Page 48 – Mystic Seaport Museum

News

Summer Institute Hosts Teachers of the Year

Post author By Mystic Seaport Museum
Post date August 7, 2015

Several participants in the 2015 Connecticut Teacher of the Year summer institute try their hand at rowing a whaleboat. Photo courtesy of Sarah Cahill

From August 5-7, Mystic Seaport, with support from the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Council, hosted the second-annual summer institute for this year’s Teachers of the Year.This professional development opportunity at the Museum enabled 14 educators to spend three days learning about maritime history and science from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Participants learned how to utilize the Museum and its collections in their classrooms through active participation and interaction with a variety of staff members, hands-on activities, primary source workshops, and guided exploration of the exhibits and grounds of Mystic Seaport.

“This institute is a great way for us to connect educators with the resources of the Museum and our collections and help all of us figure out new ways to incorporate maritime heritage into their lesson plans,” said Sarah Cahill, the Director of Education at Mystic Seaport.

The Connecticut Teacher of the Year Program began in 1952, sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Education (CSDE) as a way to recognize and honor teacher excellence. According to the Department, this award does not attempt to identify the “best” teacher, but rather an educator who will “serve as a visible and vocal representative of what is best in the profession.”

Cara Quinn, a sixth-grade teacher at Sunset Ridge School in East Hartford, is the recipient of the 2015 Connecticut Teacher of Year Award. Through a rigorous selection process, Quinn was selected from among four finalists, 15 semifinalists, and over 100 district-level Teachers of the Year to represent the State of Connecticut’s educational system on a national level. Quinn has distinguished herself as an educator who strives to help children in need, committing herself to closing the achievement gap.

“I draw my inspiration for teaching by watching my students embrace these concepts and ideas. Their enthusiasm for learning, care for one another and quest to maximize their potential is what invigorates me and solidifies my commitment to teaching,” Mrs. Quinn said in a CSDE press release. “I am grateful to have the opportunity to make a positive contribution in our world each day through the work that I so dearly love.”

Quinn, along with 13 other finalists who were invited to attend the institute, will be using the vibrant history of Mystic Seaport as a means to expand their horizons as educators, and the minds of their students. Through the Museum’s two-million historical artifacts, programs, and educational opportunities, Mystic Seaport is pleased to help foster education and growth in Connecticut’s schools.

Press Releases

Mystic Seaport to Host Antique Marine Engine Exposition August 15-16

Post author By Mystic Seaport Museum
Post date August 5, 2015

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.

News

A River of History

Post author By Mystic Seaport Museum
Post date August 5, 2015

News

Launching a Mishoon

Post author By Mystic Seaport Museum
Post date August 4, 2015

The nearly complete mishoon on display at Australia Beach. Photo Credit: Emily Hutter

Saturday, August 8, will see the launching of a very rare vessel at Mystic Seaport: An authentic mishoon, or dugout canoe, built by members of the New England Wampanoag Tribe.

The mishoon is a project of the Pequot Museum and Research Center in nearby Mashantucket. The 30-foot dugout was constructed by carefully burning out the interior of a poplar log. The project of was led by Jonathan Perry and Darius Coombs, with assistance from members of several Native American communities. Both Perry and Coombs have extensive knowledge of the burning of mishoons. Perry, a former Plimoth Plantation staff member and current cultural officer at Martha’s Vineyard Aquinnah Cultural Center, and Coombs, Plimoth Plantation’s director of Wampanoag and Algonkian Interpretive Training, learned their skills at Plimoth Plantation and continue to share their knowledge through experimental archaeology.

The mishoon will be on display at the Museum’s Australia Beach until Saturday, when New England tribal members will hold a traditional canoe blessing ceremony at 10:15 a.m. at Middle Wharf to celebrate the launch of the mishoon. Immediately following the ceremony, twelve New England Tribal members will embark on a six-mile round-trip row to the mouth of the Mystic River, stopping from 12:45 p.m.-4:30 p.m. at Mystic River Park and Seaport Marine in downtown Mystic for paddling demonstrations, an educational exhibition featuring Native artists, drummers and a team of archaeologists and experts answering questions and highlighting the historical significance of the area to the Native American community.

The mishoon then will return to Mystic Seaport and remain on display until mid-August when it is returned to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center.

Press Releases

Mystic Seaport to hold “Moby-Dick” Marathon July 31-August 1

Post author By Mystic Seaport Museum
Post date July 17, 2015

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/.

Press Releases

Maritime Gallery Artists to Paint en Plein Air at Mystic Seaport

Post author By Mystic Seaport Museum
Post date July 15, 2015

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.

News

The Civil War Comes to Mystic Seaport

Post author By Mystic Seaport Museum
Post date July 13, 2015

Civil War reenactors fire a cannon during a demonstration at Mystic Seaport in 2013. — Civil War reenactors fire a cannon during a demonstration at Mystic Seaport during the last encampment.

The Civil War comes to Mystic Seaport this weekend.

In partnership with the Connecticut Civil War Commemoration Commission, Mystic Seaport will host one of the final Civil War encampments of the war’s 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.”

“You’ve never seen anything like this,” said Matt Warshauer, professor of history at Central Connecticut State University and co-chair of the Connecticut Civil War Commemoration Commission, “and this event offers our guests something extra, a real twist.” Warshauer explains that a special Civil War scavenger hunt will take place, “The Hunt for the Australia”.

“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,” explains Warshauer. “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. Come and 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 says “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.

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.

News

The New Quad is Open

Post author By Mystic Seaport Museum
Post date July 10, 2015

The new McGraw Gallery Quad as seen from the entrance alley between the Stillman and Wendell Buildings at the southwest corner. All photos by Andy Price

The McGraw Gallery Quadrangle is now open for visitors to enjoy. On Wednesday, July 8, the last bit of sod was set in place and the construction fence was moved back to reveal the new landscaping. The area that was previously known as Anchor Circle has been reconfigured into a quadrangle with the Stillman, Wendell, Mallory, and R.J. Schaefer Buildings and the Greenmanville Church facing three of the sides. The fourth side is the site of the new Thompson Exhibition Building, which is under construction. A temporary construction fence with imagery from the Museum’s Sea History Alive campaign will border the north side until the building’s completion in fall 2016.

It will be some weeks before the sod takes root, but once that happens visitors will be able to walk, sit on, and generally enjoy the green.

In addition to the landscaping, the project involved significant upgrades to the surrounding buildings. In particular the R. J. Schaefer Building has a new climate control system to support the coming “Ships, Clocks & Stars: The Quest for Longitude” exhibit from the National Maritime Museum, London. That exhibit opens on September 19. Other new exhibits line the Quad as well: “Voyaging in the Wake of the Whalers” and the Benjamin F. Packard Ship’s Cabin opened last month in the Stillman Building, and “Modern Masterpiece: 30 Years of the Museum Purchase Award” opened earlier this spring in the P.R. Mallory Building.

Press Releases

Mystic Seaport to Host 40th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Rendezvous

Post author By Mystic Seaport Museum
Post date July 10, 2015

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/.

News

A Simple Route

Post author By Mystic Seaport Museum
Post date July 8, 2015

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