Category: News

The Stonington Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved Mystic Seaport’s plan to build a new exhibit hall and make numerous improvements to the grounds on the north end of the Museum. Construction is scheduled to begin early next year and be completed in the spring of 2016.

“This is a milestone in the history of Mystic Seaport as we re-position the Museum for the 21st century,” said Mystic Seaport President Steve White. “This project will transform what we can offer to the public in the scale and quality of our exhibits and how visitors experience the Museum.”

The Gallery Quad, as it has come to be called, has been in the planning stages for more than a decade and is a comprehensive re-envisioning of the north end of the grounds. The project includes a 14,000 square-foot building just south of Latitude 41° Restaurant. The building will house a state-of-the-art, 5,000 square-foot exhibit hall and a new entrance and retail space.

In addition to the new building, the grounds around what is now Anchor Circle will be reconfigured as a quadrangle. The outdoor improvements are intended to create a better-defined celebration space for Mystic Seaport and community events, and to create better access to the existing galleries around the perimeter. It will also open up views of the Mystic River from Route 27 and present a more inviting entrance experience as people arrive into town.

The project will require the removal of 30,000 square feet of existing building space, including the Museum’s G.W. Blunt White Building, the North Boat Shed, and the former boiler house that houses the Benjamin F. Packard ship’s cabin exhibit. The Packard exhibit will be moved and reopened on the second floor of the Stillman Building.

Mystic Seaport will also make improvements to the Stillman Building and R.J. Schaefer Exhibit Hall to facilitate the installation of two new exhibitions. “Voyaging in the Wake of the Whalers” will open in the ground floor of the Stillman Building (replacing the current “Voyagers” exhibit) in late spring 2015. Using artifacts and artwork, along with compelling audio-visual elements and immersive displays, the exhibition will provide insight into America’s historic and contemporary relationship with whales and whaling. It will also tell the story of the 38th Voyage of the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan this past summer. “Ships, Clocks & Stars: The Quest for Longitude,” a traveling exhibit from the United Kingdom’s National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, will open in the R.J. Schaefer Exhibit Hall in September 2015. The exhibition tells the dramatic human story of John Harrison and his forty-year obsession with building his perfect timekeeper for sailors, known today as the chronometer.

As part of the Museum’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the project infrastructure includes a comprehensive stormwater drainage system that will treat all runoff before it enters the Mystic River, as well as energy efficient geo-thermal heating and cooling for the new building.

Mystic Seaport will also carry out a traffic study around the north entrance on Route 27 as part of the town’s approval. The study will analyze usage patterns and propose any recommended improvements to promote pedestrian and vehicular safety and impacts on nearby residents.

The project is being designed by Centerbrook Architects and Planners of Centerbrook, Conn., who recently renovated the Ocean House in Watch Hill, R.I., and Kent + Frost Landscape Architecture of Mystic, Conn. Construction will be managed by A/Z Corporation of North Stonington, Conn.

In January 2011, the Mystic Seaport Advancement office received an envelope with $8.25 and a short handwritten note that read, “To whom it may concern, this money goes to the Morgan ship. So they can fix it. It comes from my allowance. Sincerely, Matthew.”

Fast forward four years and four donations later, Matthew continues to give a portion of his allowance to support the Charles W. Morgan. This past September Matthew and his family were able to visit Mystic Seaport and get a first-hand look at the Morgan with a tour aboard from Museum President Steve White. This was the first time Steve had the opportunity to meet Matthew and his family, “I must say it was an unusual delight to have an opportunity to tour such a young donor around the Morgan and Mystic Seaport and explain the impact of his generosity. I think it is safe to say that he made stretch gifts in order to support a project that was important to him, now all of 13 years old!”

After the Hamel’s visit to the Museum, Matthew’s mother wrote with thanks, “Matthew said that the playground was still a favorite and that he liked watching the artists carving [the figureheads] the best on this trip. We stayed for a second day, during which we saw so very much and took our younger son on the ‘nautical instruments hunt’ and discovered so many fascinating new places within the Seaport. Matthew absorbs so much from a museum setting and Mystic Seaport is certainly a golden one.”

Matthew’s story is unique to Mystic Seaport and we are extremely lucky to have inspired his philanthropic interest at such a young age. After the Hamel family visit, Steve concluded, “It’s a great lesson of what family determines to be important, and just think, if there were many more Matthews in this world, museums like Mystic Seaport would never have to worry!”

#GivingTuesday

On Tuesday, December 2, people around the world will come together for a common purpose: to celebrate philanthropy and to make contributions to causes and organizations they care about. Called #GivingTuesday, the event was founded in 2012 by New York’s 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation. Together, with a team of influencers and founding partners, the group launched a global movement that has engaged over 10,000 organizations worldwide.

Demonstrate your belief in the mission of Mystic Seaport by making a contribution on #GivingTuesday. Invite your friends and family to participate as well  and help ensure our continued success. Your support ensures the ongoing care of our Museum and guarantees that future generations will be inspired by their experience at Mystic Seaport.

Donate to Mystic Seaport

Mystic Seaport is pleased to announce the release of a definitive new biography of W. Starling Burgess, one of America’s preeminent yacht designers, by Llewellyn Howland III. Titled No Ordinary Being: W. Starling Burgess, Inventor, Naval Architect, Aviation Pioneer, and Master of American Design, the 472-page book was published by David R. Godine in association with the New Bedford Whaling Museum, Old Dartmouth Historical Society and Mystic Seaport.

About the Book

Few 20th-century Americans led a more creative, daring, eventful, and sometimes troubled life than that of the inventor, poet, aviation pioneer, naval architect, automotive engineer, and America’s Cup yacht designer W. Starling Burgess.

Born into a Boston family of wealth and privilege on Christmas Day, 1878, he was orphaned at the age of 12, received his first patent (for a recoil-operated machine gun) at the age of 19, and published his first (and only) book of poetry at the age of 24, following the suicide of his first (of five) wives in 1902. By his second wife, Burgess had three children, among them the celebrated creator of books for young readers, Tasha Tudor.

After beginning his professional career as a successful yacht designer, Burgess was the first to build and fly an airplane in New England in 1910, and the only one ever licensed to manufacture aircraft under Wright Brothers patents. He received the prestigious Collier Trophy “for the greatest progress in aviation” in 1915. His factories in Marblehead employed up to 800 men and built scores of military warplanes in World War I before the main factory burned to the ground in November 1918.

Returning to yacht design in 1921, Burgess devised a novel new rig for the sloop Vanitie—and very nearly beat the favored sloop Resolute in the America’s Cup trials. He then designed three fishing schooners in succession to compete against Canadian boats for the International Fishermen’s Trophy—and in 1924 introduced a revolutionary new staysail rig on the all but unbeatable schooner yacht Advance.

He designed the J Class sloop Enterprise, winner of the America’s Cup in 1930, and his J Class sloop Rainbow won the Cup in 1934, as did Ranger in 1937. In 1932 and 1933, Burgess and R. Buckminster Fuller were partners in the design and construction of the path-breaking Dymaxion automobile.

Afflicted by gastric ulcers and addicted to morphine for much of his adult life, Burgess finally found medical relief on the eve of World War II, and while working under military contract enjoyed some of his happiest and most productive years as a naval architect and inventor. He died of a heart attack at his home at Stephens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ in March 1947 at the age of 69.

A man of enormous charm, physical courage, and energy, Burgess was also, as his son Frederick lamented, “A child who will not face hard facts, but will hide from them and will love the person who shields him from them….” This tension in his personal and professional life had consequences both disturbing and tragic. But it was his genius as an artist and designer that makes this biography of Burgess so fascinating to read—and such a lively and exciting contribution to American sporting, entrepreneurial, and technological history.

Deeply researched, richly illustrated, and beautifully produced, No Ordinary Being will have a particular appeal to recreational sailors, students of early aviation, and lovers of the New England coast, Newport, Long Island Sound, the Chesapeake Bay, the waters of Florida and the West Indies.

Mystic Seaport has honored Charles A. Robertson with the 2014 America and the Sea Award. Presented annually by the Museum, the prestigious award recognizes an individual or organization whose contribution to the history, arts, business, or sciences of the sea best exemplify the American character.

Robertson received the award at a gala held in his honor in New York City November 5.

Engaged in the maritime industry since 1973, Robertson pioneered the small ship cruise industry in the United States with his founding of American Cruise Lines, now the largest cruise company in the country. He is a recognized expert on cruise ship regulations in the United States. Robertson holds a USCG Master’s License and First Class Pilot’s License for unlimited tonnage and has been an expert witness for the United States Coast Guard before the NTSB and Congressional Committees. His firms have designed and built 12 small cruise ships and approximately 70 other commercial vessels, up to 320 feet.

An avid sailor, he has won national and international events, including the 1988 Newport to Bermuda Race, the Queen’s Cup, and the U.S. National Championship in the Atlantic Class. Robertson is also an active commercial pilot and regularly flies modified ex-military aircraft, participating in shows and demonstrations around the country.

“As the Chairman and CEO of American Cruise Lines, Pearl Sea Cruises, and Chesapeake Shipbuilding, it has been Charlie Robertson’s mission to get people out on the water, a mission he has accomplished. His personal life is one filled with amazing achievements: a champion sailor, a key supporter of America’s Cup campaigns, a leader for Operation Sail, and much, much more. There is so much to celebrate in Charlie’s remarkable career,” said J. Barclay Collins, the chairman of the Museum’s board of trustees.

Robertson is also celebrating 25 years of service as a trustee of Mystic Seaport. He is an advisor and resource to the shipyard staff and serves as chair of the watercraft committee.

The event, which netted just over $400,000 to support the maritime education and preservation work of Mystic Seaport, was sponsored by Alban CAT, Bank of America-US Trust, Rolex, Stephens Inc., and American Cruise Lines. Gala co-chairs were J. Barclay Collins, Cayre and Alexis Michas, and
Mr. and Mrs. Richard R. Vietor. The auctioneer for the evening was Geraldine Nager Griffin, Senior Vice President at Sotheby’s. A longtime friend of Mystic Seaport, Nager has contributed her expertise and enthusiasm to numerous live auctions for the Museum.

Robertson joins a group of distinguished past America and the Sea Award recipients, who include: world-class sailor and author Gary Jobson (2013), founder of WoodenBoat publications Jon Wilson (2012), former Secretary of the Navy John Lehman (2011), oceanographer and deep sea explorer Sylvia Earle (2010), maritime collector and yachtsman William I. Koch (2009), President and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corporation Thomas B. Crowley Jr. (2008), Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian David McCullough (2007), and famed yacht designer Olin Stephens (2006).

“Every time we come to Mystic Seaport, we learn something new, which nurtures us. We all gain a spring in our steps when we visit this place, like the children we bring with us and within us. Mystic Seaport is an irreplaceable treasure of artworks, engineering, historical knowledge, and the continuing story of our nation. We will always support the vibrant health of this place, an exceptionally important piece of the fabric that is America that will enrich our children and your children and countless generations to come.” – Ladd Thorne

On National Philanthropy Day, November 15, Mystic Seaport extends deep appreciation to the individuals, families, foundations, and corporations for their philanthropic support that help to sustain and nurture this exemplary institution. Our success is only possible thanks to the generosity of your time and support – Thank you!

At Mystic Seaport we are impacting lives every day by cultivating an enduring connection to our maritime heritage. Through first-hand experiences utilizing artifacts, craftsmanship, and skills we are passing on the importance of America’s seafaring past. Your support makes it possible for us to reach thousands annually in innovative ways on our campus, in schools, and online. Mystic Seaport is recognized as our nation’s preeminent maritime museum and relies on the generosity of like-minded philanthropists to help us keep our connection to this important part of our nation’s history vibrant. Whether you are an annual donor or an active volunteer, your gifts ensure the ongoing care of our Museum and guarantee that future generations will benefit from the inspiring legacy that is Mystic Seaport.

We are deeply grateful to you for your belief and investment in Mystic Seaport and all we aspire to achieve.

Macy Kleinfelder, the Dean of Student Affairs and a history teacher at The Williams School in New London, Connecticut, is the 2014 recipient of the Orion Award for Excellence in Experiential Education. Kleinfelder received the Award at the annual Members’ Meeting at Mystic Seaport on Saturday, September 27.

The Orion Award is bestowed by Mystic Seaport on stellar teachers who create meaningful and innovative learning experiences for their students by utilizing the Museum’s collections, programs, and learning resources. The Award recognizes teachers who infuse history, math, science, and literature with a maritime focus and are an inspiration to their students and their colleagues.

In the summer of 2012, Kleinfelder was selected as one of a group of teachers to help Mystic Seaport create an online learning community for educators. This has since developed into Mystic Seaport for Educators (MSE), an innovative website for teachers that facilitates access to the Museum’s collections for the purpose of creating learning tools to bring America’s maritime heritage into the classroom.

As an MSE Fellow, Kleinfelder conducted extensive research at Mystic Seaport and wrote Artifact Articles for the website about a gamming chair, Chinese slippers, and a War of 1812 sea bag. She used this experience and new knowledge to create a mid-term project where her students delved deeper into the War of 1812 and gained a better understanding of artifacts of the period.

Kleinfelder also brought her students to Mystic Seaport to analyze the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan as an artifact, and completed a “Curators’ Challenge” with her students and Museum staff, where they had to create an exhibit based on artifact analysis. She used this trip to prepare her students for an inquiry-based mid-term project back in the classroom. She also worked with Mystic Seaport staff to create an online map of the 27th voyage of the Morgan using the ship’s logbook. For this project, Kleinfelder created a Williams School Whaling Project blog.

Additionally, Kleinfelder taught a professional development workshop for museum educators at Mystic Seaport about working with middle- and high-school students.

“We chose to honor Macy Kleinfelder with this award because she is a treasure trove of new ideas, and she is willing to take risks in the classroom, try new approaches, and constantly pursue innovation and improvement,” said Sarah Cahill, director of Education at Mystic Seaport.

Kleinfelder attended the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey, and the University of St. Andrews. Shortly after graduating with an MA from St. Andrews, she began teaching. Over the past four years, Kleinfelder has taught middle school Geography and English, US History, Modern World History, Reel History (history and film), Economics, and The History of the Sixties.  In her free time, she performs in community theater and coaches the Williams School field hockey team.