Category: News

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The new documentary film by Connecticut filmmaker Bailey Pryor “The Charles W. Morgan” will have its premiere at the Garde Arts Center in New London Sunday, May 4 at 7 p.m.

The one-hour documentary film, directed by five-time Emmy winner Pryor, tells the extraordinary story of America’s last wooden whaleship and the incredible saga of whaling, the first global industry dominated by America. From her humble beginnings in New Bedford in the year 1841, the film follows the adventures of the Morgan on 37 voyages around the world where this “Lucky Ship” survived freeze-ups in the Arctic, attacks by hostile natives, fire aboard ship, and a host of other stories, each of which had the potential to end the vessel’s life. Yet more than 170 years later, the Charles W. Morgan lives on, and she is poised to sail again, on her 38th Voyage in June of 2014.

The film will receive its broadcast debut on CPTV on May 12 at 9 p.m., after which it will be aired on PBS affiliate stations around the country.

The screening of the film at the Garde will be followed by a panel discussion with Pryor, Executive Producer Steve Jones, Morgan Historian Matthew Stackpole, and Mystic Seaport Shipyard Director, Quentin Snediker, who oversaw the ship’s recent five-year restoration. Mystic Seaport President Steve White will moderate the discussion.

Bailey Pryor

Filmmaker Bailey Pryor has worked in the film and television industry for more than 25 years. He has produced six feature films and over 150 television programs for ABC, PBS, Outdoor Life Network, Versus, Fox Sports Net, ESPN, Discovery Channel, Spike TV, Animal Planet, Tennis Channel and Travel Channel. He is currently the President & CEO of Telemark Films, and has previously held the positions of President & CEO of Warren Miller Entertainment, Staff Producer and Associate Vice President of Production at Sonalysts Studios, Marketing Assistant for the Samuel Goldwyn Company and Producer’s Assistant on the feature films “Mystic Pizza” and “Home Alone.”

With the weather finally cooperating after a seemingly endless winter, the riggers spent the last two days with a crane loading the anchor chain and hoisting spars into position on the Charles W. Morgan. Some of the spars have been refurbished, repainted, and will be reused, but many have been fabricated new by the shipyard staff. The anchor chain, made up of a dozen separate 90-foot-long “shots,” was slid down into the chain locker, which is located just aft the mainmast in the hold. The crew then turned their attention to lifting the new jibboom into place, followed by a topmast and yards. The project required a tremendous amount of preparation work to have everything organized to make efficient use of the crane’s time.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Name the Whale contest from March 20-28, 2014. More than 100 names were submitted and the decision was not an easy one to make due to the quality of the suggestions. We are pleased to announce the name of the inflatable whale for the Charles W. Morgan’s dockside exhibition during the 38th Voyage is Spouter! The winning name was submitted by Ann Mauer.

The Morgan will stop at several ports during her 38th Voyage. On select days the 1841 whaleship will be open for boarding and feature a dockside exhibition program that examines the cultural, economic, and scientific history of whales and whaling. Spouter will be a major highlight of this exhibition. We hope you make plans to see Spouter and explore the exhibit at one of the ports.

MYSTIC — On March 25 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries announced its partnership with Mystic Seaport to support the 38th Voyage of the Charles W. Morgan. Nearly 100 years after its last whaling voyage, the Morgan will sail across the New England coast this summer to celebrate America’s maritime heritage and the whales that gather in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

The Morgan, a National Historic Landmark built in 1841 and restored to seaworthy status over the past five years, is the flagship of the watercraft collection at Mystic Seaport. Over an 80-year whaling career, the ship sailed on 37 voyages to the remote corners of the globe, including waters of national marine sanctuaries in California, Hawaii, and American Samoa.

“America’s pursuit of whales is an epic story of global dimensions that shaped the nation’s identity,” said Daniel J. Basta, director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. “Today, thanks to pioneering work by sanctuary scientists and others to understand whale behavior, and develop conservation strategies to reduce risks to whales, we’re writing a new chapter based on respect and stewardship for these magnificent creatures of the deep.”

During the 38th Voyage, NOAA will work with Mystic Seaport and its partners to conduct a series of science and outreach activities. The ship’s stop in each port will be accompanied by a dockside exhibit customized for each location. Upon its return to Mystic Seaport, the ship will resume its status as an exhibit at the Museum.

“The Charles W. Morgan is an exceptional and truly unique artifact of our shared maritime heritage,” said Mystic Seaport President Steve White. “While the ship is an American icon and a living portal into an important chapter of American history, she now embarks on a new journey with transformed purpose. She’s no longer an instrument of commerce but a source of education, knowledge, and understanding.”

The Morgan will leave Mystic Seaport for New London, Conn. on May 17. After a month-long fitting out period, she will embark on her voyage to historic New England ports, including Newport, R.I.; Vineyard Haven, Mass; New Bedford, Mass.; Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and Boston, Mass.

It is our pleasure to announce the 10 finalists for the Charles W. Morgan Stowaway contest. After reviewing a large number of creative and enthusiastic video entries, which included submissions from 24 states and Guam, the Stowaway search has been narrowed down to the following applicants:

Links to the finalists’ video applications are featured on the Museum’s Facebook page.

Now, show us who you think would be the ideal Stowaway during the Morgan‘s 38th Voyage by supporting your favorite applicant with “likes” and shares via social media. While there will be only one Stowaway and Mystic Seaport will ultimately make the selection, public opinion will be a factor in our decision. We encourage you to weigh in by April 10. Mystic Seaport will then select the Stowaway, and the journey of a lifetime will begin when the 1841 whaleship leaves New London, Connecticut, this June.

Congratulations to the finalists and thank you to all who applied!

The Stowaway’s Journey

The Stowaway will live aboard the Charles W. Morgan with the ship’s captain and crew during the vessel’s 38th Voyage in the summer of 2014. During the voyage the Morgan will stop at historic ports of call throughout New England, including Newport, R.I.; Vineyard Haven, New Bedford, and Boston, Mass. The Morgan will also team up with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to observe whales in their natural environment.

The Stowaway will be immersed in all aspects of the voyage. This individual will learn and take on any jobs associated with living and working on a 19th-century vessel, including handling the sails and lines, steering the ship, and scrubbing the decks. The Stowaway will be a key player during events and exhibits at each port of call, and will watch, inquire, learn, participate, and use their creative energy to share this once-in-a-lifetime experience through blogging, videos, social media, and activities in the port cities.

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Alexandria Seaport Foundation (ASF) christened their whaleboat for the Charles W. Morgan in a ceremony on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, March 12. Built by ASF apprentices and volunteers, the whaleboat is one of 10 that will equip the 1841 whaleship when she embarks on her commemorative 38th Voyage this summer.

Rev. Pierce Klemmt from the Christ Church in Alexandria performed the christening with the help of U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (VA) and Charles W. Morgan historian Matthew Stackpole from Mystic Seaport. The evening before the event, City of Alexandria Council member John Chapman read a proclamation honoring ASF and its whaleboat as a symbol of the American spirit, maritime history, and our seafaring ancestors.

ASF was a natural fit to join the Morgan whaleboat project. Since 1993, the organization’s primary focus has been to use traditional boat building to help disadvantaged youth improve their lives. ASF’s signature Boat Building Apprenticeship Program is a nationally recognized program which helps at-risk youth between the ages of 18-22 acquire the job and social skills necessary to secure a successful career path.  ASF has improved the lives of hundreds of youth through this program, serving an average of 40 young men and women annually. Along with career and woodworking skills, apprentices improve their academic competencies through project-based learning and in the context of traditional wooden boat building.

The ASF whaleboat is scheduled to be delivered to Mystic Seaport in May, just in time to accompany the Morgan when she leaves for her historic journey on May 17.

Where do you get new sails for a 172-year-old whaleship? East Boothbay, Maine, that’s where. Mystic Seaport turned to sailmaker Nathaniel S. Wilson to make the 19 new sails the Charles W. Morgan will need for her 38th Voyage this summer. Wilson, an expert on traditional sails, actually made the first set of demonstration sails for the ship back in 1973! Museum photographer Andy Price visited Wilson’s shop to see how the project is coming along and took the photographs below.