Mystic, Conn. (August 31, 2026) – Mystic Seaport Museum will host Maritime Trades and Foodways Day on Saturday, September 26, 2026, a special day celebrating the trades, fisheries, and foodways that shaped maritime communities of the past. From the ring of the blacksmith’s hammer to the aroma of food cooking over an open hearth, visitors are invited to step aboard for a living celebration of the sea—be immersed in the sights, sounds, and scents of 19th-century life alongside Museum staff and guest historians.
Throughout the day, each historic 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. Museum experts will go behind the scenes to showcase maritime trades rarely seen by the public, including sailmaking, canvas stitching, millinery, costuming, and caulking. Visitors curious about the craft of steam bending and so much more can join us on September 26 to find out just how it’s done.
The day will be made even more special with the arrival of several guest artisans, who will share their expertise and traditions with visitors of all ages—including John Cox, guest cooper, and Silvermoon LaRose of the Tomaquag Museum, who will be cooking over the open hearth in the Buckingham-Hall house.
To cap off the celebration, guests are invited to gather with Museum staff for a special preview of Season 2 of the Museum’s YouTube series, SeaClass: The Digital Classroom, showcasing historic maritime trades. Attendees will be among the first to see episode one of this six-part fall season.
Admission to Maritime Trades and Foodways Day is included with general admission and free for Museum Members. Free on-site parking is available.
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 650 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, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.
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