and the Northeast. Stroll | | | | are marvelous experiences of New England's |
| around the nautical shops and discover rope making, | | | | contribution to American history. |
| rigging, cooperage, and the sail loft. | | | | |