Category: Press Releases

Following First Phase of Restoration at Mystic Seaport,
Historic Ship Heads Home for Busy Visitor Season

Plymouth, Mass. — (May 8, 2015) Plimoth Plantation and Mystic Seaport announced today that Mayflower II is currently scheduled to depart Mystic Seaport on the morning of May 16 for her return trip to Plymouth. In the past several months, the full-scale reproduction ship owned by Plimoth Plantation has undergone an extensive survey and a first phase of restoration work at the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard at Mystic Seaport.

Mayflower II will be towed by tugboat back to Plymouth, a trip that should take an estimated two days. Timing for the ship’s return is dependent on tide levels and weather conditions. Once back at her berth in Plymouth, 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.

“This iconic ship is a leading tourism attraction in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” said Paul Cripps of Destination Plymouth, “drawing millions of people from around the world to Plymouth’s historic waterfront to learn about the United States’ early history. We’re glad she’ll be back for the busy summer and fall season.”

Work on Mayflower II continued last December on a multi-year restoration plan. The goal is to restore the ship to her original condition in time for the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival in 2020. Inspections in 2013 revealed that the ship is in need of a major refit, which is normal for a nearly 60-year-old wooden ship. In the past several months at the shipyard, a comprehensive marine survey, both in and out of the water, revealed the nature and extent of all the repairs that need to be made in the years to come.

The survey required that the ship’s 130 tons of iron and stone ballast be completely removed for inspection. A number of repairs were made to the ship’s hull, including the replacement of planks, frames and much caulking of the seams both below the waterline and up on deck.

Mayflower II’s future vitality depends on fundraising efforts to complete the significant restoration of the 58-year-old wooden ship. “We’re currently working on plans for fundraising for the remainder of this multi-year, multi-million dollar restoration project,” said Ellie Donovan, executive director of Plimoth Plantation. “We’re pleased with the excellent work that Mystic Seaport accomplished this winter and we look forward to continuing this exciting collaboration.”

Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum with vast restoration experience and knowledge of historic wooden vessels. The Connecticut museum recently completed the restoration of its 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan, a National Historic Landmark vessel and America’s oldest commercial ship still afloat. The Morgan sailed on her historic 38th Voyage this past summer.

“We have been privileged to have Mayflower II with us these past several months,” said Steve White, president of Mystic Seaport. “Plimoth Plantation and Mystic Seaport have created a very effective collaboration and we are pleased that we have been able to apply our expertise in maritime restoration to support the mission of a fellow museum.”

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

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.

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Modern Marine Masters to Feature Leading Contemporary Maritime Artists

Mystic, Conn. (May 6, 2015) – The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport is proud to open its 2015 season with the 36th Annual Spring Exhibition and Sale, Modern Marine Masters, on Sunday, May 17. The exhibition celebrates the timeless beauty of the sea and ships with contemporary art created by award-winning artists from around the globe.

Each of these contemporary masters continues the tradition of preserving and celebrating the art of the sea by transferring his or her experience into a vivid and visual expression, one that may evoke a mood, record an important moment in maritime history, or capture the enduring challenge of the sea.

This year’s exhibition will include a special “show within a show” of three featured artists — David Bareford, Neal Hughes, and Ronald Tinney. In addition, works by more than 50 invited contemporary masters will be on display, featuring the timeless beauty of the sea with ships, sailing yachts, fishing vessels, wildlife, and marshes in paintings, drawings, sculpture, and scrimshaw.

“We are proud to present this invitational show as it represents such a talented group of artists who are creating some of today’s most exciting maritime art. Each piece truly portrays the maritime experience,” said Jeanne Potter, director of the Maritime Gallery.

Modern Marine Masters will be open through July 19.  The Maritime Gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information, please call the Gallery at 860.572.5388 or email gallery@https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/

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.

National Park Service and Maritime Administration Award Funds from the National Maritime Heritage Program

Mystic, Conn. (April 28, 2015) — Mystic Seaport announced today that it has been awarded a $199,806 grant by the National Park Service, in partnership with the Maritime Administration (MARAD), to support the restoration of its 1908 steamboat Sabino. The grant is part of approximately $2.6 million in Maritime Heritage Program grants for projects that teach about and preserve sites and objects related to our nation’s maritime history.

“Mystic Seaport is pleased to be among the thirty-five grantees of the 2015 Maritime Heritage Grant Program. The Museum strongly supports continuation and expansion of this important grant program to help citizens throughout the United States to understand our nation’s unique relationship to the sea,” said Steve White, president of Mystic Seaport.

The 57-foot Sabino was built in East Boothbay, ME in 1908 and served for many decades in the state’s coastal waters before coming to Mystic Seaport in the early 1970s. The boat has been designated a National Historic Landmark vessel and offers seasonal cruises on the Mystic River from the Mystic Seaport waterfront. Sabino is presently undergoing an extensive restoration of her hull and mechanical systems in the Museum’s Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

“Mystic Seaport is one of the nation’s premier maritime history museums— a true Connecticut gem. This $200,000 Maritime Heritage Grant will help restore the steamboat Sabino—the last remaining wooden, coal-fired steamboat in regular operation nationwide today and one of the Museum’s prized historic vessels. This grant—which the Museum will leverage with private dollars—will ensure that generations to come may continue to learn from and marvel at this unique piece of history,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

National Maritime Heritage Grant awards are made possible through a partnership between the two federal agencies that share a commitment to maritime heritage preservation and education.  Funding is provided by the Maritime Administration through the recycling of vessels from the National Defense Reserve Fleet. The preservation grants range from $50,000 to $200,000.

“Mystic Seaport is one of the things that makes Connecticut so special and I’m glad the Maritime Administration and National Park Service are fully behind what they’re doing”, said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). “This $200,000 grant will go a long way to help the Museum remain a must-see for New England families, parents, and children alike. I, for one, can’t wait to take my boys to see the Sabino once it’s fully restored.”

“I am pleased to see Mystic Seaport selected as a grant recipient under the MARAD Maritime Heritage Program, for which I have long advocated,” said Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT 2nd). “This grant will help Mystic Seaport, a regional treasure, preserve a unique part of our state’s maritime history for future generations. I look forward to seeing the excellent work the Mystic team will do to restore the Sabino as a result of this funding.”

Other recipients of program grants include the USS Constitution Museum, Philadelphia’s Independence Seaport Museum for critical work on the cruiser USS Olympia, the Mariners Museum for artifact conservation and outreach for the USS Monitor, New York City’s Intrepid Museum Foundation for the submarine USS Growler, Maryland’s Living Classroom Foundation to rehabilitate the rigging of the USS Constellation, and the New Bedford Whaling Museum for conservation of the Purrington-Russell Panorama painting.

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. (February 11, 2015) – Mystic Seaport has promoted Elysa Engelman to be the Museum’s new Director of Exhibits.

Engelman will be responsible for creating and delivering an ongoing program of dynamic, interdisciplinary exhibits that attract diverse audiences and introduce new scholarship and content in support of the Museum’s mission and strategic vision. She will direct all aspects of exhibit design and production.

“Elysa Engelman takes on this position at an exciting time for the Museum, and we are very pleased that her exceptional creative, innovative, and academic expertise will play an important role in maximizing the potential of the new Gallery Quad,” said Susan Funk, executive vice president of Mystic Seaport.

Engelman assumes the directorship after 10 years as Exhibit Researcher/Developer for the Museum, where she has contributed to the creation of numerous exhibits, including “Women and the Sea,” “TUGS!,” “Black Hands, Blue Seas,” and the upcoming “Voyaging in the Wake of the Whalers” due to open this June. She was also intimately involved in the programming of the 38th Voyage of the Charles W. Morgan last summer.

She holds an undergraduate degree in English and Theater Studies from Yale University and a Ph.D. from Boston University in American and New England Studies.  Engelman has also been a guest lecturer at the Williams-Mystic Program at Mystic Seaport and an adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut.

Engelman is a resident of East Greenwich, RI where she lives with her husband and family.

This promotion is effective Monday, March 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. 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 younger are admitted free. For more information, please visit https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/ and follow Mystic Seaport on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Museum Reopens to Visitors with Free Admission for Children February 14-22

Mystic, Conn. (February 5, 2015) – Mystic Seaport celebrates its reopening on Presidents Day Weekend with Winter’s Aweigh beginning Saturday, February 14. Children ages 17 and under will be admitted for free when accompanied by a paying adult.

A special feature this year is the reproduction ship Mayflower II, which is being restored in the Museum’s Shipyard. Visitors can view the ship and go on board and imagine what it was like for the Pilgrims to cross the Atlantic in 1620.

Visitors can also explore the Museum’s 19th-century seafaring village, historic vessels, and maritime exhibits, and take in a Planetarium show.

Special children’s activities include arts and craft projects, building an igloo out of recycled milk jugs, storytelling, songs and musical activities, and outdoor games. Children are invited to build a toy boat keepsake, stop by the Children’s Museum for story time, explore a sea chest, and get a kids’-eye view of the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan.

Winter working dogs will be on hand for demonstrations during the weekend. Newfoundlands will visit Saturday, February 14; St. Bernards will be on grounds Sunday, February 15; and Malamutes will visit Monday, February 16. The dogs will be on hand between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The children’s free admission offer at Mystic Seaport continues all week and is valid February 14-22. The offer is not transferable and no other discounts apply. The Museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

For more information on hours and ticketing, please visit mysticseaport.org/visit.

Image for Download: Mayflower II in the Mystic Seaport Shipyard. Credit: Andy Price/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. Mystic Seaport is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 6-17. Museum members and children 5 and younger are admitted free. For more information, please visit https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/ and follow Mystic Seaport on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Mystic, Conn. (January 15, 2015) – Mystic Seaport announces a gift of $1 million from the Thompson Family Foundation honoring the late Wade Thompson, a Museum trustee for 27 years. This gift directed to a new 14,000 square-foot exhibition building caps an earlier gift from the Thompsons, bringing their total gifts towards this building to $6.6 million. The new building will be named for the Thompson family.

“From early on in the strategic planning process Wade Thompson was the driving force behind the concept of a new exhibition space and its importance for the future of the Museum, and his generosity and leadership have made this project possible,” said Mystic Seaport President Steve White.

The gift was announced at a groundbreaking ceremony at Mystic Seaport on January 8.

The contemporary, light-filled Thompson Exhibition Building will include a state-of-the-art, 5,000 square-foot exhibit hall. This will be the largest among Mystic Seaport’s seven galleries and will provide the caliber of conditions required to curate not only exhibits from the Museum’s collection, but also permit the borrowing of outstanding art and artifacts from other museums around the world. This flexible space will feature high ceilings and demountable walls that can be reconfigured to accommodate objects of varying size and type, from watercraft to priceless works of fine art, and also support educational programming. The building will integrate cutting-edge technology, “Grade A” exhibit facilities, and the flexible space needed to showcase the Museum’s collection in exciting ways.

“This significant capital project is a milestone in the history of Mystic Seaport as we reposition ourselves for the 21st century. This endeavor will transform what we can offer to the public in the scale and quality of our exhibits and how visitors engage with our campus,” said Mystic Seaport Board Chairman Barclay Collins.

Situated at the northern-most edge of the Museum’s 19-acre campus and adjacent to Latitude 41° Restaurant & Tavern, the Thompson Exhibition Building will anchor the newly created Gallery Quadrangle, a region of Mystic Seaport that will be suitable for year-round visitation once complete. Designed by the Connecticut firm Centerbrook Architects and Planners, the Thompson Exhibition Building will evoke the “geometry of the sea,” drawing design cues from the interior of a wooden ship, the undulating sea, and a spiraling nautilus shell. Construction will be managed by A/Z Corporation of North Stonington, CT.  Other Connecticut firms involved in the project are Stadia Engineering, Kohler Ronan, and Kent + Frost Landscape Architects of Mystic.

The Gallery Quadrangle transformation is the result of a decade of strategic and master planning, and will provide:

• An iconic point of arrival at the north end of the campus
• All-weather and all-season operational capabilities
• Sweeping, unobstructed views of the Mystic River
• Outdoor celebration areas for both Museum and community use
• 21st-century upgrades and improved access to existing galleries around the quadrangle’s perimeter, including those in the Stillman and R. J. Schaefer buildings
• Environmentally responsible features that respond to the riverfront location, including a storm water treatment system and geothermal heating and cooling
• Increased wheeled accessibility for the north campus
• Galleries and venues suitable for schools’ year-round educational visits

To create this new all-season zone, Kent + Frost has developed a distinctive unifying plan to reconfigure the grounds. To establish a powerful physical presence, and emerge as a year-round cultural destination and educational resource, the distinctive Gallery Quadrangle meshes existing buildings and grounds with new architectural achievements to greatly enhance the visitor experience.

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. (December 14, 2014)—The historic ship Mayflower II arrived at Mystic Seaport today after being towed from Plymouth, Mass. The journey was made so the ship could undergo a restoration in the Museum’s Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Restoration work will begin this month, honoring Mayflower II‘s original construction and using traditional methods with the goal of restoring the ship to her original state when she first arrived to Plymouth in 1957. Inspections in 2013 revealed that Mayflower II is in need of a major refit, which is normal for a 57-year-old wooden ship. Plimoth Plantation recently completed some major repairs to secure a safe condition for the ship to continue operations on the Plymouth waterfront. These efforts were the initial steps toward addressing the long-term restoration plan which will follow three phases: survey, document, and restore.

A comprehensive marine survey will be completed by Paul Haley of Capt. G.W. Full & Associates, the same firm that surveyed several vintage vessels including the Charles W. Morgan, the USS Constitution, and the USS Constellation. Stone and iron ballast will be completely removed for the first time since the ship’s construction to allow proper inspection of the bilge area. The scope and plan for this winter’s restoration work will largely be determined by the needs identified once the ship is out of the water and the ballast is removed.

Throughout the restoration the public will have the opportunity to view the ship during the Museum’s operating hours, and the plan is to permit people to board the ship on land beginning February 14, 2015.

If repairs go as planned, Mayflower II is expected to return to Plymouth in May, 2015. The restoration of the 57-year-old wooden ship will be carried out over several years with the ship spending winter and spring at Mystic Seaport and returning to Plymouth each summer and fall. The project is scheduled for completion prior to 2020–the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival.

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. Mystic Seaport is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $24 for adults and $15 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.

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Restoration of Iconic Ship Essential for Historic 2020 Commemoration

Plymouth, MA (December 4, 2014)—Plimoth Plantation and Mystic Seaport, both acclaimed New England history museums, are pleased to announce a collaborative project to restore and repair Mayflower II, a full-scale reproduction ship owned by Plimoth Plantation. Work on the historic ship will take place at the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard at Mystic Seaport, adhering to The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Vessel Preservation Projects. A cohesive restoration plan will be established in conjunction with Plimoth Plantation’s Maritime Artisans Program, led by the museum’s newly-hired Associate Director for Maritime Preservation and Operations, Whit Perry. Mayflower II is scheduled to depart the Plymouth waterfront for Mystic Seaport sometime over the next several days depending on weather conditions.

Work will begin in December on a multi-year phased restoration plan, honoring the ship’s original construction and using traditional methods with the goal of restoring the ship to her original state when she first arrived to Plymouth in 1957. Inspections in 2013 revealed that Mayflower II is in need of a major refit, which is normal for a nearly 60-year-old wooden ship. Recently, Plimoth Plantation completed some major repairs to secure a safe condition for the ship to continue operations on the Plymouth waterfront. These efforts were the initial steps toward addressing the long-term restoration plan.

Upon the ship’s arrival at Mystic Seaport, the restoration plan will begin following three phases: survey, document, and restore. A comprehensive marine survey will be completed by Paul Haley of Capt. G.W. Full & Associates, the same firm that surveyed several vintage vessels including the Mystic Seaport flagship Charles W. Morgan, the USS Constitution, the USS Constellation, and many additional projects within the tall ship community. Stone and iron ballast will be completely removed for the first time since the ship’s construction nearly 60 years ago, to allow proper inspection of the bilge area. The scope and plan for this winter’s restoration work will largely be determined by the needs identified once the ship is out of the water and the ballast is removed.

Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum with vast restoration experience and knowledge of historic wooden vessels. The Museum recently completed the restoration of its 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan, a National Historic Landmark vessel and America’s oldest commercial ship still afloat. The Morgan sailed on her historic 38th Voyage this past summer.

“Part of our mission at Mystic Seaport is to pass on the skills and techniques of traditional shipbuilding and historic preservation to the next generation, and projects such as this enable us to fulfill that goal while at the same time supporting an important member of the history museum community,” said Steve White, president of Mystic Seaport. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to help restore Mayflower II, so she can continue to tell the story of the Pilgrims and their brave journey to America.”

Mayflower II’s future vitality depends on continual preservation. The significant restoration of the 57-year-old wooden ship is scheduled for completion prior to 2020–the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival. The celebrated ship is a major exhibit of Plimoth Plantation and a leading tourism attraction in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, drawing millions of people from around the world to Plymouth’s historic waterfront to learn about the United States’ early Colonial history.

“Mystic Seaport is the clear choice for restoring Mayflower II. She will be in good hands with the Museum’s skilled craftspeople and shipwrights. The staff and boards of both museums share pride in this collaboration and profound respect for this treasured ship,” said Ellie Donovan, Plimoth Plantation’s executive director. “We greatly appreciate the enormous support for Mayflower II, especially from the Massachusetts State leadership for ensuring a major part of the funding for her restoration.”

Mayflower II will be available for visitors to view in the shipyard at Mystic Seaport, allowing Mayflower II to continue to educate and inspire the public throughout the restoration process. The shipyard is open to visitors during the Museum’s operating hours. If repairs go as planned, Mayflower II is expected to return to Plymouth in late May, 2015. Sourcing rare, large-dimensioned white oak, which is needed in wooden-ship construction, is not expected to be an issue during this round of repairs. Plimoth Plantation acquired approximately 2,500 board feet from Berea College in Kentucky, and an additional 2,500 board feet from another restoration project in Rhode Island.

Note to editors: photos of Mayflower II are available to download here: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BzXYg_DzI6-xb0o2T2JhQXF0WXM&usp=sharing. Photo credit: Plimoth Plantation

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 2014. 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 $24 for adults and $15 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.

Marine Artists in Winter Features Small Paintings by Top Maritime Artists

Mystic, Conn. (November 21, 2014)—The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport presents its annual winter exhibition Marine Artists in Winter, November 23, 2014 through April 19, 2015.

The invitational exhibition features 125 small paintings displayed and available for purchase – each no larger than 12 inches in height or width (excluding frame). The exhibition includes works with a maritime winter theme among others by 51 top Maritime Gallery artists, and features scenes of majestic ships, yachting and working boats, coastal landscapes, marshes, and marine wildlife.

Participating artists include David Bareford, Cindy Baron, William Hanson, Neal Hughes, Victor Mays, and Cean Youngs.
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 painting is truly a small masterpiece created by some of the most respected maritime artists working today,” said Jeanne Potter, director of the Maritime Gallery.  “Reasonably priced and beautifully framed, these paintings are perfect for holiday gift giving.”

The Gallery will host a public opening with an “Artist’s Walk” on Sunday, November 23 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 Artist’s 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 19, 2014) — Mystic Seaport has honored Charles A. Robertson with the 2014 America and the Sea Award. Presented annually by the Museum, the prestigious award recognizes an individual or organization whose contribution to the history, arts, business, or sciences of the sea best exemplify the American character.

Robertson received the award at a gala held in his honor in New York City November 5.

Engaged in the maritime industry since 1973, Robertson pioneered the small ship cruise industry in the United States with his founding of American Cruise Lines, now the largest cruise company in the country. He is a recognized expert on cruise ship regulations in the United States. Robertson holds a USCG Master’s License and First Class Pilot’s License for unlimited tonnage and has been an expert witness for the United States Coast Guard before the NTSB and Congressional Committees. His firms have designed and built 12 small cruise ships and approximately 70 other commercial vessels, up to 320 feet.

An avid sailor, he has won national and international events, including the 1988 Newport to Bermuda Race, the Queen’s Cup, and the U.S. National Championship in the Atlantic Class. Robertson is also an active commercial pilot and regularly flies modified ex-military aircraft, participating in shows and demonstrations around the country.

“As the Chairman and CEO of American Cruise Lines, Pearl Sea Cruises, and Chesapeake Shipbuilding, it has been Charlie Robertson’s mission to get people out on the water, a mission he has accomplished.  His personal life is one filled with amazing achievements: a champion sailor, a key supporter of America’s Cup campaigns, a leader for Operation Sail, and much, much more. There is so much to celebrate in Charlie’s remarkable career,” said J. Barclay Collins, the chairman of the Museum’s board of trustees.

In addition to receiving the America and the Sea Award, Robertson is celebrating 25 years of service as a trustee of Mystic Seaport. An important advisor and resource to the shipyard staff, he serves as chair of the watercraft committee.

The event, which netted just over $400,000 to support the maritime education and preservation work of Mystic Seaport, was sponsored by Alban CAT, Bank of America-US Trust, Rolex, Stephens Inc., and American Cruise Lines. Gala co-chairs were J. Barclay Collins, Cayre and Alexis Michas, and
Mr. and Mrs. Richard R. Vietor. The auctioneer for the evening was Geraldine Nager Griffin, Senior Vice President at Sotheby’s. A longtime friend of Mystic Seaport, Nager has contributed her expertise and enthusiasm to numerous live auctions for the Museum.

Robertson joins a group of distinguished past America and the Sea Award recipients, who include: world-class sailor and author Gary Jobson (2013), founder of WoodenBoat publications Jon Wilson (2012), former Secretary of the Navy John Lehman (2011), oceanographer and deep sea explorer Sylvia Earle (2010), maritime collector and yachtsman William I. Koch (2009), President and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corporation Thomas B. Crowley Jr. (2008), Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian David McCullough (2007), and famed yacht designer Olin Stephens (2006).

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 $24 for adults and $15 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.