Mystic Seaport - Tall Ships, Whaling, and Preservation

A day at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut is a link to thevillage consists of many buildings moved from other
glorious seafaring past of New England. The Museumlocations in New England and the Northeast. Stroll
of America and the Sea is an entertaining journeyaround the nautical shops and discover rope making,
through 19th century nautical life as you visit the threerigging, cooperage, and the sail loft.
main exhibits at Mystic Seaport: the historic ships, theThere are over 40 delightful exhibits for you to enjoy,
authentic seaport village and exhibits, and thebut two must-see displays are the Mystic River Scale
preservation shipyard.Model, and the Shipsmith shop. Further down from the
The coastline in this part of New England was oncevillage check out the galleries and make sure you
home to huge whaling fleets and many where builtspend time inside both the Voyages and Figurehead
along these shores. The area of Mystic had its shareexhibits.
of shipbuilding yards and the recreation of the seaportThe three-floor exhibit of Voyages celebrates the
village is an authentic and accurate depiction of life in alegacy of America and the sea, and how it continues
New England seafaring town.to impact our lives in many subtle ways. And across
Open year-round Mystic Seaport is on the Mysticthe street is the Figurehead exhibit, and a wonderful
River a short hop from the historic downtown area.collection of ship carvings. Unfortunately, these
Here's what you'll see and how to get the best out ofcarvings are a bittersweet display. The desire for
your trip...these on ships has dwindled and it's now become an
THE JEWELS AT THE DOCKendangered art form.
Tall ships still fascinate people and Mystic Seaport hasTHE PRESERVATION SHIPYARD...
an amazing collection in the museum dock area. I'mIn the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard many of
drawn like a magnet to these magnificent vessels, andthe old mastercraft shipbuilding skills are still practiced
the most popular to tour is the Charles W. Morgan - ato keep the museum ships in tip top shape.
wonderful example of a wooden whaling ship. It madeUnfortunately many of these skills are being lost as the
37 whaling trips from its launch in 1841 and beforeeconomics of our time reduce the need for them.
retiring in 1921. Other exquisite Tall Ships in the MysticWooden ships are a thing of the past, and so the
museum collection are the Joseph Conrad andwonderful carpentry and shipwright skills have
L.A.Dunton.dwindled throughout the world.
Additional ships beautifully restored with a rich legacyBut in this corner of the world they are practiced and
include the Sabino and Emma C. Berry. The Emma C.preserved.
first launched in 1866, and since then has undergoneIn the yard you'll see a rigging loft, a paint shop,
many changes as a fishing vessel and a coastalcarpenters and metalworking shops, a lumber shed,
freighter. Allocate plenty of time to tour all the ships asand an old-fashioned sawmill. The documentation shop
they remain the centerpiece of the Mystic Seaportcontains vital records used by the museum's
Museum. And when you're finally ready for a rest takecraftsmen to maintain accuracy as they work on
a 30 or 90 minute cruise on the Sabino steamboat aspreserving the ships. At the nearby shipbuilding display
she travels up and down the Mystic River.you'll not only see the keel of the whale ship Thames,
THE AUTHENTIC VILLAGE AND EXHIBITS...but take in a revealing exhibit of the many stages of
A short walk from the ships is the village exhibits andbuilding a ship.
galleries. Painstakingly recreated and authentic, the