Visit Mystic Seaport Museum for a special day celebrating maritime trades, fisheries, and foodways! Dive deep into the experiences, history, and stories that shaped maritime communities of the past—immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, and scents of 19th-century trades and cooking alongside Museum staff and guest historians.
On Trades and Foodways Day we’ll dive deeper into living history. Each Mystic Seaport Museum trade—printing, coopering, blacksmithing, wood carving, sailor skills, and open-hearth cooking—will bring a new story to life through unique, interactive demonstrations, programs, and talks. Go behind the scenes as Museum experts showcase maritime trades rarely seen by the public, including sailmaking, canvas stitching, millinery, costuming, and caulking. If you’ve ever wondered what steam bending is, join us on September 26 to find out! To make the day even more special, we’ll welcome several guest tradespeople, including John Cox (guest cooper) and Silvermoon LaRose from the Tomaquag Museum.
Finally, gather with staff at the fall premiere of the newest season of the Museum’s popular YouTube series, SeaClass, showcasing historic maritime trades—and be among the first to see the newest episode of this six-part fall season.
This event is included in general admission and FREE for Members.
Shipsmithing | James Driggs Shipsmith Shop (24)
Witness talented shipsmiths work on one of the most iconic pieces of whaling equipment, a harpoon!
Sailmaking | Charles Mallory Sail Loft (26)
Interact with interpreters as they share their work on a traditional canvas sailor’s bag and a modern sailmaking project.
Weaving and Candy Making | Buckingham-Hall House (11)
Learn how textiles were made in the 19th century versus how they are made today. Staff will also be making candy! Confectionary work was a domestic labor, but it could also be a business.
Firing a Cask | Cooperage (18)
Museum coopers will fire, bend, and finish a cask! Firing will take place in the morning, but the work will continue all day.
Dressmaking and Millinery | Burrows House (19)
Learn about the trades of dressmaking and millinery. These trades created opportunities for women to participate in industry by running their own shop and managing a successful business.
Ropework | Joseph Conrad; if rain, Chandlery (26)
Learn the art of ropework! Often used as a decorative addition to sailors’ crafts, ropework had its origin in rigging and splicing work that was essential on board ship.
Carving a Billet Head | Carve Shop (40)
Watch as staff in the carve shop apply traditional woodcarving to a modern restoration project.
Hands-on Printing | Print Shop (21)
Print your own keepsake in the print shop! Space is limited.
Build your own Ship | Toy Boats Workshop (55)
Try your hand at shipbuilding (the miniature version!) and build your own toy boat keepsake based on one of the Museum’s historic vessels.
MORNING
10:15 Shipyard Tour | Thames Keel Exhibit (49)
10:30 All About Whales: Craft Activity | Home Port (4)
10:15 Working Aloft on a Square Rigger ♪ | Charles W. Morgan
11:00 Mystic Seaport and the Morgan: Paid Walking Tour ** | Meet at Chandlery (26)
11:00 From Casks to Containers: Cargo Handling in the Age of Sail ♪ | Charles W. Morgan
11:20 Netmaking | Home Port (4)
11:30 Whaleboat Demonstration ♪ | Middle Wharf (20)
AFTERNOON
12:00 Zoo in the Sky | Treworgy Planetarium (9)
1:00 Breeches Buoy Demonstration | Village Green
1:00 Harvest Lights * | Treworgy Planetarium (9)
1:45 Work Songs of the 19th Century ♪ | Chapel (45)
2:00 Women in the Maritime Trades | Sailor’s Reading Room (42)
2:00 Help Make a Rope | Charles W. Morgan
2:30 Heave Away! Windlass Chanties ♪ | Charles W. Morgan
3:00 Harvest Lights * | Treworgy Planetarium (9)
3:15 Mystic Seaport and the Morgan: Paid Walking Tour ** | Meet at Chandlery (26)
3:30 Working Aloft on a Square Rigger ♪ | Charles W. Morgan
4:00 All About Whales: Craft Activity | Home Port
4:00 Shipyard Tour | Thames Keel Exhibit
4:15 Dogwatch: Sailors’ Arts and Crafts ♪ | Charles W. Morgan
4:45 Hercules Engine Demonstration | Hoop Shop (22)
*Tickets for Harvest Lights in the Treworgy Planetarium are $5 for Members and $8 for non-members. Free for children ages 3 and under.
**Tickets for Mystic Seaport and the Morgan: Paid Walking Tour are $10. Free for children ages 3 and under.
