Category: Press Releases

Mystic, Conn. (December 4, 2015) – Mayflower II is scheduled to arrive by tugboat at the mouth of Connecticut’s Mystic River on Saturday, December 5 at 3:30 p.m., and pass through downtown Mystic at 4:30 p.m. (all times are approximate). Although Mystic Seaport grounds will not be open to visitors for the ship’s arrival, the public will have the opportunity to view the ship as it makes its way upriver. The ship will pass close by Mystic River Park and through the historic bascule bridge in downtown Mystic on its way to the Museum.

Mayflower II, Plimoth Plantation’s 1957 replroduction of the ship that carried the Pilgrims to Massachusetts in 1620, departed Plymouth, MA Tuesday, December 1 to head to Mystic Seaport for preservation work during the winter at the Museum’s Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard. The ship stopped at New Bedford, MA to wait for favorable weather conditions to make the final leg of the journey.

Accompanied by a crew of eight from Plimoth Plantation’s Maritime Preservation and Operations group, the 106-foot ship will be towed by the tug Jaguar. The public can track Mayflower II’s progress online using Jaguar’s Maritime Mobile Service Identity number 366934810.

In the second phase of a multi-year preservation initiative for the nearly 60-year-old ship, Mystic Seaport shipwrights and Plimoth Plantation maritime artisans will be replacing the half-deck area as well as working on the tween deck and topmast rigging. The restoration is being undertaken in advance of celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival in Plymouth in 1620.

Plimoth Plantation, in partnership with Mystic Seaport, expects to make possible some opportunities for public engagement with the ship over the winter. Mayflower II will return to Plymouth in the spring.

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.

Show Features Small Paintings by Top Maritime Artists

Mystic, Conn. (November 18, 2015) – The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport presents its annual winter exhibition and sale, Maritime Miniatures by Maritime Masters, November 22, 2015 through April 3, 2016.

The invitational exhibition features more than 100 small paintings displayed and available for purchase – each no larger than 10 inches in height or width (excluding frame). The exhibition includes works with a maritime winter theme among others by more than 50 top Maritime Gallery artists, and features scenes of majestic ships, yachting and working boats, coastal landscapes, marshes, and marine wildlife.

Participating artists include Joel Popadics, Kim Muller-Thym, David Bareford, James Magner, Al Barker, Del-Bouree Bach, Russ Kramer, and Robert Noreika.

One of the most popular shows on the Gallery’s annual schedule, the exhibition provides an opportunity for collectors to own original work by their favorite artists at affordable prices.

“Each one of these miniature works of art, created by some of the most respected and leading contemporary maritime artists, capture the beauty of the maritime experience of the sea,” said Monique Foster, director of the Maritime Gallery.  “These original small masterpieces are framed, very affordable and perfect gifts for the holidays.”

The Gallery will host a public opening with an “Artists’ Walk” on Sunday, November 22 at 1:30 p.m. where some of the participating artists will be on hand to discuss their works in the show. Admission to the Artists’ Walk and the Gallery is free.

A special discount of five percent off the sale of all original art in the Maritime Gallery will be available for Mystic Seaport members (Gallery Patrons receive a 10 percent discount) through December 31.

For more information, visit mysticseaport.org/gallery or call 860.572.5388.

About the Maritime Gallery
The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport is the nation’s foremost gallery specializing in contemporary marine art and ship models. Through its parent organization, Mystic Seaport, the Gallery is proud to offer access to the world’s leading experts in the marine field, and the highest standards of scholarship, integrity and connoisseurship that the nation’s finest maritime museum represents. The Gallery is free to the public. Please visit mysticseaport.org/gallery for current hours.

 

Mystic, Conn. (November 9, 2015) – Mystic Seaport, in conjunction with the artists of the New York-based Dalvero Academy, will open a new exhibit, “Journey of Transformation: An Exploration of Our Evolving Relationship with the Whale by Dalvero Academy,” on Saturday, November 21.

The exhibit is the second collaboration with the artists of Dalvero. The Museum’s relationship with the Academy began when the artists first visited Mystic Seaport in 2009, attracted to the restoration of the Charles W. Morgan. The initial collaboration culminated in an exhibit titled “Restoring a Past, Charting a Future,” featuring art from Academy artists who documented and reflected on the restoration of the 1841 whaleship.

Building on their previous work, the artists focused on the 38th Voyage of the Morgan as the ship traveled around ports of New England in the summer of 2014. Some of the artists were on board for a leg of the voyage and others followed the vessel from port to port. The exhibit shows this latest chapter of the ship’s history in their thinking and artistic expression.

“The 38th Voyage of the Charles W. Morgan has yielded a rich treasure of ideas and artifacts born of the contemplation and experience of the many participants,” said Steve White, president of Mystic Seaport. “The work from Dalvero Academy combines thoughtful perspective with remarkable art in a wide array of media. The artists participating in the exhibit had similar experiences, but their manifestations of it are as different as the artists themselves.”

The works from the 29 participating artists include an outdoor sculpture, printed fabric, small sculpted harpoon heads,  a weaving, prints, painted ceramic tiles, videos, a mural,  ceramic sculpture, masks, a shadow box assemblage, stained glass, water colors, oil paintings, a children’s book,  and a kimono.

The exhibit is located in the Museum’s C.D. Mallory Building. It will be open through 2016.

About Dalvero Academy
Dalvero Academy was founded by Veronica Lawlor and Margaret Hurst in 2005. It is a private academy of drawing, illustration, digital photography and design. The name Dalvero comes from the Italian “dal vero,” from the truth; from life. Ms. Hurst and Ms. Lawlor are freelance illustrators and designers who also teach at Pratt Art Institute and Parsons the New School for Design in New York. The Dalvero studio is located in Brooklyn, New York. For more information regarding the Dalvero Academy, as well as bios and statements from each participating artist, please visit www.dalveroacedemy.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.

Theatrical Performances Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe

Mystic, Conn. (October 6, 2015) — Mystic Seaport announces the return of its Halloween production, Nautical Nightmares, beginning October 16.

The performance is a dramatic experience that explores ghost tales, legends and unsolved mysteries of days gone by. This year’s production, “Tales of Terror: An Evening with Poe,” invites visitors to join “Mr. Poe” as he progresses through scenes around the Museum grounds in fear of, or perhaps to embrace, the evil that surrounds him. Inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe, the performance incorporates themes and bits from his works to weave a tale of eeriness and horror.

Performance nights are October 16-17, 23-24, and 30. Tours begin nightly at 6 p.m. and leave every 15 minutes from the Museum’s main entrance.

Ticket prices are $25 for adults ($21 for members) and $20 for youth ages 12-17 ($16 for members). Tickets can be purchased online at mysticseaport.org/nauticalnightmares or by calling 860.572.5331.

Nautical Nightmares is recommended for children ages 12 and older. Visitors will be walking outdoors along both dirt and stone paths and are encouraged to wear appropriate footwear.

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.

 

 

 

Author of “In the Heart of the Sea” to be Honored at a Gala in New York City on October 14

Mystic, Conn. (October 5, 2015) — Mystic Seaport will honor historian and author Nathaniel Philbrick with the 2015 America and the Sea Award. Presented annually by the Museum, the prestigious award, commemorating its 10th anniversary recognizes an individual or organization whose contribution to the history, arts, business, or sciences of the sea best exemplify the American character.

Philbrick will receive the award Wednesday, October 14, at a gala held in his honor in New York City. This black tie affair is the premier fund-raising event for Mystic Seaport. For invitations please contact advancement@https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/ or 860.572.5365.

Past recipients include oceanographer and explorer Sylvia Earle, historian David McCullough, legendary yacht designer Olin Stephens, President and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corporation, Thomas Crowley, philanthropist William Koch, former Secretary of the Navy John Lehman, WoodenBoat founder Jon Wilson, yachtsman and author Gary Jobson, and maritime industrialist Charles A. Robertson.

“Like those recipients before him, Nat Philbrick’s work helps to elevate one’s understanding of the sea. With every work he publishes, his words speak to American history and they instruct us on our heritage in a very personal and approachable manner,” said Steve White, president of Mystic Seaport.

Philbrick is closely linked to the island of Nantucket, where he moved with his wife Melissa and their two children in 1986. In 1994, he published his first book about the island’s history, Away Off Shore, followed by a study of the Nantucket’s native legacy, Abram’s Eyes. He was the founding director of Nantucket’s Egan Maritime Institute and is still a research fellow at the Nantucket Historical Association.

In 2000, Philbrick published The New York Times bestseller In the Heart of the Sea, which won the National Book Award for nonfiction. The book is the basis of the forthcoming Warner Bros. motion picture In Heart of the Sea, directed by Ron Howard and starring Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Ben Wishaw, and Tom Holland, which is scheduled for release in December 2015. The book also inspired a 2001 Dateline special on NBC as well as the 2010 two-hour PBS American Experience film Into the Deep by Ric Burns.

His next book was Sea of Glory, published in 2003, which won the Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt Naval History Prize and the Albion-Monroe Award from the National Maritime Historical Society. The New York Times bestseller Mayflower, a finalist for both the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in History and the Los Angeles Times Book Award, won the Massachusetts Book Award for nonfiction. Mayflower was named one of the ten “Best Books of 2006” by the New York Times Book Review. It is currently in development as a limited series on FX.

Philbrick’s latest New York Times bestseller, Bunker Hill:  A City, a Siege, a Revolution, was published in 2013 and was awarded both the 2013 New England Book Award for nonfiction and the 2014 New England Society Book Award as well as the 2014 Distinguished Book Award of the Society of Colonial Wars. Bunker Hill has been optioned by Warner Bros. for feature film adaptation with Ben Affleck attached to direct.

Philbrick has also received the Byrne Waterman Award from the Kendall Whaling Museum, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for distinguished service from the USS Constitution Museum, the Nathaniel Bowditch Award from the American Merchant Marine Museum, the William Bradford Award from the Pilgrim Society, and the Boston History Award from the Bostonian Society. He was named the 2011 Cushing Orator by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and has an honorary doctorate from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where he delivered the commencement address in 2009.

Philbrick’s writing has appeared in Vanity Fair, The New York Times Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and The Boston Globe. He has appeared on the Today Show, the Morning Show, Dateline, PBS’s American Experience, C-SPAN, and NPR.

Nathaniel Philbrick grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and earned a BA in English from Brown University and an MA in America Literature from Duke University, where he was a James B. Duke Fellow. He was Brown University’s first Intercollegiate All-American sailor in 1978.

The event, which supports the mission of Mystic Seaport to inspire an enduring connection to America’s maritime heritage, is co-chaired by Peggy and Grant Cambridge, J. Barclay Collins, II, and Maarten deJong and Kendra Matthew.

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.

Mystic, Conn. (September 22, 2015) — Mystic Seaport celebrates fall and the harvest season with its annual Chowder Days on Columbus Day weekend, October 10-12. The public is invited to participate in a range of family-friendly activities and partake in an à la carte menu featuring a variety of chowders and other seasonal delights prepared by Mystic’s Coastal Gourmet.

The weekend’s family-fun festivities include live music, horse-and-carriage rides, games on the Village Green, scarecrow activities, face painting, and arts and crafts.

There will be live music from 1 to 4 p.m. each day. Featured performers will be:

October 10 – Hartstrings Duo
October 11 – Andy & Bethany
October 12 – Junkyard Heartstrings

Visitors will have seven chowders and bisques to select from along with clam fritters, bratwurst, BBQ pulled pork, chicken kabobs, hamburgers, hot dogs, and fish tacos.

In addition to the food and music of Chowder Days, visitors can enjoy the Museum’s exhibits and demonstrations, including exploring the new exhibit “Ships, Clocks & Stars: The Quest for Longitude,” touring the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan, watching maritime skills demonstrations, or going for a cruise on the Mystic River.

Mystic Seaport will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Food service begins at 11:30 a.m.

The cost of food is not included in Museum admission.  For menus and other information please visit mysticseaport.org/chowderdays.

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.

 

 

 

Mystic, Conn. (September 14, 2015) — The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport opens the 36th Annual International Marine Art Exhibition and Sale Sunday, September 27.

The International is the most comprehensive collection of contemporary marine art in the United States. Award-winning artists from around the world will present more than 100 examples of their most recent work. Represented in this show are exceptional paintings, sculptures, scrimshaw, and a ship model. The show is a commemoration of America’s maritime heritage with both intricately researched historical scenes and contemporary images that document the relationship of man to the sea.

“We are excited and honored to present the 36th International Marine Art Exhibition at the Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport. Award-winning artists from eight countries will be displaying pieces of the highest quality works of contemporary marine art. Paintings on display will include coastal scenes and marine wildlife as well as historic vessels, racing yachts, and working boats. The show will visually inspire and delight art connoisseurs, sailors, and visitors alike,” said Monique Foster, director of the Gallery.

Participating artists include Laura Cooper, Richard Loud, Jeff Weaver, Don Demers, Russ Kramer, John Tayson, Patrick O’Brien, William Duffy, Elizabeth Mumford, and Robert Lagasse.

The exhibition will honor participating artists with five awards of excellence and nine named awards–including the Rudolph J. Schaefer Maritime Heritage Award, which recognizes the work that best documents America’s maritime heritage for future generations.

The exhibition will open to the public at 10 a.m. Sunday, September 27. There will be an artists’ walk from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Gallery. The walk is an opportunity for the public to meet some of the participating artists and listen as they share how they created their works in the International and what inspires them to produce their art.

All works in the exhibition are available to view and purchase daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. The show can also be viewed on the Gallery website beginning on September 20.

The exhibition runs through December 31, 2015.

About the Maritime Gallery

The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport is the nation’s foremost gallery specializing in contemporary marine art.  For more than 30 years, the Maritime Gallery has been privileged to exhibit the works of leading maritime artists from across the globe and to support the scholarship, curation, and exhibition work of its parent organization, Mystic Seaport. For more information, please visit mysticseaport.org/gallery.

 The Solution to One of History’s Greatest Technical Challenges

Produced by the National Maritime Museum, London

Proudly sponsored by United Technologies Corporation

On Exhibit September 19, 2015 – March 28, 2016

Mystic, Conn. (August 20, 2015)—Mystic Seaport proudly presents “Ships, Clocks & Stars: The Quest for Longitude”, on tour from England for a limited time only. The award-winning exhibition, produced by the National Maritime Museum in London and sponsored by United Technologies Corp., reveals the race to determine longitude at sea. Spurred on by the promise of rich rewards, astronomers, philosophers, and artisans—including John Harrison and his innovative timekeepers—finally solved one of the greatest technical challenges of the 18th century.

For centuries, longitude (east-west position) was a matter of life and death at sea. Ships that went off course had no way to rediscover their longitude. With no known location, they might smash into underwater obstacles or be forever lost at sea. For a maritime nation such as Britain, growing investment in long distance trade, outposts and settlements overseas made the ability to accurately determine a ship’s longitude increasingly important.

“Ships, Clocks & Stars” celebrates the 300th anniversary of the British Longitude Act of 1714, which offered a huge prize for any practical way to determine longitude at sea. The longitude problem was so difficult that—despite that incentive—it took five decades to solve it. Through the latest research and extraordinary, historic artifacts—many from the collection of the National Maritime Museum and never before displayed outside the UK—the exhibition tells the story of the clockmakers, astronomers, naval officers, and others who pursued the long “quest for longitude” to ultimate success.

In recent years, John Harrison has been cast as the hero of the story, not least in Dava Sobel’s bestselling book Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time. “Ships, Clocks & Stars” provides a new perspective on this famous tale. While John Harrison makes a good story and his marine sea-watch was vital to finally solving the problem of longitude, this was against a backdrop of almost unprecedented collaboration and investment. Famous names such as Galileo, Isaac Newton, James Cook, and William Bligh all feature in this fascinating and complex history. Crucially, it was Astronomer Royal Nevil Maskelyne’s observations and work on the Nautical Almanac at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich that demonstrated the complementary nature of astronomical and timekeeper methods. Combined, the two methods lead to the successful determination of longitude at sea and changed our understanding of the world.

“Mystic Seaport is very proud to bring ‘Ships, Clocks & Stars’ to New England to tell this important story of scientific discovery, innovation, creativity, perseverance, and even adventure as different parties raced to find a solution,” said Steve White, president of Mystic Seaport. “This exhibit is more than the story of longitude: it is the story of human problem-solving, and it is as relevant today as it was in the eighteenth century.”

Exhibition Highlights

• Clockmaker John Harrison’s H4 marine sea-watch, considered his greatest masterpiece
• Working replicas of Harrison’s magnificent earlier H1, H2, and H3 timekeepers
• The original 1714 Longitude Act
• Astronomical tables developed by Nevil Maskelyne, the Astronomer Royal
• Early sextants, octants, and other instruments
• Paintings from Captain Cook’s Pacific voyages
• Rare items from William Bligh’s journey after he was put off the Bounty
• Detailed models of Cook’s and Bligh’s ships
• Digital displays throughout the exhibition bring key longitude concepts and materials to light

“Ships Clocks & Stars” will be open in the R.J. Schaefer Building from September 19 to March 28, 2016. Entry to the exhibit is included in the Museum’s general admission. Mystic Seaport will return to a year-round operating schedule in 2016 and be open Thursday-Sunday during January-March.

Related Programs

“Finding Longitude”
Thursday, September 17, 7 p.m.
Dr. Richard Dunn, Senior Curator for the History of Science at the National Maritime Museum, London, will give a presentation on the exhibit’s story of inspiration and invention, collaboration and competition that finally saw the problem of determining longitude at sea solved in the wake of the British Longitude Act of 1714.

Admission is free for Museum members; $15 for non-members. Please call 860.572.5331 to register.

Treworgy Planetarium: “Longitude: Proof in the Pacific”
Daily, Check for Times and Prices
This show takes the audience along with the famous explorer Captain James Cook on his first two voyages of discovery in the Pacific. The program will display the stars and astronomical phenomena that helped guide his expeditions and demonstrate the impact improved technology had on their ability to navigate.
Recommended for all ages.

Online Resources

mysticseaport.org/longitude 

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 Maritime Museum, London
The National Maritime Museum holds the world’s largest maritime collection, housed in historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. The National Maritime Museum is part of Royal Museums Greenwich which also incorporates the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the 17th-century Queen’s House, and the Cutty Sark. Royal Museums Greenwich works to illustrate for everyone the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people. This unique collection of attractions welcomes over 2 million British and international visitors a year and is also a major center of education and research. For more information visit www.rmg.co.uk

About United Technologies
A global leader in the aerospace and commercial building industries, United Technologies provides products that set the standard for performance, reliability and energy efficiency. Its aerospace businesses include Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines, UTC Aerospace Systems products and services, and Sikorsky helicopters. UTC is the world’s largest provider of building technologies. Its commercial businesses include Otis elevators and escalators; Carrier heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems; and fire and security solutions from brands such as Kidde and Chubb. The company also operates a central research organization that pursues technologies for improving the performance, energy efficiency and cost of UTC products and processes. To learn more, visit www.utc.com

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.