Eating from the Sea

Cook locally and sustainably harvested seafood over the open hearth while exploring how Mystic’s maritime heritage shaped its cuisine. Then, enjoy a shared meal in the historic Buckingham-Hall house dining room.

• 1-day class
• Friday, January 16
• 5:30–8:30 p.m.
• Maximum class capacity is 6 students.
• Members $96 | Non-members $120

Dinner in Greenmanville

Step into 19th-century Mystic and experience the contrasting cuisines of shipyard owners, like the Greenmans, and the families of their workers, like mill girl Annie Burrows. Prepare and enjoy a meal inspired by the families who once lived in Greenmanville, all by the warmth of the open hearth in Buckingham-Hall house.

• 1-day class
• Friday, January 30 
• 5:30–8:30 p.m.
• Ages 16 and up
• Maximum class capacity is 6 students.
• Members $76 | Non-members $95

Valentine’s Day Tea

Celebrate Valentine’s Day the old-fashioned way. Bake festive treats over the open hearth, then sit down for a cozy afternoon tea in the parlor of the Buckingham-Hall House.

• 1-day class
• Monday, February 9
• 3:00–6:00 p.m.
• Ages 16 and up
• Members $60 | Non-members $75

Food and the Immigrant Experience: Ireland

Discover the flavors and traditions Irish immigrants brought to 19th-century America. Cook traditional recipes over the open hearth, explore their cultural significance, and enjoy a taste of history in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.

• 1-day class
• Friday, March 13 
• 5:30–8:30 p.m.
• Ages 16 and up
• Maximum class capacity is 6 students.
• Members $76 | Non-members $95

Fish Fry

Follow the story of New England’s cod fishery from sea to table. Learn about the life of fishermen, then prepare codfish cakes over the open hearth in the Buckingham-Hall house using traditional techniques—served hot and fresh from the pan.

• 1-day class
• Friday, March 27
• 5:30–8:30 p.m.
• Ages 16 and up
• Maximum class capacity is 6 students.
• Members $60 | Non-members $75

Letterpress Greeting Card Workshop

Create your own greeting cards using our 19th-century hand press. Learn to set type, arrange your design, and print a custom card—perfect for birthdays, thank-yous, or any special occasion. No experience required—just bring your creativity!

• 1-day class
• Register for Saturday, January 17, OR Saturday, February 21
• 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
• Ages 16 and up
• Maximum class capacity is 4 students.
• Members $70 | Non-members $85

Letterpress Valentine’s Day Card Workshop

Say it with style this Valentine’s Day. Design and hand-print your own heartfelt cards on our 19th-century press using traditional type and imagery. Learn the basics of letterpress printing and take home your own custom creations. No experience required—feel free to bring your favorite quote!

• 1-day class
• Saturday, January 31, OR Saturday, February 7
• 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
• Ages 16 and up
• Maximum class capacity is 4 students.
• Members $70 | Non-members $85

Letterpress Coaster Workshop 

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! Design and print your own drink coasters on our 19th-century hand press while learning the art of letterpress printing. Perfect for adding a historic touch to your next gathering—just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! No experience required.

• 1-day class
• Saturday, March 14
• 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
• Ages 21 and up
• Maximum class capacity is 4 students.
• Members $70 | Non-members $85

Coopering for Beginners

Join our master cooper and learn the techniques, terminology, and processes necessary to fashion round containers made of wood. Plan your design, understand the different types of woods used by coopers, and identify the direction of the grain to give you the best results. You will work with traditional tools, such as draw knives, a croze, a cooper’s anvil, and a jointer to shape staves which are the basic pieces of every cask, barrel, and pail. Then assemble your own handcrafted bucket—just like those once used aboard the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan and in homes throughout the world for centuries.

• 3 classes
• Saturdays, January 17, 24, and 31
• 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
• Ages 16 and up
• All tools and materials are provided. Group lessons are limited to three students.
• Members $280 | Non-members $350

Join the Sailing Center’s Lead Sailing Instructor, Roald Osborne, for an exploration of knots, line, and splicing. This four-week course introduces beginners of all ages to a variety of essential knots and their practical applications, progressing from foundational skills to more complex techniques.

• Wednesdays, January 14, 21, 28 and February 4 | 5:30–7:30 p.m.
• Ages 10 and up
• No prior experience necessary.
• Members $120 | Non-Members $150

Discover the wonders of astronomy through a maritime lens. The presence of water on our planet is part of what makes Earth unique within our solar system. Where land meets sea, celestial bodies interact with forces on Earth to shape patterns in the sky and influence tides along our shores. Together, sea and sky have guided the methods humans have used throughout history to navigate the world’s waterways.

This class explores Earth’s water cycle; evidence of water elsewhere in space; the Moon’s phases and their influence on tidal fluctuations; constellations recognized by different cultures in maritime settings around the world; and an overview of maritime navigation throughout history using a range of tools and techniques.

• Tuesdays, February 3, 10, 17, 24 | 6:30–8:00 p.m.
• Ages 15 and up
• No prior knowledge necessary.
• Members $120 | Non-Members $150

Join Supervisor of Sailing Programs and former music history and conducting professor Matthew Forte for an exploration of water- and sea-themed orchestral music from the 18th century to the present. Music selections include Claude Debussy’s La Mer, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony, and John Luther Adams’ Become Ocean. No prior musical knowledge is required—just an interest in learning about and listening to this remarkable music!

• Thursdays, February 5, 12, 19, 26 | 5:30–7:30 p.m.
• Ages 14 and up
• No prior knowledge necessary.
• Members $120 | Non-Members $150

Set sail for creativity! Join us for a relaxing evening of art, history, and good company. Instead of painting a canvas, you’ll try your hand at scrimshaw—the sailors’ art of etching detailed designs into bone-like materials. Participants receive an introduction to the historical context, cultural significance, and techniques of scrimshaw, a form of expression that flourished among seafarers during the 18th and 19th centuries. Attendees will then apply these techniques to create a contemporary piece using synthetic materials that replicate the texture and feel of whale bone or ivory.

Enjoy a beverage of your choice, surrounded by the Museum’s maritime atmosphere and historic charm. No experience is necessary—just bring your imagination and a love for the sea!

Your ticket includes all materials and tools, corkage on BYO beer or wine, and a crash course in maritime artistry.

• Wednesday, February 25 | 5:30–7:30 p.m.
• Ages 21 and up
• No prior knowledge necessary.
• Members $44 | Non-Members $55

This four-week, on-shore, classroom-based course introduces students with a basic familiarity with sailing to the rules, strategies, theories, and techniques that support competent racing. The curriculum is progressive—beginning with foundational topics such as right-of-way rules and race starts, then progressing to advanced racing strategy. If you are an adult or young adult who has completed an introductory sailing class and want to learn the fundamentals of racing, this course is for you!

• Prerequisite: Previous completion of an introductory sailing class
• Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18, 25 | 5:30–7:30 p.m.
• Ages 12 and up
• Members $120 | Non-Members $150