Tag: museum news

Mystic Seaport Museum named #2 Best Open Air Museum by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Award!

Post author By Amanda Furlong
Post date February 26, 2024

Mystic, Conn. (February 26, 2024) – Mystic Seaport Museum proudly announces its second place position in the Best Open Air Museum category of the 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice awards out of twenty exceptional open air museums featured in the competition. The top ten winners were officially announced on Friday, February 23.

“This acknowledgment of Mystic Seaport Museum by an expert panel and the public, underscores the institution’s unwavering commitment to preserving maritime heritage and captivating audiences with immersive experiences,” says Museum President and CEO, Peter Armstrong.

Nominees were selected by an expert panel comprised of editors from USA TODAY and 10Best.com, as well as contributors and sources from Gannett brands. Votes were cast in each category over a four-week period starting in January on the 10Best.com website. A sincere thank you to USA TODAY, 10Best, and all the contributors for including the Museum in this year’s nomination.

Mystic Seaport Museum extends our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated supporters and voters who contributed to this achievement, reinforcing our position as a destination for cultural enrichment and maritime exploration. Congratulations to all the open air museums: 1st place winner Plimoth Patuxet Museums, Oconaluftee Indian Village, National Museum of Transportation, Jamestown Settlement, Strawbery Banke Museum, Colonial Williamsburg, Conner Prairie, Hagley Museum and Library, and Fort Monroe.

Visit here to see the complete list of winners and their ranking.

Learn more about USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards here.

About Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic Seaport Museum is the nation’s leading maritime Museum. Founded in 1929 to gather and preserve the rapidly disappearing artifacts of America’s seafaring past, the Museum has grown to become a national center for research and education with the mission to “inspire an enduring connection to the American maritime experience.” The Museum’s grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, Connecticut, and include a recreated New England coastal village, a working shipyard, formal exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. The Museum is home to more than 500 historic watercraft, including four National Historic Landmark vessels, most notably the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan. For more information, please visit mysticseaport.org and follow the Museum on Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram.

About USA Today

USA TODAY is a multi-platform news and information media company. Founded in 1982, USA TODAY’s mission is to serve as a forum for better understanding and unity to help make the USA truly one nation. Through its unique visual storytelling, USA TODAY delivers high-quality and engaging content across print, digital, social and video platforms. An innovator of news and information, USA TODAY reflects the pulse of the nation and serves as the host of the American conversation — today, tomorrow and for decades to follow. USA TODAY, the nation’s number one newspaper in print circulation with an average of more than 1.6 million daily, and USATODAY.com, an award-winning newspaper website launched in 1995, reach a combined 6.6 million readers daily. USA TODAY is a leader in mobile applications with more than 16 million downloads on mobile devices. USA TODAY is owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI).

Tags 10Best, museum news, USA Today

Press Releases

Experience an Unforgettable Summer at Mystic Seaport Museum!

Post author By Sophia Matsas
Post date June 7, 2023

Experience an Unforgettable Summer at Mystic Seaport Museum!

Mystic, Conn. (June 7, 2023) – Mystic Seaport Museum is thrilled to announce an incredible lineup of captivating summer events. Nestled in the charming coastal village of Mystic, Connecticut, the Museum invites visitors of all ages to embark on an unforgettable journey through maritime history, interactive exhibits, and engaging activities.

Discover the wonders that await you this summer at Mystic Seaport Museum:

Juneteenth Recognition Events, Sunday, June 11, and Monday, June 19 | On June 11, the Museum is collaborating with Discovering Amistad for the fourth year in this recognition event featuring a keynote lecture, live music, artisan vendors, and tours of the flagship of Connecticut, the Amistad. On June 19, join us at the Museum’s new Performance Stage for a live theatrical performance of “Harriet Tubman: Woman with a Railroad,” written and performed by Adwoa Bandele-Asante.
WoodenBoat Show, Friday–Sunday, June 23–25 | The 31st annual WoodenBoat Show, hosted in partnership with WoodenBoat Publications, returns to the Museum offering something for all wooden boat enthusiasts and maritime history buffs.
Independence Day Celebration, Saturday, July 1 | Kick off your Fourth of July weekend with drills and demonstrations by Continental and British soldiers!
Antique & Classic Boat Rendezvous, Saturday, July 22 | Join us for a dazzling display of high-quality antique and classic vessels including cruisers, sailboats, and runabouts. Approximately 25 classic vessels will create a colorful gathering along the Museum’s waterfront all day.
17th Annual International Sea Glass Association Festival, Saturday–Sunday, July 29–30 | The 17th Annual International Sea Glass Association Festival will be held at the Museum. Shop to support ISGA artists who will be selling their creations and learn about sea and beach glass from the experts.
The 32nd Annual Antique Marine Engine Expo, Saturday–Sunday, August 19–20 |This is one of the oldest major marine engines shows in the nation with over 300 exhibits.
Get out on the water!, daily through Labor Day | We offer visitors numerous opportunities to get out on the water this summer! From river cruises and sail, row, and pedal boat rentals to private charters, there’s a unique experience for everyone!

In addition to these highlighted events, visitors can enjoy a multitude of ongoing activities, including shipyard tours, lectures and book talks, live music, world-class exhibitions, including Alexis Rockman: Oceanus, the annual Moby-Dick Marathon, dedicated children’s spaces, on-site dining and more!

“We are thrilled to present a summer season filled with exciting events and experiences,” said Peter Armstrong, President at Mystic Seaport Museum. “These offerings provide a unique opportunity for visitors to engage with maritime history and culture in an interactive and enjoyable manner. We look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to experience summer at Mystic Seaport Museum.”

For more information on the summer events at Mystic Seaport Museum and to plan your trip, visit the Museum website here.

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Media Contact

Sophia Matsas
Director of Marketing & Communications
Mystic Seaport Museum
860.572.5317 (o)
sophia.matsas@mysticseaport.org

About Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic Seaport Museum is the nation’s leading maritime Museum. Founded in 1929 to gather and preserve the rapidly disappearing artifacts of America’s seafaring past, the Museum has grown to become a national center for research and education with the mission to “inspire an enduring connection to the American maritime experience.” The Museum’s grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, CT, and include a recreated New England coastal village, a working shipyard, formal exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. The Museum is home to more than 500 historic watercraft, including four National Historic Landmark vessels, most notably the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan. For more information, please visit mysticseaport.org and follow the Museum on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

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Tags collins gallery, contemporary art, exhibition, exhibition catalogue, family events, museum news, summer at the museum, Summer events

Press Releases

Alexis Rockman: Oceanus | Exhibition Catalogue

Post author By Sophia Matsas
Post date April 18, 2023

AVAILABLE APRIL 18: ALEXIS ROCKMAN OCEANUS
Published by Mystic Seaport Museum and Rizzoli
Edited by Christina Connett Brophy

Mystic, Conn. (April 18, 2023) – Mystic Seaport Museum is pleased to announce its latest publication Alexis Rockman: Oceanus, available April 18. Published as part of the artist’s upcoming climate-focused exhibition at the Museum, the publication documents Rockman’s newly commissioned 8-by-24-foot panoramic painting and ten related watercolors. These important works tell the story of ocean life and ecology as affected by humankind and look above and beneath the ocean’s surface to examine critical environmental and social issues of our past, present, and future.

Edited by the Museum’s Senior Vice President of Curatorial Affairs and Senior Director of Museum Galleries Christina Connett Brophy, the 160-page publication will accompany the presentation of Rockman’s paintings with contextual imagery, photographs of Alexis Rockman at work, and essays by leading writers and scholars, bringing together the arts, humanities, and ocean sciences.

The catalogue was co-published by Mystic Seaport Museum and Rizzoli International Publications Inc. with contributions by Robert D. Ballard, Christina Connett Brophy, James T. Carlton, Sylvia A. Earle, Michael R. Harrison, Alexis Rockman, Helen M. Rozwadowski, and Nari Ward. The work was designed by Tony Morgan/Step Graphics, Inc. and the Managing Editor was Todd Bradway.

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Media Contact

Sophia Matsas
Director of Marketing & Communications
Mystic Seaport Museum
860.572.5317 (o)
sophia.matsas@mysticseaport.org

About Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic Seaport Museum is the nation’s leading maritime Museum. Founded in 1929 to gather and preserve the rapidly disappearing artifacts of America’s seafaring past, the Museum has grown to become a national center for research and education with the mission to “inspire an enduring connection to the American maritime experience.” The Museum’s grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, CT, and include a recreated New England coastal village, a working shipyard, formal exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. The Museum is home to more than 500 historic watercraft, including four National Historic Landmark vessels, most notably the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan. For more information, please visit mysticseaport.org and follow the Museum on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

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Tags collins gallery, contemporary art, exhibition, exhibition catalogue, museum news, museum publication

Press Releases

Mystic Seaport Museum Presents Alexis Rockman: Oceanus

Post author By Sophia Matsas
Post date April 3, 2023

Museum’s First Solo Exhibition of a Contemporary Artist to Feature 10 Newly-Commissioned Large-Scale Watercolors and Panoramic Painting

Opening May 27, 2023

Mystic, Conn. (April 3, 2023) – Mystic Seaport Museum is pleased to present Alexis Rockman: Oceanus, an exhibition of newly-commissioned, marine ecologically-focused watercolors and a central panoramic painting by Alexis Rockman. The exhibition will be on view from Memorial Day Weekend, May 27, 2023, and will feature Oceanus, an 8-by-24-foot panoramic oil painting, in addition to ten large-scale watercolors.

Since his early color field paintings on canvas in 1985, Rockman has used natural history as a basis for exploring climate change and the biodiversity crisis. Drawing from natural histories of the past, Rockman confronts possibilities of a dystopian future. In Alexis Rockman: Oceanus, the artist looks above and beneath the ocean’s surface to examine critical environmental, therefore social, issues of our past, present, and what the future may hold. In saturated colors, Rockman depicts the development of marine technologies over time towards increased exploitation of the world’s ocean, both the forced and intentional ocean passages of people, the introduction of invasive marine life through human activity, coastal fragility in a changing climate, and the ongoing cultural fascination with the unknown and underexplored deep ocean.

Alexis Rockman: Oceanus depicts a cautionary vision of a dreamlike yet cynical climate worldview. A world beneath the ocean’s surface is reflected in cascading shades of blue and green, populated by sea creatures that fill the canvas in dynamic and exquisite detail. Upon closer examination, these beautiful otherworldly scenes are revealed as polluted and over exploited, with ships looming above through dark skies marred by oil rigs and a tsunami wave crashing towards the viewer.

Drawing from Rockman’s tradition of looking to history to examine the future, Oceanus features depictions of twenty-two vessels, sixteen of which were inspired by models of watercraft in the Museum’s collection. The boats and ships presented help to show the history of human activity in relation to the ocean, including their direct ties to the exploitation of resources in the world’s waters. In Rockman’s own words,

“The works in this show will tell the story of humankind’s indelible relationship with the ocean and the connections between the sea and our own survival. The project will probe this complex story through the Museum’s collections and the history of the oceans and their people.”

Cast in an ethereal luminescent light, Rockman’s twelve watercolors depict a future sea in a half state of survival. A jellyfish drifts by the outline of a sunken truck and house in Tropical Island, while marine species invasions are enabled by floating plastics across oceans. The works suggest a bittersweet adaptability: survival of the natural world among toxic conditions that could have been prevented with proper action and human recognition.

At Mystic Seaport Museum, the nation’s leading maritime Museum, the exhibition is representative of a dedication to spreading awareness of the issues our oceans face. Oceanus will also serve as the anchor in a Museum-wide initiative to educate visitors on marine invasive species.

[Alexis Rockman: Oceanus will coincide with a solo exhibition at Sperone Westwater, and will be followed by Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld at The Bruce Museum.]

Alexis Rockman: Oceanus will be accompanied by extensive programming and companion exhibits on marine species invasions, blue technology, and sustainable fishing, as well as new riverside exhibitions. A 160-page publication by Rizzoli and Mystic Seaport Museum will also be presented alongside the exhibition, bringing together essays on the arts, humanities, and ocean science.

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Media Contact

Sophia Matsas
Director of Marketing & Communications
Mystic Seaport Museum
860.572.5317 (o)
sophia.matsas@mysticseaport.org

About Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic Seaport Museum is the nation’s leading maritime Museum. Founded in 1929 to gather and preserve the rapidly disappearing artifacts of America’s seafaring past, the Museum has grown to become a national center for research and education with the mission to “inspire an enduring connection to the American maritime experience.” The Museum’s grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, CT, and include a recreated New England coastal village, a working shipyard, formal exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. The Museum is home to more than 500 historic watercraft, including four National Historic Landmark vessels, most notably the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan. For more information, please visit mysticseaport.org and follow the Museum on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

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Tags collins gallery, contemporary art, exhibition, museum news, thompson exhibition building

Press Releases

Pirate Days Returns to Mystic Seaport Museum April 11–12

Post author By Sophia Matsas
Post date March 21, 2023

Pirate Days Returns to Mystic Seaport Museum April 11–12

Mystic, Conn. (March 27, 2023) – Pirate Days, an annual springtime favorite returns to Mystic Seaport Museum on April 11–12. Children of all ages will enjoy a variety of pirate-themed activities taking place across the 19-acre campus of the Museum.

Daily activities included with admission:

10:00 am–3:00 pm: Play games on the McGraw Gallery Quadrangle.

10:00 am–4:00 pm: Dig for buried “treasure” on Australia Beach.

10:30 am & 3:00 pm: See theatrical performances on the Performance Stage.

10:30–11:30 am & 12:30–3:30 pm: Complete a pirate adventure course.

10:30 am–2:30 pm: Make pirate crafts in the Toy Boat Workshop.

11:00 am: View a cannon firing drill on Middle Wharf.

12:00 & 1:15 pm: See pirate-themed musical performances on the Performance Stage.

2:15 pm: Join a pirate parade on the Village Green!

Add-on activities include:

10:00 am–3:00 pm: Treasure hunt! Purchase your treasure hunting kit and follow the map and pirate clue decoder to find the hidden treasure. (Kits $8, free for Members)

1:00 & 3:00 pm: Enjoy the “High Seas” Planetarium Show. (Admission $8, Members $5)

Visitors can also explore the Funk Children’s Museum and the Discovery Barn, enjoy our Playscapes, see current exhibitions, watch shipwrights at work in the Henry B. du Pont Preservation Shipyard, and more!

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit our website.

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Media Contact

Sophia Matsas
Director of Marketing & Communications
Mystic Seaport Museum
860.572.5317 (o)
sophia.matsas@mysticseaport.org

About Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic Seaport Museum is the nation’s leading maritime Museum. Founded in 1929 to gather and preserve the rapidly disappearing artifacts of America’s seafaring past, the Museum has grown to become a national center for research and education with the mission to “inspire an enduring connection to the American maritime experience.” The Museum’s grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, CT, and include a recreated New England coastal village, a working shipyard, formal exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. The Museum is home to more than 500 historic watercraft, including four National Historic Landmark vessels, most notably the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan. For more information, please visit mysticseaport.org and follow the Museum on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

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Tags family events, museum events, museum news, pirate days, spring break

Press Releases

Mystic Seaport Museum Acquires Historic Harbor Tours Of Mystic

Post author By Sophia Matsas
Post date February 27, 2023

Mystic Seaport Express Will Offer A River Shuttle Service from Downtown Mystic to Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic, Conn. (February 27, 2023) – Mystic Seaport Museum has acquired Historic Harbor Tours of Mystic which includes its flagship vessel Mystic Express. Captain Carl Shillo has operated the passenger vessel since 2006, providing guided tours of the Mystic River.

Through this acquisition Mystic Express will be renamed Mystic Seaport Express. The 17-passenger vessel will operate from the newly refurbished dock located at the foot of the Mystic Drawbridge in front of S&P Oyster Co. The Museum plans to operate the vessel as a water shuttle transporting passengers on a continuous loop from the dock in downtown Mystic to both the north and south ends of the Museum.

This service will enable visitors from downtown to easily visit the Museum. Tickets will be available in person from a Museum attendant located at the downtown dock. The anticipated start date for this service is May 15, 2023.

The rates for the shuttle service will include admission to the Museum:

Adults: $33
Senior (65 & up): $31
Youth (13 – 17): $29
Child (4 – 12): $24

Once at the Museum, visitors will have access to our 19th-century seafaring village, world class exhibits, as well as additional amenities to get out on the water with boathouse rentals and ticketed river tours aboard the historic excursion vessel Sabino.

“Arriving at Mystic Seaport Museum by sea is a truly magical experience,” said Mystic Seaport Museum VP of operations and watercraft Chris Gasiorek. “This added shuttle service will allow local visitors to include a trip to the Museum as part of their overall Mystic experience. Downtown shopping, getting out on the water and visiting the Museum are a trifecta of Mystic experiences and we’re excited to offer this expanded service.”

Mystic Seaport Express will also be available for private group charters for up to 17 passengers. Inquiries regarding charter scheduling, booking and rates should be directed to charters@mysticseaport.org or 860-572-5341. The dock space in downtown Mystic will also be available for dock and dine rentals, and can be booked through Dockwa, the marina booking site currently used by the Museum Seaport Museum Marina.

To learn more and plan your trip on the Mystic Seaport Express, visit us online.

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Media Contact

Sophia Matsas
Director of Marketing & Communications
Mystic Seaport Museum
860.572.5317 (o)
sophia.matsas@mysticseaport.org

About Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic Seaport Museum is the nation’s leading maritime Museum. Founded in 1929 to gather and preserve the rapidly disappearing artifacts of America’s seafaring past, the Museum has grown to become a national center for research and education with the mission to “inspire an enduring connection to the American maritime experience.” The Museum’s grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, CT, and include a recreated New England coastal village, a working shipyard, formal exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. The Museum is home to more than 500 historic watercraft, including four National Historic Landmark vessels, most notably the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan. For more information, please visit mysticseaport.org and follow the Museum on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

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Tags museum news, mystic seaport express, river shuttle service

Press Releases

Mystic Seaport Museum and Discovering Amistad Present a Free Program Honoring Black History Month

Post author By Sophia Matsas
Post date February 13, 2023

Mystic, Conn. (February 13, 2023) – Mystic Seaport Museum and Discovering Amistad will partner to host an invigorating moderated roundtable discussion in celebration of Black History Month. This interdisciplinary conversation will highlight Black Excellence at Sea and will include historical and contemporary Black maritime narratives.

The lecture will be held in the Masin Room of the Thompson Exhibition Building at Mystic Seaport Museum on Saturday, February 25, from 1:30 to 4:30 pm. The event will be moderated by Akeia de Barros Gomes, PhD, the Senior Curator of Maritime Social Histories at Mystic Seaport Museum, Director of the Frank C. Munson Institute of American Maritime Studies and Visiting Scholar at Brown University’s Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice.

Five Maritime Scholars will share a fascinating history and their remarkable work to reclaim and highlight Black excellence. Panelists include:

Dr. Kevin Dawson: Associate Professor of History, Interdisciplinary Humanities Graduate Group, Chair, University of California, Merced; Author of Undercurrents of Power: Aquatic Culture in the African Diaspora
Skip Finley: Journalist, Martha’s Vineyard Gazette; Author of Whaling Captains of Color: America’s First Meritocracy
Dr. Frank Mitchell: Cultural Organizer in Visual Arts and Public Humanities; Curatorial Advisor; Author of The Catalog Afrocosmologies: American Reflections, The Anthology African American Connecticut Explored, and The Culinary Study African American Food Culture
Dr. Amelia Moore: Associate Professor of Marine Affairs at the University of Rhode Island; Associate Producer of the documentary film, Decolonizing Science?
Dr. Timothy Walker: Professor of History, Executive Board: Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth; Editor of Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad; Tagus Press Series Co-Editor: Classic Histories from the Portuguese-Speaking World in Translation

In-person space is limited, but guests are welcome to join the event virtually. To learn more and register in advance, visit here.

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Media Contact

Sophia Matsas
Director of Marketing & Communications
Mystic Seaport Museum
860.572.5317 (o)
sophia.matsas@mysticseaport.org

About Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic Seaport Museum is the nation’s leading maritime Museum. Founded in 1929 to gather and preserve the rapidly disappearing artifacts of America’s seafaring past, the Museum has grown to become a national center for research and education with the mission to “inspire an enduring connection to the American maritime experience.” The Museum’s grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, CT, and include a recreated New England coastal village, a working shipyard, formal exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. The Museum is home to more than 500 historic watercraft, including four National Historic Landmark vessels, most notably the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan. For more information, please visit mysticseaport.org and follow the Museum on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

About Discovering Amistad

Discovering Amistad is a nonprofit educational organization that provides full-year programming on its tall ship, The Amistad, in classrooms and at historic sites of partner organizations. It enables children and adults in Conn. and the region to discover the story of the Amistad and its impact on Conn. and the nation. Importantly, the organization provides learning opportunities for children and adults to discover the relevance off the Amistad to today’s world. For more information, please visit discoveringamistad.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Tags black history month, discovering amistad, Discussion Panel, February Events, museum news

Press Releases

Mystic Seaport Museum’s Great Traveler Reviews Land it a Place Among Travelers’ Favorites

Post author By Sophia Matsas
Post date February 8, 2023

Mystic, Conn. (February 8, 2023) – Mystic Seaport Museum is happy to announce that it has been recognized by Tripadvisor as a 2022 Travelers’ Choice award winner. The award celebrates businesses that have received great traveler reviews from visitors around the globe on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months. The Museum is committed to curating exhibits, events and experiences that resonate with a diverse audience and this recognition validates the direction of efforts in this post pandemic environment.

“The greatest honor is one received by the people we serve. We are thrilled to be recognized by our visitors as a top attraction on Tripadvisor and are committed to continuing this tradition by delivering memorable and enriching experiences in the years to come,” says Museum President Peter Armstrong.

“Congratulations to the 2022 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Winners,” said Kanika Soni, Chief Commercial Officer at Tripadvisor. “The Travelers’ Choice Awards recognize the best in tourism and hospitality, according to those who matter most: your guests. Ranking among the Travelers’ Choice winners is always tough — but never more so than this year as we emerge from the pandemic. Whether it’s using new technology, implementing safety measures, or hiring outstanding staff, I’m impressed by the steps you’ve taken to meet travelers’ new demands. You’ve adapted brilliantly in the face of adversity.”

To see our reviews and plan your next trip to the Museum, visit here.

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Media Contact

Sophia Matsas
Director of Marketing & Communications
Mystic Seaport Museum
860.572.5317 (o)
sophia.matsas@mysticseaport.org

About Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic Seaport Museum is the nation’s leading maritime Museum. Founded in 1929 to gather and preserve the rapidly disappearing artifacts of America’s seafaring past, the Museum has grown to become a national center for research and education with the mission to “inspire an enduring connection to the American maritime experience.” The Museum’s grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, CT, and include a recreated New England coastal village, a working shipyard, formal exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. The Museum is home to more than 500 historic watercraft, including four National Historic Landmark vessels, most notably the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan. For more information, please visit mysticseaport.org and follow the Museum on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

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Tags museum news, travel destination, traveler's choice, tripadvisor

Press Releases

Mystic Seaport Museum to Honor Admiral James Stavridis, USN (Ret) with the America and the Sea Award

Post author By Sophia Matsas
Post date February 7, 2023

Mystic, Conn. (February 7, 2023) – Mystic Seaport Museum will present its 2023 America and the Sea Award to Admiral James Stavridis, USN (Ret), a decorated sailor, author, educator, and businessman contributing to the American maritime culture through his nearly four decades of service and numerous books and articles on related subjects. The prestigious award recognizes those individuals and organizations whose extraordinary achievements in the world of maritime exploration, competition, scholarship, and design best exemplify the American character.

In the early pages of his book Sea Power Admiral Stavridis speaks of his first voyage on the Pacific: “As I emerged from the dark passageway of the ship, I was simply stunned by all the sunshine, the salt air and vast ocean in front of me…The Pacific grabbed me by the throat and said quite simply, ‘You are Home’ and I have never looked back.”

Adm. Stavridis spent 37 years in the US Navy achieving the rank of 4-Star Admiral, earning over 50 medals, and spending four years as the Supreme Allied Commander at NATO. He is currently the Managing Director and Vice Chairman, Global Affairs, at the Carlyle Group. He is also Chair of the Board of the Rockefeller Foundation. In addition to attending the US Naval Academy, he received an M.A. and Ph.D. from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. He is the author of twelve books – published in over twenty languages – on leadership, character, risk, the oceans, maritime affairs, and Latin America, as well as hundreds of articles in leading journals. He also is a weekly columnist for Bloomberg Opinion and Chief International Analyst for NBC News.

Museum President Peter Armstrong said, “You are a kindred spirit with all of us at Mystic Seaport Museum who share your devotion to the maritime world. The breadth and depth of your varied accomplishments throughout your career represent the America and the Sea Award.”

Mystic Seaport Museum will recognize Adm. Stavridis by awarding him the America and the Sea Award on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. The award presentation will take place at the Metropolitan Club in New York City.

This affair is the premier fundraising event for Mystic Seaport Museum. Past recipients of the America and the Sea Award include solo circumnavigator and author Captain William Pinkney; outstanding yachtsman Terry Hutchinson; America’s Cup Hall of Famer Tom Whidden, one of the most acclaimed sailors of all time; American businesswoman and philanthropist Wendy Schmidt, whose ocean explorations have advanced our understanding of the ocean’s biodiversity and vulnerability; groundbreaking Whitbread and America’s Cup sailor Dawn Riley and Oakcliff Sailing; philanthropist and environmentalist David Rockefeller, Jr., and his Sailors for the Sea; boat designers Rod and Bob Johnstone and their company J/Boats; author and historian Nathaniel Philbrick; maritime industrialist Charles A. Robertson; America’s Cup Hall of Famer and author Gary Jobson; WoodenBoat Publications founder Jon Wilson; former Secretary of the Navy John Lehman; oceanographer and explorer Sylvia Earle; America’s Cup sailor William Koch; President and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corporation, Thomas Crowley; historian David McCullough; and the first honoree, legendary yacht designer Olin J. Stephens, II.

For invitations, please email advancement@mysticseaport.org.

Admiral Stavridis’s full biography can be read here.

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Media Contact

Sophia Matsas
Director of Marketing & Communications
Mystic Seaport Museum
860.572.5317 (o)
sophia.matsas@mysticseaport.org

About Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic Seaport Museum is the nation’s leading maritime Museum. Founded in 1929 to gather and preserve the rapidly disappearing artifacts of America’s seafaring past, the Museum has grown to become a national center for research and education with the mission to “inspire an enduring connection to the American maritime experience.” The Museum’s grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, CT, and include a recreated New England coastal village, a working shipyard, formal exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. The Museum is home to more than 500 historic watercraft, including four National Historic Landmark vessels, most notably the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan. For more information, please visit mysticseaport.org and follow the Museum on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

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Tags America and the Sea Award Gala, museum news

Press Releases

Mystic Seaport Museum to Host Wintertide During Presidents’ Day Weekend

Post author By Sophia Matsas
Post date January 30, 2023

Mystic, Conn. (January 30, 2023) – Mystic Seaport Museum will be celebrating the great outdoors during Wintertide, an event spanning three days over Presidents’ Day Weekend. Visitors can shake off the cabin fever and experience frosty fun the whole family will enjoy!

Featured activities will include:

10:00 am-12:00 pm, Daily: Live Ice Sculpture Demonstration (weather permitting)

11:00 am-4:00 pm, Daily: Meet reindeer! There will be four reindeer on the grounds for visitors to interact with and pet.

11:00 am-3:00 pm, Daily: Meet working winter dogs, St. Bernards (Saturday) and Newfoundlands (Sunday and Monday).

1:00-3:00 pm, Daily: Kid-friendly live music in the Meeting House, with Steve Elci & Friends (Saturday), BenAnna Band (Sunday), and Craig Edwards (Monday).

2:00 pm, Saturday: Justin Fornal discusses his Great Arctic Swim (longest continuous swim in the Arctic). Then he’ll dive into the Mystic River and swim from the Museum to downtown Mystic!

2:00 pm, Sunday: Indigenous Cooking Demonstration at Buckingham-Hall House with Silvermoon LaRose (Narragansett/Niantic).

Visitors will also be able to enjoy daily planetarium shows, sock skating, games, crafts, talks across the grounds on a variety of topics including whalers in the Arctic, Gerda III and the rescue of Danish Jews, tales of the Mystic ice trade, and more.

Propeller Café and Schaefer’s Spouter Tavern will be open serving up a variety of food and beverage options to compliment the frosty theme including, hot cocoa and s’mores kits.

Guests will have the opportunity to warm up next to a fire while enjoying their hot cocoa and then check out the Museum’s blockbuster exhibition, Sargent, Whistler, and Venetian Glass: American Artists and the Magic of Murano, before it closes on February 27.

“We’re flipping the script on winter, which often confines activity to indoor spaces. Wintertide is a celebration of winter, utilizing our grounds to reimagine the season with a combination of outdoor exploration and indoor adventures,” says Museum President Peter Armstrong.

Most activities are included with general admission and free for Museum Members. Tickets purchased online for Wintertide are valid for all three days of the event.

Learn more, purchase tickets and see the full event lineup here.

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Media Contact

Sophia Matsas
Director of Marketing & Communications
Mystic Seaport Museum
860.572.5317 (o)
sophia.matsas@mysticseaport.org

About Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic Seaport Museum is the nation’s leading maritime Museum. Founded in 1929 to gather and preserve the rapidly disappearing artifacts of America’s seafaring past, the Museum has grown to become a national center for research and education with the mission to “inspire an enduring connection to the American maritime experience.” The Museum’s grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, CT, and include a recreated New England coastal village, a working shipyard, formal exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. The Museum is home to more than 500 historic watercraft, including four National Historic Landmark vessels, most notably the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan. For more information, please visit mysticseaport.org and follow the Museum on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

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Tags family events, museum news, presidents' day weekend, winter happenings

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