Category: News

Saturday, August 8, will see the launching of a very rare vessel at Mystic Seaport: An authentic mishoon, or dugout canoe, built by members of the New England Wampanoag Tribe.

The mishoon is a project of the Pequot Museum and Research Center in nearby Mashantucket. The 30-foot dugout was constructed by carefully burning out the interior of a poplar log. The project of was led by Jonathan Perry and Darius Coombs, with assistance from members of several Native American communities. Both Perry and Coombs have extensive knowledge of the burning of mishoons. Perry, a former Plimoth Plantation staff member and current cultural officer at Martha’s Vineyard Aquinnah Cultural Center, and Coombs, Plimoth Plantation’s director of Wampanoag and Algonkian Interpretive Training, learned their skills at Plimoth Plantation and continue to share their knowledge through experimental archaeology.

The mishoon will be on display at the Museum’s Australia Beach until Saturday, when New England tribal members will hold a traditional canoe blessing ceremony at 10:15 a.m. at Middle Wharf to celebrate the launch of the mishoon. Immediately following the ceremony, twelve New England Tribal members will embark on a six-mile round-trip row to the mouth of the Mystic River, stopping from 12:45 p.m.-4:30 p.m. at Mystic River Park and Seaport Marine in downtown Mystic for paddling demonstrations, an educational exhibition featuring Native artists, drummers and a team of archaeologists and experts answering questions and highlighting the historical significance of the area to the Native American community.

The mishoon then will return to Mystic Seaport and remain on display until mid-August when it is returned to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center.

The Civil War comes to Mystic Seaport this weekend.

In partnership with the Connecticut Civil War Commemoration Commission, Mystic Seaport will host one of the final Civil War encampments of the war’s 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.”

“You’ve never seen anything like this,” said Matt Warshauer, professor of history at Central Connecticut State University and co-chair of the Connecticut Civil War Commemoration Commission, “and this event offers our guests something extra, a real twist.” Warshauer explains that a special Civil War scavenger hunt will take place, “The Hunt for the Australia”.

“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,” explains Warshauer. “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. Come and 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 says “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.

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.

The McGraw Gallery Quadrangle is now open for visitors to enjoy. On Wednesday, July 8, the last bit of sod was set in place and the construction fence was moved back to reveal the new landscaping. The area that was previously known as Anchor Circle has been reconfigured into a quadrangle with the Stillman, Wendell, Mallory, and R.J. Schaefer Buildings and the Greenmanville Church facing three of the sides. The fourth side is the site of the new Thompson Exhibition Building, which is under construction. A temporary construction fence with imagery from the Museum’s Sea History Alive campaign will border the north side until the building’s completion in fall 2016.

It will be some weeks before the sod takes root, but once that happens visitors will be able to walk, sit on, and generally enjoy the green.

In addition to the landscaping, the project involved significant upgrades to the surrounding buildings. In particular the R. J. Schaefer Building has a new climate control system to support the coming “Ships, Clocks & Stars: The Quest for Longitude” exhibit from the National Maritime Museum, London. That exhibit opens on September 19. Other new exhibits line the Quad as well: “Voyaging in the Wake of the Whalers” and the Benjamin F. Packard Ship’s Cabin opened last month in the Stillman Building, and “Modern Masterpiece: 30 Years of the Museum Purchase Award” opened earlier this spring in the P.R. Mallory Building.

James T. Carlton, professor of Marine Sciences at Williams College and the longtime program director of the Williams-Mystic program, will be stepping down from his post on June 30.

Carlton is professor of Marine Sciences at Williams College. He has directed the Williams-Mystic Program since 1989 and also teaches Marine Ecology. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis in Ecology, and was a postdoctoral scholar at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. His research is on global marine bioinvasions—their ecosystem impacts, dispersal mechanisms, and management strategies—and on marine extinctions in modern times.

The McGraw Gallery Quadrangle project enters an exciting new phase this month with the completion of the new green and landscaping, as well as the opening of the new  “Voyaging in the Wake of the Whalers” exhibit and the relocated Benjamin F. Packard Ship’s Cabin in the Stillman Building.

The “Voyaging” exhibit opened on June 20. The 4,400 square-foot 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 is a complement to the experience of going on board the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan which is berthed within a stone’s throw 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 are on public display for the first time.

The Packard Cabin was moved from its old home in a re-purposed brick outbuilding that was demolished to make way for the new Thompson Exhibition Building. It now sits in the gallery on the second floor of the Stillman Building. A custom frame had to be constructed to support the cabin, a job that was rather complex as the structure had to match the sheer and camber curves of the original deck of the Packard, a 244-foot square-rigged sailing ship. Future plans call for additional artifacts and displays in the gallery to interpret cargo handling and the coasting trade that the Packard represents.

Recent visitors may have noticed extensive repainting of the buildings around the Quad and the construction of a new vestibule in the R.J. Schaefer Building. The latter is part of the building’s upgrade to be suitable to host the coming “Ships, Clocks & Stars — The Quest for Longitude” exhibit opening on September 19. “Ships, Clocks & Stars” is the story of humankind’s pursuit of the ability to determine one’s longitude at sea. Solved by a clock that could keep accurate time over months at sea, the exhibit was produced by the prestigious National Maritime Museum, London, and features some amazing artifacts, including the actual “H4” chronometer that clockmaker John Harrison built in 1761 to win the prize offered by England’s Parliament to whoever could solve the riddle.

A major task in the project this spring was to relocate and install new underground utilities throughout the constriction zone. Water, sewer, electric, and telecommunications lines all required major work to support the new building and upgrade service to the existing ones and the new landscape. Final grading and topsoiling of the Quad area are underway to be followed by the installation of a lawn irrigation system and sod. While that is happening, the new footpaths with be paved with a permeable material to enable water to percolate into the underlying soil to manage storm runoff into the Mystic River.

The plan is to move the construction fence back and open the Quad to the public after July 2.

To accommodate the large summer crowds a new center entrance has been built next to the administration building at 75 Greenmanville Ave. This entrance replaces the old north entrance by Latitude 41° Restaurant and will provide easy year-round access to the McGraw Quad. Ultimately, the Thompson Building will have a large lobby and visitor reception area when it is completed in fall 2016. People who wish to use the new center entrance should park in the north lot across from Latitude 41° and use the crosswalk to cross the street.

The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) announced Mystic Seaport is the winner of the Award of Merit in their 70th annual Leadership in History Awards. The Museum was honored for the exhibit, programming, and multimedia elements of the 38th Voyage of the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan in 2014.

This year AASLH conferred 60 national awards honoring people, projects, exhibits, books, and organizations.

“The Leadership in History Awards is AASLH’s highest distinction and the winners represent the best in the field,” said Trina Nelson Thomas, AASLH Awards Chair and Director, Stark Art & History Venue, Stark Foundation. “This year, we are pleased to distinguish each recipient’s commitment and innovation to the interpretation of history, as well as their leadership for the future of state and local history.”

The Leadership in History Awards Program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout America. Each nomination is peer-reviewed by AASLH’s state captains. Final awards are decided by the Awards Committee, comprised of AASLH’s fourteen regional representatives and the National Awards Chair.

The Award of Merit recognizes excellence in history programs, projects, and people when compared with similar activities nationwide.

Presentation of the award will be made at a special banquet during the 2015 AASLH Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday, September 18. The banquet is supported by a generous contribution from the History Channel.

Visit AASLH’s website for a full listing of recipients.