Category: Press Releases

Special Event: “The Hunt for the Australia”, a Civil War Scavenger Hunt Sure to Delight All Ages

Mystic, Conn. (June 25, 2015) – Mystic Seaport and the Connecticut Civil War Commemoration Commission will host one of the final Civil War encampments of the 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.”

“This event offers visitors something extra, a real twist,” said Matt Warshauer, professor of history at Central Connecticut State University and co-chair of the Connecticut Civil War Commemoration Commission.  “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. 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. Visitors will be tasked to 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 states that “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. For more details on the event see the links below.

Links:
www.ccsu.edu/civilwar
mysticseaport.org/event/civil-war-encampment/

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.

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, the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum is located one mile south of exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $25 for adults and $16 for children 6-17. Museum members and children under 5 are admitted for free. For more information, please visit https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/.

About Connecticut Humanities
Connecticut Humanities, a non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, provides opportunities to explore the history, literature and the vibrant culture that make our state, cities and towns attractive places to live and work. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org.

Event is the Largest gathering of Wooden Boats and Watercraft on the East Coast 

Mystic, Conn. (June 17, 2015) — The largest gathering of wooden boats and enthusiasts in New England will converge at Mystic Seaport for the annual WoodenBoat Show Friday through Sunday, June 26-28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The WoodenBoat Show, hosted in a partnership with WoodenBoat Publications, offers something for all wooden boat enthusiasts and maritime history buffs. More than 100 traditional and classic wooden boats of every type will be on display, from hand-crafted kayaks to mahogany runabouts, to classic daysailers and schooners.

In addition to taking in the historic ships and beautiful boats, visitors can find everything they need to outfit their boat and learn new skills at demonstrations and workshops throughout the weekend. More than 100 exhibitors will offer items for sale including maritime art, antiques, tools, books, nautical gear, and much more.

Throughout the weekend, Mystic Seaport staff and guest experts will be conducting demonstrations of a variety of boat-building skills, including planking, fastening, caulking, laminating wood, and repairing plywood. Visitors can also try their hand at rowing or sailing a small boat at the Museum’s boat livery, or in one of the boats participating in the John Gardner Small Craft Workshop, which is run concurrently with the Show by the Traditional Small Craft Association.

Those interested in the construction of smaller boats can stop by the Family BoatBuilding activity in the Museum’s Shipyard, where families and teams will work to build their own pre-purchased kits, including stand-up paddleboards and remote-controlled sailboats, during the weekend. The kits are opened at 9 a.m. Friday morning and tools are put down around 3 p.m. Sunday, leaving, in most cases, a boat awaiting only final finish work. Some boats will be launched at the Show.

Other highlights include “I Built it Myself,” a display of home-built boats; a Concours d’Elegance, including Judges’ Choice, Innovation, and People’s Choice Awards; children’s toy boatbuilding; and all of the Mystic Seaport exhibits.

Museum admission provides access to both the WoodenBoat Show and Mystic Seaport. Admission is good for two days upon ticket validation

The WoodenBoat Show is produced by WoodenBoat Publications, Inc., which includes WoodenBoat magazine, Professional BoatBuilder magazine, the WoodenBoat Store, the WoodenBoat School, and the WoodenBoat Show. The WoodenBoat Show is an annual festival celebrating the design and craftsmanship of wooden craft.

More information can be found at www.thewoodenboatshow.com.  Tickets can be purchased in advance at mysticseaport.org/event/the-woodenboat-show/.

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.

 

 

 

New Exhibit Explores Impact and Influence of Iconic Industry

Mystic, Conn. (June 9, 2015)—Mystic Seaport will open its newest exhibit, “Voyaging in the Wake of the Whalers,” on Saturday, June 20.

The exhibit is a groundbreaking approach to the story of America and whaling that places 19th-century commercial whaling within its larger global and historical contexts. It also explores whaling’s complex and deep impact on the nation’s economy, culture, and global position, and how its cultural, historical, and environmental legacy continues to influence the nation and world today.

“Most people are familiar with whaling through the lens of popular culture or reading Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick,” said Steve White, president of Mystic Seaport. “’Voyaging in the Wake of the Whalers’ pushes past the common perception and the mechanics of whaling to show the richer and deeper stories of the peoples, places, ships, and whales that impacted and were impacted by the industry.”

The 4,400 square-foot exhibit was timed to follow the historic 38th Voyage of the Museum’s 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan in 2014, and is a complement to the experience of going on board the vessel at its berth within sight of the exhibit entrance.  On display are more than 100 whaling-related historic artifacts and documents, including logbooks, photographs, tools, scrimshaw, ship models, and souvenirs, as well as moving images, oral histories, and sound recordings. Some of the artifacts and images are visitor favorites, while others have only recently been added to the collection and will be on public display for the first time.

Using artifacts and artwork alongside compelling audio-visual elements, immersive displays, and thought-provoking interpretation, the exhibit bridges the gap between the whalers’ world and the present day. A short film presents a content-rich, visually stunning introduction to the exhibit topic and themes, using high-definition footage shot during the 38th Voyage along with archival whaling footage and brief shots of people, artifacts, and stories to be explored more fully in the exhibit.

Touch-activated “Dive Deeper” information stations, featuring videos, timelines, digital maps, and games, will allow visitors to further explore the study of whales and the whaling industry. Visitors will also be able to search a database for crew members that sailed aboard the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan and learn more about the vessel’s recent restoration.

To convey the global stories of whales, whaling, and whale research, a large three-dimensional projection globe showing all the world’s oceans will tell the universal, stories of the Morgan and present contemporary research. Video programs will enable visitors to sail back to 1841 and follow the journey the Morgan took on her first whaling voyage, explore diversity aboard whaleships, and see how tracking whales has evolved over the past 200 years.

In the words of guest curator Anne Witty, “The stories in this exhibit braid together people, whales, history, and culture. Here are tales of work and wonder, wealth and poverty, nature and society. Objects of work, struggle, and leisure. Images of violence and beauty, of forgotten people and lifeways that are strange to us today.”

The exhibit is semi-permanent and does not have a scheduled closing date.

As part of the opening, Captain Kip Files, the 22nd captain of the Morgan, will give a presentation at 7 p.m. on June 18 in the River Room of Latitude 41° Restaurant at Mystic Seaport. Files will talk about his experience commanding the ship during her 38th Voyage. The talk is free for Museum members and $10 per person for non-members. People can register by calling 860.572.5339.

“Voyaging in the Wake of the Whalers” has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence. Additional support was provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Connecticut Humanities, Capital Group, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, among other funders.

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.

About the National Endowment for the Humanities

Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow IMLS on Facebook and Twitter.

About Connecticut Humanities

Connecticut Humanities, a non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, provides opportunities to explore the history, literature and the vibrant culture that make our state, cities and towns attractive places to live and work. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org.

 

 

 

Performers from Around the World Gather to Celebrate Music of the Sea

Mystic, Conn. (May 27, 2015)—Musicians from around the world will come to Mystic Seaport to celebrate the musical traditions of the Golden Age of Sail at the 36th annual Sea Music Festival, Thursday through Sunday, June 11-14. The Festival is the premier sea music event in North America.

This year’s roster includes music from Great Britain, France, and Canada, along with singers from across the United States. The weekend’s festivities include daytime and evening concerts, special performances for children, instructional workshops, a scholars’ symposium, and a unique opportunity to witness sea music at work aboard the Museum’s historic vessels.

More than 15 individuals and groups will perform at the Festival. A highlight will be Alan Reid and Rob van Sante, who willpresent a lively show featuring Reid’s compositions and traditional material, rooted largely in the music of the Scottish landscape, its cities, countryside, and coastline. Their musical cycle “The Adventures of John Paul Jones” is centered on the life and times of the Scottish native and American naval hero. The music, all composed by Reid, reflects folk music styles of the various countries associated with Jones–Scotland, the United States, Russia, and France–while exploring the highs and lows in the extraordinary life of the famous mariner.

In addition, the group MARA will bring their large repertoire of Breton, French, English, Welsh, and Irish music to the Festival and visitors can take in performances from Sara Grey and Kieron Means, Judy Cook, the Northern Neck Chantey Singers, the S.S. Chanteens, Ian Bell, Charlie Zahm, Pressgang Mutiny, and the Mystic Seaport Chantey Staff, including Geoff Kaufman, Craig Edwards, and Don Sineti.

All workshops and daytime concerts in the Festival are included in regular Mystic Seaport admission. Special tickets are required for evening concerts and can be purchased by calling 860.572.0711, or at the Museum’s main entrance. Weekend passes are also available. College students will be admitted into the Festival for the youth rate upon presentation of a current student ID.

For more information, including ticket packages, musicians’ bios, and a schedule of performances, visit mysticseaport.org/seamusicfestival.

Returning this year is an evening sea music “contra dance,” a style of partnered folk dancing traditional to New England. The dance will be held Saturday evening from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Mystic German Club’s Frohsinn Hall, located directly across the street from the Museum’s main entrance on Route 27. There is an $8 admission fee for the dance.

The annual Music of the Sea Symposium, hosted in partnership with Connecticut College and the University of Connecticut at Avery Point, will be held on Friday and Saturday, June 12-13. The Symposium, which features presentations of themed papers by some of the country’s leading maritime music scholars, explores the interaction between sea, music, and song. The first day of the Symposium will be held at the Olin Science Center on the Connecticut College campus in New London, CT.  Admission is free. The Symposium continues Saturday, June 13, at Mystic Seaport in the Greenmanville Church. Museum admission is required. For further details and a list of Symposium presenters and topics, visit mysticseaport.org/smfsymposium

This event is made possible by the Friends of the Sea Music Festival, who raise funds each year to generously support sea music at Mystic Seaport.

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.

First Responders Receive Free Admission and Family Discount

Mystic, Conn. (May 21, 2015) —  Mystic Seaport’s Safety on Sea and Shore Weekend honors the work of present-day emergency personnel, while also celebrating the people, methods, and vehicles involved in maritime rescues during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

As part of Connecticut’s Coast Guard Summer in celebration of the 225th anniversary of the founding of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the USCG Academy’s 100 years at its current location in New London, the Museum is collaborating with the USCG Auxiliary to promote and recognize the important work the service provides.

The event will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Plans for the weekend include: hands-on activities such as a bucket brigade, a man-overboard drill, and a breeches buoy rescue demonstration; historic apparatus on display including antique fire engines; and rescue animal demonstrations by the Newfoundland Club of New England.

The Old Mystic Fire Department’s Dive Rescue Team will visit with their vehicle, equipment, and personnel, and the Mystic Fire Department’s fire boat, Marine I, will dock at the Museum and crew members will answer questions about the vessel and its operations.  Staff from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Boating Division will demonstrate how to properly use emergency flare guns and will give a presentation about safety in cold water, and  the United States Power Squadron will demonstrate how to paddle safe when operating kayaks, canoes, and other paddle-driven watercraft.

Free Museum admission will be extended to all first responder personnel with proper identification as a way of saying “thank you” for their dedicated community service. Family members of personnel will receive the Museum’s discounted group admission rate: adult $20; youth (ages 6-17); $11.50 and free for children ages 5 and under.

The first responders discount applies to general admission only. The offer cannot be combined with any other discount.

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 with 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.

Mystic, Conn. (May 14, 2015)—Plimoth Plantation and Mystic Seaport announced today that Mayflower II is now scheduled to depart Mystic Seaport on the morning of Monday, May 18 for her return trip to Plymouth.

The delay is due to difficulties with the availability of a tugboat to tow the ship back to Massachusetts.

The ship is scheduled to cast off at 8 a.m., although the exact time is dependent on tide levels and weather conditions that morning. The journey to Plymouth is expected to take two days. Once back at her berth, the ship will be inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard and other preparations will be carried out to make her ready to reopen to visitors prior to the Memorial Day weekend.

The full-scale reproduction ship owned by Plimoth Plantation has been at Mystic Seaport to undergo an extensive survey and the first phase of multi-year restoration at the Museum’s Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

For more information about Mayflower II and her restoration, visit www.plimoth.org/sos.

Images are available for download at the Mystic Seaport website.

About Plimoth Plantation
Plimoth Plantation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization and a living museum dedicated to telling the history of Plymouth Colony from the perspective of both the Pilgrims and the Native Wampanoag people. Located less than an hour’s drive south of Boston in Plymouth, Massachusetts, (Exit 4, Route 3 south) and 15 minutes north of Cape Cod, the Museum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, 7 days a week, from the third Saturday in March through the end of November 2015. Plimoth Plantation is a private, not-for-profit educational institution supported by admission fees, contributions, memberships, function sales and revenue from a variety of dining programs/services/special events and Museum Shops. Plimoth Plantation is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate and receives support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, private foundations, corporations, and local businesses. For more information, visit www.plimoth.org.

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 with 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.

Following First Phase of Restoration at Mystic Seaport,
Historic Ship Heads Home for Busy Visitor Season

Plymouth, Mass. — (May 8, 2015) Plimoth Plantation and Mystic Seaport announced today that Mayflower II is currently scheduled to depart Mystic Seaport on the morning of May 16 for her return trip to Plymouth. In the past several months, the full-scale reproduction ship owned by Plimoth Plantation has undergone an extensive survey and a first phase of restoration work at the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard at Mystic Seaport.

Mayflower II will be towed by tugboat back to Plymouth, a trip that should take an estimated two days. Timing for the ship’s return is dependent on tide levels and weather conditions. Once back at her berth in Plymouth, the ship will be inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard and other preparations will be carried out to make her ready to reopen to visitors prior to the Memorial Day weekend.

“This iconic ship is a leading tourism attraction in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” said Paul Cripps of Destination Plymouth, “drawing millions of people from around the world to Plymouth’s historic waterfront to learn about the United States’ early history. We’re glad she’ll be back for the busy summer and fall season.”

Work on Mayflower II continued last December on a multi-year restoration plan. The goal is to restore the ship to her original condition in time for the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival in 2020. Inspections in 2013 revealed that the ship is in need of a major refit, which is normal for a nearly 60-year-old wooden ship. In the past several months at the shipyard, a comprehensive marine survey, both in and out of the water, revealed the nature and extent of all the repairs that need to be made in the years to come.

The survey required that the ship’s 130 tons of iron and stone ballast be completely removed for inspection. A number of repairs were made to the ship’s hull, including the replacement of planks, frames and much caulking of the seams both below the waterline and up on deck.

Mayflower II’s future vitality depends on fundraising efforts to complete the significant restoration of the 58-year-old wooden ship. “We’re currently working on plans for fundraising for the remainder of this multi-year, multi-million dollar restoration project,” said Ellie Donovan, executive director of Plimoth Plantation. “We’re pleased with the excellent work that Mystic Seaport accomplished this winter and we look forward to continuing this exciting collaboration.”

Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum with vast restoration experience and knowledge of historic wooden vessels. The Connecticut museum recently completed the restoration of its 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan, a National Historic Landmark vessel and America’s oldest commercial ship still afloat. The Morgan sailed on her historic 38th Voyage this past summer.

“We have been privileged to have Mayflower II with us these past several months,” said Steve White, president of Mystic Seaport. “Plimoth Plantation and Mystic Seaport have created a very effective collaboration and we are pleased that we have been able to apply our expertise in maritime restoration to support the mission of a fellow museum.”

For more information about Mayflower II and her restoration, visit www.plimoth.org/sos.

About Plimoth Plantation
Plimoth Plantation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization and a living museum dedicated to telling the history of Plymouth Colony from the perspective of both the Pilgrims and the Native Wampanoag people. Located less than an hour’s drive south of Boston in Plymouth, Massachusetts, (Exit 4, Route 3 south) and 15 minutes north of Cape Cod, the Museum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, 7 days a week, from the third Saturday in March through the end of November 2015. Plimoth Plantation is a private, not-for-profit educational institution supported by admission fees, contributions, memberships, function sales and revenue from a variety of dining programs/services/special events and Museum Shops. Plimoth Plantation is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate and receives support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, private foundations, corporations, and local businesses. For more information, visit www.plimoth.org.

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 with 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.

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Modern Marine Masters to Feature Leading Contemporary Maritime Artists

Mystic, Conn. (May 6, 2015) – The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport is proud to open its 2015 season with the 36th Annual Spring Exhibition and Sale, Modern Marine Masters, on Sunday, May 17. The exhibition celebrates the timeless beauty of the sea and ships with contemporary art created by award-winning artists from around the globe.

Each of these contemporary masters continues the tradition of preserving and celebrating the art of the sea by transferring his or her experience into a vivid and visual expression, one that may evoke a mood, record an important moment in maritime history, or capture the enduring challenge of the sea.

This year’s exhibition will include a special “show within a show” of three featured artists — David Bareford, Neal Hughes, and Ronald Tinney. In addition, works by more than 50 invited contemporary masters will be on display, featuring the timeless beauty of the sea with ships, sailing yachts, fishing vessels, wildlife, and marshes in paintings, drawings, sculpture, and scrimshaw.

“We are proud to present this invitational show as it represents such a talented group of artists who are creating some of today’s most exciting maritime art. Each piece truly portrays the maritime experience,” said Jeanne Potter, director of the Maritime Gallery.

Modern Marine Masters will be open through July 19.  The Maritime Gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information, please call the Gallery at 860.572.5388 or email gallery@https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/

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.

National Park Service and Maritime Administration Award Funds from the National Maritime Heritage Program

Mystic, Conn. (April 28, 2015) — Mystic Seaport announced today that it has been awarded a $199,806 grant by the National Park Service, in partnership with the Maritime Administration (MARAD), to support the restoration of its 1908 steamboat Sabino. The grant is part of approximately $2.6 million in Maritime Heritage Program grants for projects that teach about and preserve sites and objects related to our nation’s maritime history.

“Mystic Seaport is pleased to be among the thirty-five grantees of the 2015 Maritime Heritage Grant Program. The Museum strongly supports continuation and expansion of this important grant program to help citizens throughout the United States to understand our nation’s unique relationship to the sea,” said Steve White, president of Mystic Seaport.

The 57-foot Sabino was built in East Boothbay, ME in 1908 and served for many decades in the state’s coastal waters before coming to Mystic Seaport in the early 1970s. The boat has been designated a National Historic Landmark vessel and offers seasonal cruises on the Mystic River from the Mystic Seaport waterfront. Sabino is presently undergoing an extensive restoration of her hull and mechanical systems in the Museum’s Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

“Mystic Seaport is one of the nation’s premier maritime history museums— a true Connecticut gem. This $200,000 Maritime Heritage Grant will help restore the steamboat Sabino—the last remaining wooden, coal-fired steamboat in regular operation nationwide today and one of the Museum’s prized historic vessels. This grant—which the Museum will leverage with private dollars—will ensure that generations to come may continue to learn from and marvel at this unique piece of history,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

National Maritime Heritage Grant awards are made possible through a partnership between the two federal agencies that share a commitment to maritime heritage preservation and education.  Funding is provided by the Maritime Administration through the recycling of vessels from the National Defense Reserve Fleet. The preservation grants range from $50,000 to $200,000.

“Mystic Seaport is one of the things that makes Connecticut so special and I’m glad the Maritime Administration and National Park Service are fully behind what they’re doing”, said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). “This $200,000 grant will go a long way to help the Museum remain a must-see for New England families, parents, and children alike. I, for one, can’t wait to take my boys to see the Sabino once it’s fully restored.”

“I am pleased to see Mystic Seaport selected as a grant recipient under the MARAD Maritime Heritage Program, for which I have long advocated,” said Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT 2nd). “This grant will help Mystic Seaport, a regional treasure, preserve a unique part of our state’s maritime history for future generations. I look forward to seeing the excellent work the Mystic team will do to restore the Sabino as a result of this funding.”

Other recipients of program grants include the USS Constitution Museum, Philadelphia’s Independence Seaport Museum for critical work on the cruiser USS Olympia, the Mariners Museum for artifact conservation and outreach for the USS Monitor, New York City’s Intrepid Museum Foundation for the submarine USS Growler, Maryland’s Living Classroom Foundation to rehabilitate the rigging of the USS Constellation, and the New Bedford Whaling Museum for conservation of the Purrington-Russell Panorama painting.

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 with 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.

Mystic, Conn. (February 11, 2015) – Mystic Seaport has promoted Elysa Engelman to be the Museum’s new Director of Exhibits.

Engelman will be responsible for creating and delivering an ongoing program of dynamic, interdisciplinary exhibits that attract diverse audiences and introduce new scholarship and content in support of the Museum’s mission and strategic vision. She will direct all aspects of exhibit design and production.

“Elysa Engelman takes on this position at an exciting time for the Museum, and we are very pleased that her exceptional creative, innovative, and academic expertise will play an important role in maximizing the potential of the new Gallery Quad,” said Susan Funk, executive vice president of Mystic Seaport.

Engelman assumes the directorship after 10 years as Exhibit Researcher/Developer for the Museum, where she has contributed to the creation of numerous exhibits, including “Women and the Sea,” “TUGS!,” “Black Hands, Blue Seas,” and the upcoming “Voyaging in the Wake of the Whalers” due to open this June. She was also intimately involved in the programming of the 38th Voyage of the Charles W. Morgan last summer.

She holds an undergraduate degree in English and Theater Studies from Yale University and a Ph.D. from Boston University in American and New England Studies.  Engelman has also been a guest lecturer at the Williams-Mystic Program at Mystic Seaport and an adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut.

Engelman is a resident of East Greenwich, RI where she lives with her husband and family.

This promotion is effective Monday, March 2.

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. 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 younger are admitted free. For more information, please visit https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/ and follow Mystic Seaport on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.