On July 4, 2026, our nation will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Mystic Seaport Museum will commemorate this historic milestone with special programming throughout 2026.
Mystic Seaport Museum is a proud affiliate of the America 250 | CT Commission.
Active military dressed in uniform receive free general admission. Active military, retired military, or merchant mariners in casual attire with proper ID receive $5 off admission for themselves and each person in their group.
Smithsonian National Lecture Series: “Making History, Making Change”
April 30 | 7:00 p.m. | Meeting House
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Join us for a unique opportunity to hear from Dr. Paul Gardullo, Assistant Director for History at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and Head of the Museum’s Center for the Study of Global Slavery. As part of the Making History, Making Change Lecture Series, Dr. Gardullo will explore the voyage of the São José, a Portuguese slave ship that wrecked off the coast of Cape Town in 1794. He will also discuss how the Slave Wrecks Project is transforming historical narratives of violence, racism, dislocation, and inhumanity into new pathways that foster cooperation, care, shared responsibility, and justice among people worldwide. The Making History, Making Change Lecture Series is a national collaboration between the Smithsonian and 25 Smithsonian Affiliate organizations. It features expert-led talks that explore the people, moments, and ideals that have shaped—and continue to shape—the American experience. Registration is required, and a suggested donation of $15 supports admission. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the program begins at 7:00 p.m.
The Making History, Making Change Lecture Series is organized by Smithsonian Affiliations as part of the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250. It is supported in part by the Dreier Family, Johanna and Ken Kim Family, Vaishali Shah Chadha and Family, and Michael Vu & Meridel Bulle-Vu.
PBS “The American Revolution” Community Screening with CT Public
May 14, 2026 | 7:00–8:30 p.m. | Meeting House
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Join Mystic Seaport Museum and CT Public for a special military history screening of Ken Burns’ documentary The American Revolution. The 50-minute segment explores multiple perspectives and examines the military strategies that shaped the fight for independence. Before the film, Curator Krystal Rose will share stories from the Museum’s collections that illuminate the era of the Revolution.
*Corporate funding for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine with the Crimson Lion Foundation; and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Major funding was also provided by David M. Rubenstein; The Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation; Lilly Endowment Inc.; and the following Better Angels Society members: Eric and Wendy Schmidt; Stephen A. Schwarzman; and Kenneth C. Griffin with Griffin Catalyst. Additional support for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling; Park Foundation; and the following Better Angels Society members: Gilchrist and Amy Berg; Perry and Donna Golkin; The Michelson Foundation; Jacqueline B. Mars; Kissick Family Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John H. N. Fisher and Jennifer Caldwell; John and Catherine Debs; The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Philip I. Kent; Gail Elden; Deborah and Jon Dawson; David and Susan Kreisman; The McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Becky and Jim Morgan; Carol and Ned Spieker; Mark A. Tracy; and Paul and Shelley Whyte. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was made possible, in part, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Connecticut Canine Search and Rescue Demonstrations
May 25, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. | Waterfront, across from Museum’s South Entrance
Join us this Memorial Day for special demonstrations by Connecticut Canine Search and Rescue. This volunteer canine search and rescue team partners with emergency service agencies to help locate lost and missing persons across the region.
Watch as the dogs, their handlers, and divers showcase the life-saving techniques they use in real-world search and rescue operations. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet the dogs, speak with search and rescue experts about their work, and learn more about the specialized skills involved in water rescue.
Demonstrations will take place on the waterfront just inside the Museum’s South Entrance at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
This event is included with general admission and is free for Museum Members. For best viewing of the demonstrations, enter through the Museum’s South Entrance.
Summer Lecture Series | “Betsy Ross: The Life Behind the Legend”
June 11 | 2:00–3:00 p.m. | Masin Room
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Marla Miller, author of Betsy Ross and the Making of America, will present an engaging lecture on the life of Betsy Ross. Miller’s research explores the work of women in pre-industrial America. In this talk, Miller will trace Ross’s career as a craftswoman and flag maker, highlighting the many ways her work connected her to the maritime world. Discover the story behind one of the nation’s most misunderstood figures and her deep ties to maritime life.
This program is part of the Summer Lecture Series commemorating America 250, featuring discussions on a diverse variety of topics such as women’s roles in the Revolution, local maritime history, and African American Revolutionary patriots. Additionally, on Thursday, July 9, Bill Bleyer presents “Famous Long Island Shipwrecks” and Thursday, August 13, John Mills presents “Stories of Connecticut’s Black Patriots.”
This program is included in general admission and free for Members. Registration is recommended.
Naturalization Ceremony
June 12 | 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
The Naturalization Ceremony is hosted at the Museum in partnership with federal officials from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Department. Fifty new citizens will take part in this meaningful ceremony, with family and friends invited to attend and celebrate the occasion.
“The Legacy of the Coast Guard’s Flagship”
June 16 | 2:00–3:30 p.m. | Meeting House
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Will Sofrin returns to Mystic Seaport Museum to launch his book USCG Cutter EAGLE. Join us in celebrating 250 years of American maritime heritage with this engaging and insightful lecture, tracing the EAGLE’s remarkable journey—from its origins in Nazi Germany, to its transfer to the United States, to its enduring role as America’s premier sail training ship.
Through archival materials, firsthand accounts, and rich visual storytelling, Sofrin brings to life the EAGLE’s history while exploring how leadership and character are forged through responsibility and risk at sea.
The lecture begins at 2:00 p.m., with book signing opportunities available both before and after the program. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event and may also be pre-ordered through Porchlight Book Company at www.porchlightbooks.com.
This program is included with general admission and free for Museum Members. Registration is recommended.
Juneteenth Programming
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This Fourth of July is One for the History Books
July 4 Weekend | Across the Museum
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Where better to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary than along the banks of the Mystic River—surrounded by the ships, stories, and voices that helped shape the nation? This Fourth of July weekend, Mystic Seaport Museum invites you to step into history. As the country marks its semiquincentennial, we’re bringing 250 years of American experience to life across three extraordinary days of live music, immersive programs, and hands-on activities for all ages.
Stroll the waterfront and explore Mystic’s legacy as a center of national activism and social change. Step inside the Buckingham-Hall House to uncover the quiet revolutions that unfolded within its walls. Visit the Print Shop and leave with a one-of-a-kind commemorative handout, made on a 19th-century press. Then head to the Treworgy Planetarium for Stars and Stripes, Indeed! (additional fee)—a new show exploring the moments when the night sky bore witness to American history.
For the youngest historians, the celebration continues all weekend with daily games, art activities, and a charming American Girl Doll Tea Party featuring a costumed roleplayer.
HIGHLIGHTS
Antiques and Horribles Parade
At noon on July 4, don’t miss the beloved “Antiques and Horribles” Parade—a delightfully quirky New England tradition dating back to the Centennial of 1876. Watch as marchers don satirical, outlandish costumes and fill the air with music—or better yet, join in and become part of the spectacle yourself.
The Letter of the Law
Exercise your civic power at an interactive town hall in the Meeting House! Join the citizens of Greenmanville as they debate and vote on a divisive issue: should the letter “M” be removed from the alphabet? Hear how this decision could impact different members of the community, explore a variety of perspectives, and discover the inner workings of local government through this lively and engaging program.
American Girl Doll Tea Party
Celebrate Fourth of July weekend in style at the American Girl Doll Tea Party on the Membership Patio at 2:00 p.m. Dress your doll in their holiday best and enjoy an afternoon tea party with the ladies of Greenmanville, 1876. All dolls are welcome to join the festivities for this charming and family-friendly celebration.
Seaport Village
Step into history this Fourth of July weekend as you explore the Museum’s historic village! Look for “250 Years of American Heritage” signs throughout the village highlighting special America 250 programming. Discover how the printing industry fueled activism and shaped the American Revolution, then take home a one-of-a-kind commemorative print. Visit the Buckingham-Hall house for open-hearth cooking demonstrations and conversations about domestic life and change in early America. Don’t miss a special talk in the Meeting House on Victorian-era fashion and dress. Experience the stories, traditions, and innovations that helped shape a nation as we celebrate the semiquincentennial at Mystic Seaport Museum.
Live Music
Enjoy live music all Fourth of July weekend at Mystic Seaport Museum! Each day, July 3–5, gather at the Performance Stage at 1:00 p.m. for an afternoon of music in the summer sun. On Friday, July 3, enjoy American Roots music with Craig Edwards. On July 4, sing along to sea shanties of the 1870s with Alex Harvey. Then, wrap up the weekend on July 5 with the lively sounds of American jazz performed by the Central City Stompers.
Local Sailors Beat the Brits!: Nathaniel Palmer, 19th-century Master Mariner
Join local author Harry Martin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, at the Performance Stage for a fascinating talk on the maritime achievements of three local mariners: Edmund Fanning, Jeremiah Holmes, and Nathaniel Palmer. Discover how these sailors helped establish America as a rising force in global maritime trade. Learn about Captain Nathaniel Palmer’s 1820 Antarctic voyage, his daring escape after Chilean convicts seized his ship in 1832, and his role in creating the first American China Clipper.
The program will conclude with a Q&A session and an opportunity to purchase Martin’s book, Nathaniel B. Palmer: Nineteenth Century Master Mariner.
Smithsonian Channel
This fourth of July weekend, enjoy three special screenings of Smithsonian Channel documentaries at 11:30 a.m. in the Meeting House.
Join us on July 3 and revisit the first lunar landing in gripping real-time as we highlight its most perilous and triumphant moments in The Day We Walked on the Moon.
On July 4, witness the decades-long struggle for the vote by heroic women who fought to claim their rights as citizens in She The People: Votes for Women.
Finally, on July 5, see how The Negro Motorist Green Book helped African Americans navigate the roads of a segregated nation in The Green Book: Guide to Freedom.
Summer Lecture Series | “Famous Long Island Shipwrecks”
July 9 | 2:00–3:00 p.m. | Masin Room
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Bill Bleyer will explore the maritime history of Long Island and the famous shipwrecks of Long Island Sound.
Discover dramatic stories of maritime disasters, including the HMS Culloden, wrecked at Montauk during the American Revolution; the 1840 fire that destroyed the steamship Lexington, the Sound’s deadliest catastrophe; and the sinking of the USS San Diego during World War I, among others.
Bill Bleyer is the author of Long Island and the Sea: A Maritime History and several other books on Long Island’s past. After an award-winning career as a reporter for Newsday, he now writes as an author and freelance journalist.
This program is part of the Summer Lecture Series commemorating America 250, featuring discussions on a diverse variety of topics such as women’s roles in the Revolution, local maritime history, and African American Revolutionary patriots. Additionally, on Thursday, June 11, Marla Miller presents “Betsy Ross: The Life Behind the Legend” and Thursday, August 13, John Mills presents “Stories of Connecticut’s Black Patriots.”
This program is included in general admission and free for Members. Registration is recommended.
Summer Lecture Series | “Stories of Connecticut’s Black Patriots”
August 13 | 2:00–3:00 p.m. | Masin Room
GET TICKETS
John Mills will explore the stories of the many Black men from Connecticut who served in the Revolutionary War.
In this talk, Mills highlights several of these families, examining why they chose to fight and how their contributions have been remembered. A trained genealogist and independent scholar, Mills is also the President and Founder of the Alex Breanne Corporation, an organization dedicated to researching and sharing the often overlooked histories of enslaved Americans.
This program is part of the Summer Lecture Series commemorating America 250, featuring discussions on a diverse variety of topics such as women’s roles in the Revolution, local maritime history, and African American Revolutionary patriots. Additionally, on Thursday, June 11, Marla Miller presents “Betsy Ross: The Life Behind the Legend” and Thursday, July 9, Bill Bleyer presents “Famous Long Island Shipwrecks.”
This program is included in general admission and free for Members. Registration is recommended.
Planetarium Show: “Stars and Stripes, Indeed!”*
Daily June 21–September 7, 2026 | 3:00 p.m. | Treworgy Planetarium
What part did the Moon’s phase plays in keeping Paul Revere concealed from the British during his famous ride? Why did Abraham Lincoln make an unannounced visit to the US Naval Observatory in the middle of the Civil War? How did the forces of gravity between the Earth and the Moon affect the planning of the D-Day landing at Normandy? Join us as we explore the fascinating ways in which the night sky has played a role in some of the most iconic moments in American history.
*additional fee
Summer | Pop-up Exhibit
May–October 2026 | Pilalas Lobby, Thompson Exhibition Building
From Fo’c’sle to Farmhouse: Revolutionary War Stories from Ship and Shore honors our Nation’s 250th anniversary by examining the ways in which Connecticut supported the war and became known as “the Provision State.” The ship models, paintings, tools, diaries, and journals displayed attest to the countless ways Connecticut men and women battled the British through action, ingenuity, and a firm commitment to the greater good. Connecticut patriots battled the British on shorelines and waterways, supplied weapons for combat, and developed new technologies. Unsurprisingly, women, too, contributed to the war effort by supplying the Continental Army with essential goods and services—food, clothing, and medical care, all while defending their homes, running family businesses, managing farms, transmitting intelligence, and feeding and nursing troops. Visitors will encounter the stories of local heroes, including Anna Warner Bailey of Groton, who became known as “Mother Bailey” after her heroic contributions to the Battle of Groton (Battle of Fort Griswald); or John Palmer of Stonington, whose journals and diaries describe his time as a militiaman and privateer.
Items include:
A small pocket diary kept by John Palmer of Stonington records daily life during the war’s opening months.
A scrimshaw sperm whale tooth, circa the early 20th century, depicts “The Evacuation of Boston”—a testament to how memories of the war endured more than a century later. Scrimshaw was typically produced during long deepwater
whaling voyages in the early to mid-nineteenth century, a period when Revolutionary events were frequently commemorated. That this tooth was
engraved well into the 20th century suggests the Siege of Boston retained its significance for generations to come.
A model of the schooner Hannah, originally a Marblehead fishing vessel called into military service under George Washington’s authority.
An oil painting by Dominic Serres depicts British ships—Phoenix, Rose, Asia, and Experiment—under attack by American fire ships in the Hudson River in 1776.
An etching of the brig Defence engaged in combat in 1778 reflects Connecticut’s naval participation.
A model of the topsail schooner Royal Savage shifts attention inland to Lake Champlain.
A powder horn dated 1780, likely used aboard ship to prime cannons, bears a detailed inscription: “Willm. Dawes 1780. When This You See Think That I Be A Man of Liberty. First Then I Say, Brave Souls Be Well Aware How To Secure And Then Direct The War; Where, When and How To Land and When on Shore Keep Well Your Gaining. I Send More.”
A portrait of Anna Warner Bailey represents the personal responsibilities borne by women during the war. Bailey is remembered for discovering her uncle mortally wounded after a military engagement and returning home to bring his wife and infant child to him so the family could be reunited before his death. The story reflects the emotional toll of military service and the ways women carried family and community responsibilities while the war unfolded around them.
The cutaway model of David Bushnell’s Turtle represents one of the most unusual technological efforts of the war. Designed in 1776, the one-man submarine was intended to attach explosive charges to British ships anchored in New York Harbor. The attempt failed when the operator could not attach the explosive to the ship’s hull, likely due to the vessel’s copper sheathing.
Summer | Daily Talks and Demonstrations
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*Corporate funding for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine with the Crimson Lion Foundation; and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Major funding was also provided by David M. Rubenstein; The Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation; Lilly Endowment Inc.; and the following Better Angels Society members: Eric and Wendy Schmidt; Stephen A. Schwarzman; and Kenneth C. Griffin with Griffin Catalyst. Additional support for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling; Park Foundation; and the following Better Angels Society members: Gilchrist and Amy Berg; Perry and Donna Golkin; The Michelson Foundation; Jacqueline B. Mars; Kissick Family Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John H. N. Fisher and Jennifer Caldwell; John and Catherine Debs; The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Philip I. Kent; Gail Elden; Deborah and Jon Dawson; David and Susan Kreisman; The McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Becky and Jim Morgan; Carol and Ned Spieker; Mark A. Tracy; and Paul and Shelley Whyte. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was made possible, in part, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
