Category: Press Releases

Mystic, Conn. (August 5, 2015) — Mystic Seaport will hold its annual Antique Marine Engine Exposition Saturday and Sunday, August 15-16.

A collection of more than 300 antique marine engines will be on display, including inboards, outboards, steam, gasoline, diesel, electric, and naphtha engines. The event is the largest gathering of marine engines in the country.

Workshops and activities will be held throughout the event which is set in the Museum’s Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard. Visitors are invited to see the displayed engines Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Engines will be intermittently fired through the day and a selection of operating miniature engines and model boats will also operate. There will be an open house for visitors to view the Museum’s engine collection in the Collections Research Center both days.

The featured engine for this year’s Exposition is a 1915 Waterman Porto manufactured by the Waterman Marine Motor Company of Detroit, MI. The single-cylinder engine was nicknamed “Porto” for its lightweight frame and portability, both new features of the early 20^th-century maritime technology.  The manufacturer claimed that a Waterman Porto “makes a motorboat out of any boat in five minutes.”

About Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship and the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum’s collection of more than two million artifacts includes more than 500 historic vessels and one of the largest collections of maritime photography in the country. The state-of-the-art Collections Research Center at Mystic Seaport provides scholars and researchers from around the world access to the Museum’s renowned archives. Mystic Seaport is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $25 for adults and $16 for children ages 6-17. Museum members and children 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, please visit  https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/  and follow Mystic Seaport on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Classic Novel to be Read Aloud on Board the Charles W. Morgan

Mystic, Conn. (July 17, 2015) — Mystic Seaport will hold its annual marathon reading of Herman Melville’s novel, “Moby-Dick”, July 31-August 1.

The reading begins at noon on July 31 with an actor portraying Melville reciting the first chapter of the novel. Visitors can then sign up to read a chapter aloud as the Marathon continues until its conclusion. Once the reading is complete at noon the following day, the group will celebrate the 196th anniversary of Melville’s birthday.

The event will take place on the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan, the last example of the type of vessel Melville sailed on when he was inspired to write the novel. Visitors who wish to participate in the overnight parts of the reading will be able to stay on board with prior registration.

In addition to the Marathon, there are several other activities related to the novel during the weekend:

 “Moby-Dick” in Minutes: The Museum’s theatre troupe, the TaleMakers, will present a condensed, 30-minute theatrical version of the novel. There are two performances, one on each day at 3:15 p.m. on the Museum’s Performance Stage.

Song for the Whales: This evening concert will feature visiting artist Jen Long with her unique whale guitar, as well as performances by the Museum’s chanteymen. Utilizing both traditional and modern songs, the concert will highlight whale preservation efforts and social change. The concert is on Friday at 5 p.m. on the Performance Stage.

The Art of the Word: This collaborative art project will combine the beauty of Melville’s text with pieces of visitors’ handwriting to create a visual representation of the whale in mosaic. The project will be open next to the Morgan Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

A Scholar Panel, “Ahab’s Tear and Pip’s Tambourine: Sufism, Shamanism, and Symbolism in ‘Moby-Dick’”, will discuss religious themes and symbolism in the novel. The panel precedes the Marathon reading Friday, July 31, at 10:30 a.m. in the Museum’s Greenmanville Church.

The “Moby-Dick” Marathon will be live tweeted on Twitter at @MbyDickMarathon (hashtag: #MDM2015). Interesting facts and commentary will be shared by Mystic Seaport staff throughout the event.

The Marathon is included in Mystic Seaport admission. Marathon participants who would like to stay overnight on the Morgan need to pre-register by calling 860.572.5331. There is no additional fee to stay overnight.

For more information, please visit the Museum’s website https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/.

About Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship and the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum’s collection of more than two million artifacts includes more than 500 historic vessels and one of the largest collections of maritime photography in the country. The state-of-the-art Collections Research Center at Mystic Seaport provides scholars and researchers from around the world access to the Museum’s renowned archives. Mystic Seaport is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $25 for adults and $16 for children ages 6-17. Museum members and children 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, please visit  https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/  and follow Mystic Seaport on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Public Invited to Watch Artists at Work July 21-25

Mystic, Conn. (July 14, 2015) —  An exhibition and sale of unique works created by the nation’s leading maritime artists, “The Plein Air Painters of the Maritime Gallery Exhibition and Sale,” will open at the Mystic Seaport Maritime Gallery Saturday, July 25.

The exhibition is a collection of the work of 31 of today’s leading maritime artists who will take to their French easels on the Museum grounds and nearby locations beginning on Tuesday, July 21 to capture the timeless beauty of the Museum’s historic ships, shoreline vistas, and scenes along the Mystic River in the tradition of the plein air painters of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Featured artists include David Bareford, Susan Stephenson, James Magner, and Maris Platais. The event is a rare opportunity to observe and interact with artists at work along the Mystic River as they capture the beauty of Mystic Seaport and its environs.

“This annual exhibition and sale now in its 19th year showcases work by many of the top maritime artists working today and illustrates why Mystic Seaport is so beloved by artists as a place of inspiration,” said Monique Foster, director of the Maritime Gallery. “And these paintings are remarkably affordable considering the quality of the work and the renown these artists have among collectors of maritime art.”

The artists’ works will then be available for viewing and purchase in the “Plein Air Painters of the Maritime Gallery Exhibition and Sale” from July 25 through September 20.

An opening reception at the Gallery will be held Saturday, July 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free and open to the public, attendees will have the opportunity to meet the participating artists, as well as purchase paintings fresh off the easels.

The gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 860.572.5388 or visit the gallery’s website.

About the Maritime Gallery
The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport is the nation’s foremost gallery specializing in contemporary marine art and ship models. For more than 35 years, the Gallery has been privileged to exhibit the works of leading international maritime artists. Located at historic Mystic Seaport, the Gallery overlooks the beautiful Mystic River attracting art lovers and collectors from around the world. For more information, please visit mysticseaport.org/gallery.

Event to Feature Centennial Society of 100-year-old Vessels, Antique Boat Parade

Mystic, Conn. (July 10, 2015) —Mystic Seaport will hold its 40th annual Antique & Classic Boat Rendezvous at Mystic Seaport Saturday and Sunday, July 25-26.

The event showcases high-quality antique vessels, including cruisers, sailboats, and runabouts. Approximately 50 classic vessels will create a colorful gathering along the Museum’s waterfront all day Saturday and Sunday morning. Visitors are invited to see the displayed vessels Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. An award competition will recognize excellence in restoration, authenticity, and workmanship.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Rendezvous, the Mystic Seaport Centennial Society will be introduced. Gramp, an inductee into the first class of these 100-year-old vessels, will be featured this year. Designed by noted naval architect William Hand and built in 1915 by L. West and George Bonnell of Port Chester, NY, Gramp is an excellent example of the fast and seaworthy “Hand v-bottom” launches and runabouts that were plentiful in the decade before World War I.

The Museum will celebrate the anniversary on Saturday night, July 25, with “Docktails & Dancing” from 7 to 10 p.m. Guests will enjoy drinks, desserts, and dancing to live music by Rock and Soul Revue next to the water at Lighthouse Point. Tickets are $24 per person for members and $30 for non-members. A cash bar will be available. Tickets may be purchased by calling 860.572.5365.

The Rendezvous concludes Sunday at 12:30 p.m. with the traditional parade of the classic vessels down the Mystic River. Each boat will be announced on the shore at Mystic River Park as it passes through the iconic Mystic River Bascule Bridge. The boats then make their way down river to Fishers Island Sound in what has become a highlight of the Mystic summer season.

Mystic Seaport would like to give special thanks to Grundy Insurance and Dodson Boatyard of Stonington, CT, for their generous sponsorship of this event and their donation of time and expertise.

For more information, please visit https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/event/antique-and-classic-boat-rendezvous-2/.

About Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship and the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum’s collection of more than two million artifacts includes more than 500 historic vessels and one of the largest collections of maritime photography in the country. The state-of-the-art Collections Research Center at Mystic Seaport provides scholars and researchers from around the world access to the Museum’s renowned archives. Mystic Seaport is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $25 for adults and $16 for children ages 6-17. Museum members and children 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, please visit  https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/  and follow Mystic Seaport on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Special Event: “The Hunt for the Australia”, a Civil War Scavenger Hunt Sure to Delight All Ages

Mystic, Conn. (June 25, 2015) – Mystic Seaport and the Connecticut Civil War Commemoration Commission will host one of the final Civil War encampments of the 150th anniversary July 18-19.  More than 200 uniformed reenactors from several states will set up camp on the Museum’s Village Green to carry out infantry drills, conduct artillery demonstrations, and engage in mock battle. Visitors will be able to see a wide variety of displays and speak with naval and civilian reenactors.

A highlight of the event will be a Civil War scavenger hunt with a Civil War theme, “The Hunt for the Australia.”

“This event offers visitors something extra, a real twist,” said Matt Warshauer, professor of history at Central Connecticut State University and co-chair of the Connecticut Civil War Commemoration Commission.  “Everyone loves a good mystery, and we’re providing an amazing story of a Confederate ship, the Australia, that was captured by Union forces and brought to Mystic. Inside the hold is a secret list that Confederates can’t allow to be found.”

The result: Rebel prisoners with a top-secret mission, a prison break, and a battle for control of the seaport.

“The Hunt for the Australia” will be a fun challenge for the entire family. Visitors will be tasked to track down the hidden clues, find evidence, interview soldiers and sailors, and locate the secret list. Special prizes will be awarded. “The scavenger hunt is something different,” says Warshauer, “and will add to our already outstanding Civil War exhibits and the truly authentic roles that our many reenactors perform.”

Dr. Glenn Gordinier, the Robert G. Albion Historian at Mystic Seaport, notes the Australia is a real vessel on exhibit at the Museum and may be the only surviving southern blockade runner still in existence. “These were ships that ran the Union blockade to provide supplies to the South during the war,” explains Gordinier. “Her present condition is mostly a skeleton of a ship, which makes her perfect for a mystery scenario.”

The Commemoration has been a four-year anniversary that is wrapping up this summer. Connecticut has been one of the most active states in the nation, holding hundreds of historical events and talks, all of which have highlighted Connecticut’s unique, historical importance during the Civil War. Warshauer states that “Connecticut has been a leader in recognizing New England’s role in the war and Mystic Seaport is a perfect place for us to begin the close of the Commemoration. It is one of the most important and fun history sites in New England and its 19th-century village is ideal for a Civil War event of this magnitude. There may never be another encampment quite like this one.”

The Civil War Encampment is made possible by a grant from Connecticut Humanities and the generous support of Travelers Insurance.

The encampment will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days and is included in Museum admission. For more details on the event see the links below.

Links:
www.ccsu.edu/civilwar
mysticseaport.org/event/civil-war-encampment/

About the CCWCC
The CCWCC was created by Governor M. Jodi Rell in 2010 and directed to coordinate activities across Connecticut to commemorate the state’s involvement in the Civil War.  The Commission is co-chaired by Dr. Booker DeVaughn, president emeritus of Three Rivers Community College, and Dr. Matthew Warshauer, professor of history at Central Connecticut State University. Members of the Commission include history and humanities professionals from across the state.

About Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum is located one mile south of exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $25 for adults and $16 for children 6-17. Museum members and children under 5 are admitted for free. For more information, please visit https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/.

About Connecticut Humanities
Connecticut Humanities, a non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, provides opportunities to explore the history, literature and the vibrant culture that make our state, cities and towns attractive places to live and work. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org.

Event is the Largest gathering of Wooden Boats and Watercraft on the East Coast 

Mystic, Conn. (June 17, 2015) — The largest gathering of wooden boats and enthusiasts in New England will converge at Mystic Seaport for the annual WoodenBoat Show Friday through Sunday, June 26-28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The WoodenBoat Show, hosted in a partnership with WoodenBoat Publications, offers something for all wooden boat enthusiasts and maritime history buffs. More than 100 traditional and classic wooden boats of every type will be on display, from hand-crafted kayaks to mahogany runabouts, to classic daysailers and schooners.

In addition to taking in the historic ships and beautiful boats, visitors can find everything they need to outfit their boat and learn new skills at demonstrations and workshops throughout the weekend. More than 100 exhibitors will offer items for sale including maritime art, antiques, tools, books, nautical gear, and much more.

Throughout the weekend, Mystic Seaport staff and guest experts will be conducting demonstrations of a variety of boat-building skills, including planking, fastening, caulking, laminating wood, and repairing plywood. Visitors can also try their hand at rowing or sailing a small boat at the Museum’s boat livery, or in one of the boats participating in the John Gardner Small Craft Workshop, which is run concurrently with the Show by the Traditional Small Craft Association.

Those interested in the construction of smaller boats can stop by the Family BoatBuilding activity in the Museum’s Shipyard, where families and teams will work to build their own pre-purchased kits, including stand-up paddleboards and remote-controlled sailboats, during the weekend. The kits are opened at 9 a.m. Friday morning and tools are put down around 3 p.m. Sunday, leaving, in most cases, a boat awaiting only final finish work. Some boats will be launched at the Show.

Other highlights include “I Built it Myself,” a display of home-built boats; a Concours d’Elegance, including Judges’ Choice, Innovation, and People’s Choice Awards; children’s toy boatbuilding; and all of the Mystic Seaport exhibits.

Museum admission provides access to both the WoodenBoat Show and Mystic Seaport. Admission is good for two days upon ticket validation

The WoodenBoat Show is produced by WoodenBoat Publications, Inc., which includes WoodenBoat magazine, Professional BoatBuilder magazine, the WoodenBoat Store, the WoodenBoat School, and the WoodenBoat Show. The WoodenBoat Show is an annual festival celebrating the design and craftsmanship of wooden craft.

More information can be found at www.thewoodenboatshow.com.  Tickets can be purchased in advance at mysticseaport.org/event/the-woodenboat-show/.

About Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship and the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum’s collection of more than two million artifacts includes more than 500 historic vessels and one of the largest collections of maritime photography in the country. The state-of-the-art Collections Research Center at Mystic Seaport provides scholars and researchers from around the world access to the Museum’s renowned archives. Mystic Seaport is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $25 for adults and $16 for children ages 6-17. Museum members and children 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, please visit  https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/  and follow Mystic Seaport on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

 

 

 

New Exhibit Explores Impact and Influence of Iconic Industry

Mystic, Conn. (June 9, 2015)—Mystic Seaport will open its newest exhibit, “Voyaging in the Wake of the Whalers,” on Saturday, June 20.

The exhibit is a groundbreaking approach to the story of America and whaling that places 19th-century commercial whaling within its larger global and historical contexts. It also explores whaling’s complex and deep impact on the nation’s economy, culture, and global position, and how its cultural, historical, and environmental legacy continues to influence the nation and world today.

“Most people are familiar with whaling through the lens of popular culture or reading Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick,” said Steve White, president of Mystic Seaport. “’Voyaging in the Wake of the Whalers’ pushes past the common perception and the mechanics of whaling to show the richer and deeper stories of the peoples, places, ships, and whales that impacted and were impacted by the industry.”

The 4,400 square-foot exhibit was timed to follow the historic 38th Voyage of the Museum’s 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan in 2014, and is a complement to the experience of going on board the vessel at its berth within sight of the exhibit entrance.  On display are more than 100 whaling-related historic artifacts and documents, including logbooks, photographs, tools, scrimshaw, ship models, and souvenirs, as well as moving images, oral histories, and sound recordings. Some of the artifacts and images are visitor favorites, while others have only recently been added to the collection and will be on public display for the first time.

Using artifacts and artwork alongside compelling audio-visual elements, immersive displays, and thought-provoking interpretation, the exhibit bridges the gap between the whalers’ world and the present day. A short film presents a content-rich, visually stunning introduction to the exhibit topic and themes, using high-definition footage shot during the 38th Voyage along with archival whaling footage and brief shots of people, artifacts, and stories to be explored more fully in the exhibit.

Touch-activated “Dive Deeper” information stations, featuring videos, timelines, digital maps, and games, will allow visitors to further explore the study of whales and the whaling industry. Visitors will also be able to search a database for crew members that sailed aboard the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan and learn more about the vessel’s recent restoration.

To convey the global stories of whales, whaling, and whale research, a large three-dimensional projection globe showing all the world’s oceans will tell the universal, stories of the Morgan and present contemporary research. Video programs will enable visitors to sail back to 1841 and follow the journey the Morgan took on her first whaling voyage, explore diversity aboard whaleships, and see how tracking whales has evolved over the past 200 years.

In the words of guest curator Anne Witty, “The stories in this exhibit braid together people, whales, history, and culture. Here are tales of work and wonder, wealth and poverty, nature and society. Objects of work, struggle, and leisure. Images of violence and beauty, of forgotten people and lifeways that are strange to us today.”

The exhibit is semi-permanent and does not have a scheduled closing date.

As part of the opening, Captain Kip Files, the 22nd captain of the Morgan, will give a presentation at 7 p.m. on June 18 in the River Room of Latitude 41° Restaurant at Mystic Seaport. Files will talk about his experience commanding the ship during her 38th Voyage. The talk is free for Museum members and $10 per person for non-members. People can register by calling 860.572.5339.

“Voyaging in the Wake of the Whalers” has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence. Additional support was provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Connecticut Humanities, Capital Group, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, among other funders.

About Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship and the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum’s collection of more than two million artifacts includes more than 500 historic vessels and one of the largest collections of maritime photography in the country. The state-of-the-art Collections Research Center at Mystic Seaport provides scholars and researchers from around the world access to the Museum’s renowned archives. Mystic Seaport is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $25 for adults and $16 for children ages 6-17. Museum members and children 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, please visit  https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/  and follow Mystic Seaport on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

About the National Endowment for the Humanities

Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow IMLS on Facebook and Twitter.

About Connecticut Humanities

Connecticut Humanities, a non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, provides opportunities to explore the history, literature and the vibrant culture that make our state, cities and towns attractive places to live and work. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org.

 

 

 

Performers from Around the World Gather to Celebrate Music of the Sea

Mystic, Conn. (May 27, 2015)—Musicians from around the world will come to Mystic Seaport to celebrate the musical traditions of the Golden Age of Sail at the 36th annual Sea Music Festival, Thursday through Sunday, June 11-14. The Festival is the premier sea music event in North America.

This year’s roster includes music from Great Britain, France, and Canada, along with singers from across the United States. The weekend’s festivities include daytime and evening concerts, special performances for children, instructional workshops, a scholars’ symposium, and a unique opportunity to witness sea music at work aboard the Museum’s historic vessels.

More than 15 individuals and groups will perform at the Festival. A highlight will be Alan Reid and Rob van Sante, who willpresent a lively show featuring Reid’s compositions and traditional material, rooted largely in the music of the Scottish landscape, its cities, countryside, and coastline. Their musical cycle “The Adventures of John Paul Jones” is centered on the life and times of the Scottish native and American naval hero. The music, all composed by Reid, reflects folk music styles of the various countries associated with Jones–Scotland, the United States, Russia, and France–while exploring the highs and lows in the extraordinary life of the famous mariner.

In addition, the group MARA will bring their large repertoire of Breton, French, English, Welsh, and Irish music to the Festival and visitors can take in performances from Sara Grey and Kieron Means, Judy Cook, the Northern Neck Chantey Singers, the S.S. Chanteens, Ian Bell, Charlie Zahm, Pressgang Mutiny, and the Mystic Seaport Chantey Staff, including Geoff Kaufman, Craig Edwards, and Don Sineti.

All workshops and daytime concerts in the Festival are included in regular Mystic Seaport admission. Special tickets are required for evening concerts and can be purchased by calling 860.572.0711, or at the Museum’s main entrance. Weekend passes are also available. College students will be admitted into the Festival for the youth rate upon presentation of a current student ID.

For more information, including ticket packages, musicians’ bios, and a schedule of performances, visit mysticseaport.org/seamusicfestival.

Returning this year is an evening sea music “contra dance,” a style of partnered folk dancing traditional to New England. The dance will be held Saturday evening from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Mystic German Club’s Frohsinn Hall, located directly across the street from the Museum’s main entrance on Route 27. There is an $8 admission fee for the dance.

The annual Music of the Sea Symposium, hosted in partnership with Connecticut College and the University of Connecticut at Avery Point, will be held on Friday and Saturday, June 12-13. The Symposium, which features presentations of themed papers by some of the country’s leading maritime music scholars, explores the interaction between sea, music, and song. The first day of the Symposium will be held at the Olin Science Center on the Connecticut College campus in New London, CT.  Admission is free. The Symposium continues Saturday, June 13, at Mystic Seaport in the Greenmanville Church. Museum admission is required. For further details and a list of Symposium presenters and topics, visit mysticseaport.org/smfsymposium

This event is made possible by the Friends of the Sea Music Festival, who raise funds each year to generously support sea music at Mystic Seaport.

About Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship and the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum’s collection of more than two million artifacts includes more than 500 historic vessels and one of the largest collections of maritime photography in the country. The state-of-the-art Collections Research Center at Mystic Seaport provides scholars and researchers from around the world access to the Museum’s renowned archives. Mystic Seaport is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $25 for adults and $16 for children ages 6-17. Museum members and children 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, please visit  https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/  and follow Mystic Seaport on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

First Responders Receive Free Admission and Family Discount

Mystic, Conn. (May 21, 2015) —  Mystic Seaport’s Safety on Sea and Shore Weekend honors the work of present-day emergency personnel, while also celebrating the people, methods, and vehicles involved in maritime rescues during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

As part of Connecticut’s Coast Guard Summer in celebration of the 225th anniversary of the founding of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the USCG Academy’s 100 years at its current location in New London, the Museum is collaborating with the USCG Auxiliary to promote and recognize the important work the service provides.

The event will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Plans for the weekend include: hands-on activities such as a bucket brigade, a man-overboard drill, and a breeches buoy rescue demonstration; historic apparatus on display including antique fire engines; and rescue animal demonstrations by the Newfoundland Club of New England.

The Old Mystic Fire Department’s Dive Rescue Team will visit with their vehicle, equipment, and personnel, and the Mystic Fire Department’s fire boat, Marine I, will dock at the Museum and crew members will answer questions about the vessel and its operations.  Staff from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Boating Division will demonstrate how to properly use emergency flare guns and will give a presentation about safety in cold water, and  the United States Power Squadron will demonstrate how to paddle safe when operating kayaks, canoes, and other paddle-driven watercraft.

Free Museum admission will be extended to all first responder personnel with proper identification as a way of saying “thank you” for their dedicated community service. Family members of personnel will receive the Museum’s discounted group admission rate: adult $20; youth (ages 6-17); $11.50 and free for children ages 5 and under.

The first responders discount applies to general admission only. The offer cannot be combined with any other discount.

About Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship and the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum’s collection of more than two million artifacts includes more than 500 historic vessels and one of the largest collections of maritime photography in the country. The state-of-the-art Collections Research Center at Mystic Seaport provides scholars and researchers from around the world with access to the Museum’s renowned archives. Mystic Seaport is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $25 for adults and $16 for children ages 6-17. Museum members and children 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, please visit  https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/  and follow Mystic Seaport on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Mystic, Conn. (May 14, 2015)—Plimoth Plantation and Mystic Seaport announced today that Mayflower II is now scheduled to depart Mystic Seaport on the morning of Monday, May 18 for her return trip to Plymouth.

The delay is due to difficulties with the availability of a tugboat to tow the ship back to Massachusetts.

The ship is scheduled to cast off at 8 a.m., although the exact time is dependent on tide levels and weather conditions that morning. The journey to Plymouth is expected to take two days. Once back at her berth, the ship will be inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard and other preparations will be carried out to make her ready to reopen to visitors prior to the Memorial Day weekend.

The full-scale reproduction ship owned by Plimoth Plantation has been at Mystic Seaport to undergo an extensive survey and the first phase of multi-year restoration at the Museum’s Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

For more information about Mayflower II and her restoration, visit www.plimoth.org/sos.

Images are available for download at the Mystic Seaport website.

About Plimoth Plantation
Plimoth Plantation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization and a living museum dedicated to telling the history of Plymouth Colony from the perspective of both the Pilgrims and the Native Wampanoag people. Located less than an hour’s drive south of Boston in Plymouth, Massachusetts, (Exit 4, Route 3 south) and 15 minutes north of Cape Cod, the Museum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, 7 days a week, from the third Saturday in March through the end of November 2015. Plimoth Plantation is a private, not-for-profit educational institution supported by admission fees, contributions, memberships, function sales and revenue from a variety of dining programs/services/special events and Museum Shops. Plimoth Plantation is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate and receives support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, private foundations, corporations, and local businesses. For more information, visit www.plimoth.org.

About Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship and the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum’s collection of more than two million artifacts includes more than 500 historic vessels and one of the largest collections of maritime photography in the country. The state-of-the-art Collections Research Center at Mystic Seaport provides scholars and researchers from around the world with access to the Museum’s renowned archives. Mystic Seaport is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $25 for adults and $16 for children ages 6-17. Museum members and children 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, please visit  https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/  and follow Mystic Seaport on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.