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Mystic Seaport Museum Launches Program Offering Free Admission to SNAP EBT Participants

South Entrance Parking

Mystic, Conn. (July 21, 2022) – Mystic Seaport Museum has launched a program under its Caring for our Community initiative to encourage a diverse audience to visit the Museum by offering free general admission to those receiving food assistance (SNAP). The program will run from September 6 through December 31, 2022 and provides free general admission for six people (up to 2 adults per group) with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.

Through this program the Museum has joined Museums for All, a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits. Similar free and reduced admission is available to eligible members of the public at more than 850 museums across the country. Museums for All is part of the Mystic Seaport Museum’s broad commitment to seek, include, and welcome all audiences.

Funding for this program was made possible through a paddle raise campaign which took place at Mystic Seaport Museum’s America and the Sea Gala in October of 2021. Funds were initially raised to offer free admission to children this past summer but were reallocated for this new program when Governor Ned Lamont reinstated the CT Summer at the Museum initiative for the 2022 summer season.

“We are committed to leveling the playing field by making the Museum more accessible and by nurturing an environment of inclusion and diversity for our local community and beyond,” says Museum President, Peter Armstrong. Admission will provide visitors access to world class exhibitions, including the extraordinary exhibit “Sargent, Whistler & Venetian Glass: American Artists and the Magic of Murano” opening October 15 and organized in collaboration with the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Tickets for this program can be purchased online or in person. Learn more about our Caring for Our Community 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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Press Releases

Captain Sarah Armour Sails Brilliant into its 90th Anniversary

Sarah Armour

Mystic, Conn. (July 21, 2022) – At 28, Sarah Armour has taken the helm as captain of the schooner Brilliant, celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. This exquisite wooden sailing vessel has been serving as an offshore classroom in Mystic Seaport Museum’s education programs for nearly 70 years. The program offers people of all ages the opportunity to learn about sailing on one of the finest wooden schooners ever built.

Brilliant was given to the Museum in 1953 specifically to be used as a sail training vessel for youth. Brilliant was custom-designed as a gaff-rigged schooner by Olin Stephens of Sparkman & Stephens for Walter Barnum, and was built in the Henry B. Nevins yard at City Island, N.Y. After World War II Brilliant was bought by Briggs Cunningham, who had the masts lengthened and sail area increased in the hopes of increasing the vessels speed. It was Cunningham who donated Brilliant to the Museum.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of Brilliant and through those years, the boat continues to thrive and stand the test of time, which is a testament to the original craftsmanship. At the request of Walter Barnum, the construction details were of the highest standard for a possible voyage around the world.

Although Brilliant has yet to complete a circumnavigation, it has sailed the equivalent of five times around the earth, with more than 11,000 students setting the sails and steering its course in the last 70 years. This year, Brilliant is guided by an all-female crew, Captain Armour, along with first mate, Sarah Nevin and cook, Ger Tysk, both of whom are USCG licensed captains.

When asked what makes Brilliant special, Armour notes, “This vessel has such a storied legacy, from her transatlantic record in 1933 to her current role running one of the oldest sail training programs in the country (since 1953!), Brilliant remains extraordinary.” She goes on to say, “Many folks don’t know this, but Brilliant has never had a rebuild! The vessel was built to a standard that I have yet to see matched elsewhere, and that has served Brilliant, her crew, and the Museum well.”

At 90 years young, Brilliant has endured the test of time, with most of its original infrastructure, which is extraordinary. When asked why she chose to become the captain of Brilliant, Armour’s response was, “When Brilliant calls, you answer.” Armour’s goal is to complete a transatlantic journey aboard Brilliant, but for now teens and adults alike are learning to sail and experience life aboard a boat on five-to-ten-day trips that impact the rest of their lives. This will forever be a part of the legacy of Brilliant.

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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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FREE ADMISSION TO MYSTIC SEAPORT MUSEUM FOR CONNECTICUT CHILDREN THIS SUMMER

Mystic, Conn. (June 30, 2022) – CT Summer at the Museum returns this summer and kicks off on Friday, July 1. Mystic Seaport Museum was awarded a grant from Connecticut Humanities to support the Museum’s participation in this program which invites Connecticut children ages 18 and under plus one accompanying Connecticut resident adult to visit participating museums free of charge from July 1 through September 5, 2022.

Funding for the initiative is provided by the CT General Assembly, with the support of Connecticut Humanities and the Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts, which also receives support from the federal ARPA.

The Museum has committed to providing access to all children for the entire duration of this program. There will be no limit to the number of tickets available, nor will there be designated time slots for visitation. The program will run through September 5 regardless of fund availability.

“We are thrilled to participate in this program again and provide children from across Connecticut the opportunity to experience everything the Museum has to offer,” said Peter Armstrong, president of Mystic Seaport Museum. “In the off season we committed to making improvements to enhance our visitor experience and we can’t wait to see children and families take advantage of those offerings.”

Some of our offerings include;

Get Out On the Water

The Museum’s location along the Mystic River allows families to get out on the water this season. Included with Museum entry, our Boathouse offers free rentals of row, pedal and sail boats.  Visit here to learn more about all the ways you can get out on the water.

Fun, Experiential Learning for Children

The Susan Stucke Funk Children’s Museum provides a hands-on environment for children ages 4 to 7 to engage in such activities as swabbing the deck, moving cargo, cooking in the galley, dressing in sailors’ garb, and more.

Home Port is the Museum’s family activity center located in the P.R. Mallory Building, geared towards children ages 8-12 with a variety of crafts and amusements.

Discovery Barn is designed for families and themed around the schooner L.A. Dunton, it explores the scientific principles behind a boats sail power, stability, hull shape, and the simples machines behind running it.

Visit here to learn more about these spaces and more!

Enhanced Food Offerings

Enjoy our newly renovated spaces and updated menus at Greenman’s Landing (formerly The Galley), Propellor Cafe, Anchor Cafe or enjoy a quick bite to eat and a variety of drink options at Spouter’s Tavern while children run and play with the Charles W. Morgan as their backdrop. Explore the new menus here.

The Museum continues to offer world-class exhibitions including, Story Boats: The Tales They Tell, Figureheads and Shipcarvings, Sailor Made: Folk Art of the Sea, Sea As Muse and more. Other experiences available for an additional fee include Treworgy Planetarium, Toy Boat Building and river cruises aboard Liberty.

“There isn’t enough time in one day to see everything the Museum has to offer, and with the CT Summer at the Museum program, families can come back as they please for a unique experience each and every time,” says Armstrong.

To learn more about the CT Summer at the Museum program, visit our site 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 Connecticut Humanities

CT Humanities (CTH) is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs. CTH projects, administration, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds, community foundations, and gifts from private sources. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org.

About Connecticut Office of the Arts 

The Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) is the state agency charged with fostering the health of Connecticut’s creative economy. Part of the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development, the COA is funded by the State of Connecticut as well as the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

 

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Press Releases

MYSTIC SEAPORT MUSEUM AND DISCOVERING AMISTAD COLLABORATING FOR THE THIRD YEAR TO BRING JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

1865 Juneteenth

 

Mystic, Conn. (June 2, 2022) – Mystic Seaport Museum and Discovering Amistad are collaborating for the third year to bring a Juneteenth recognition event to the Museum on June 19. The Amistad, the 128-foot flagship of the State of Connecticut, is currently on display at the Museum’s waterfront.

Juneteenth is a historic day that marked the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers delivered the news to Galveston, Texas that the Civil War was over and enslaved African-Americans were free. Texas was the last state to be informed that slavery had been abolished, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. The day was recognized as a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.

A special program – including a panel discussion, a “Harambee” reflection, live music, and tours of the 128-foot flagship of Connecticut, the Amistad – is designed to honor African-American culture, to increase awareness and to highlight the roles that we all can play to dismantle racism.

The program begins at 3 p.m. and is sponsored by the Community Foundation of Eastern CT and Chelsea Groton Bank. Admission to Mystic Seaport Museum is free after 2:30 on June 19.

“Juneteenth is a historic day that marks the ending of human chattel slavery in the United States. On this day, we reflect on the struggles and triumphs of the African American community; both historically and today. It is also a day for America to acknowledge the horrific institution of slavery, and its generational, systemic impacts.  Juneteenth is a day to recommit ourselves to addressing racism and promoting social justice. Discovering Amistad is thrilled to partner with the Mystic Seaport Museum to offer a series of activities to commemorate Juneteenth, to increase awareness and to highlight the opportunities that ‘each of us’ can play to dismantle racism,” states Paula Mann-Agnew LMSW, CSW, Executive Director of Discovering Amistad.

For more details on the Juneteenth Celebration, please visit https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/events/juneteenth.

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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 teaches the lessons of the 1839 Amistad Uprising to advance human rights today. Our schooner, The Amistad, is Connecticut’s flagship and serves as a floating classroom to supplement our proprietary in-class and on-line curriculum. For more information go to www.discoveringamistad.org

 

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MYSTIC SEAPORT MUSEUM UPDATES CRUISING CLUB OF AMERICA DOCK WITH FLOATING DOCKS OFFERING GREATER ACCESSIBLITY

Mystic, Conn. (June 2, 2022) – Mystic Seaport Museum recently completed the renovation of its Cruising Club of America (CCA) Dock. The new docks will be more user friendly and provide enhanced electrical supply while also addressing the challenges presented by rising sea levels.

In 1948, CCA Commodore Thorvald Ross joined Museum Chairman P.R. Mallory in dedicating the Cruising Club of America Dock at Mystic Seaport Museum. In the last 75 years, tens of thousands of boaters have visited by boat and tied up to enjoy the Museum by day and night. As we celebrate our 75-year relationship with CCA, we are unveiling these new docks to commemorate their Centennial and our shared appreciation of America and the sea.

The CCA is an exclusive collection of passionate, seriously accomplished, ocean sailors making adventurous use of the seas. All members have extensive offshore boat handling, seamanship, and command experience honed over many years. Founded in 1922 the club has more than 1,400 members.

The replacement dock is not a fixed pier, but rather concrete floating docks, which are more stable and conducive to a wider range of boaters who may have mobility challenges. Additionally, the floating docks will enable the Museum to keep pace with the environmental changes well into the future.

Learn more about the new docks and the Museum’s partnership with CCA here.

Reservations for the new docks can be made 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, 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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Categories
Press Releases

Museum Working In Partnership with Laz Parking to Alleviate Downtown Parking Challenges

South Entrance Parking

 

Mystic, Conn. (May 16, 2022) – Mystic Seaport Museum is collaborating with Stonington officials and Laz Parking to alleviate traffic and parking issues in downtown Mystic during the peak tourist season. Through this partnership, the south half of the Museum’s South Lot, located along Route 27 will be available to downtown visitors for $10 per day (Museum visitors will continue to enjoy free parking).

This fee includes a free shuttle bus service to downtown Mystic which will run from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and may be adjusted as demand is established over the course of the season. Downtown Mystic visitors will be prompted through parking lot signage to pay via the Laz Parking App or through Text to Donate. Proof of payment will be required to gain shuttle access.

Parking for Museum visitors and members will remain free in the north half of the south lot as well as the in the North Parking lot, located across from the Thompson Exhibition Building. Guests of Latitude 41 will also continue to benefit from free parking in the North Parking Lot.

Mystic Seaport Museum is excited to be collaborating with the town of Stonington and Laz Parking to provide this service and alleviate traffic concerns during the busy summer season. Service is expected to begin by Memorial Day Weekend.

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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Press Releases

Mystic Seaport Museum Names Maggie Dolan Vice President of Finance

maggie dolan vp of finance

Mystic, Conn. (April 28, 2022) – Mystic Seaport announces the appointment of Maggie Dolan as its Vice President of Finance, effective immediately.

Reporting to the President, Maggie will drive the development and implementation of Mystic Seaport Museum’s strategic financial plan as well as annual operating and capital budgets and investments. A strategic thinker and problem solver, she brings 30 years of experience in nonprofit financial management to her new role, with a focus on educational institutions. Her first such position was at Yale University, followed by Director of Finance/CFO roles at a number of independent schools, including The Williams School in New London, The Rectory School in Pomfret, and most recently at The Independent Day School in Middlefield.

maggie dolan vp of financeMaggie is an avid reader, enjoys hiking with her chocolate Lab, Oliver, watching college basketball, Premier League soccer, and playing in a competitive trivia league. She lives in Old Lyme with her daughter, a college freshman, and has two sons living in New York.

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.

 

 

MYSTIC SEAPORT MUSEUM

75 Greenmanville Ave
Mystic, CT 06355
860-572-0711
info@mysticseaport.org

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Full Museum Open Thursday–Sunday
North Entrance 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
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Grounds close at 5:00 p.m.
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75 Greenmanville Ave
Mystic, CT 06355
860-572-0711

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