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