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Step back in time at Mystic Seaport
By carlvaleri | October 2, 2009
I sat motionless, transfixed on the whale breaching the water with it’s massive dark rubbery skin glistening in the sun. I have always been fascinated by the massive size of whales, their graceful movements, and the many tales regarding these behemoths of the sea. The best place to experience the life of a whaler on a large sailing ship is the Mystic Seaport Museum and Historic Village in Mystic Connecticut.
The grand scale of the Morgan, a tall whaling ship, is similar in many respects to the animal it hunts. A wide vessel painted black and tall masts required many sailors to operate this massive ship. It is fitting this vessel was used to chase and catch the illustrious giants of the sea.
The Morgan is the centerpiece of the 19th century village. The buildings have been moved to Mystic and carefully restored. Actors add to the experience by representing shop keepers, blacksmiths, and boat builders from the period. All the actors have extensive knowledge of living conditions in a shipbuilding and whaling community during the 19th century.
A day is not enough to explore all that this wonderful village has to offer, but if you are short on time like we were, then there are certain must sees that the museum has mapped out for visitors. Remember to bring your camera to this amazing and picturesque village.
The last whale ship
The Charles W. Morgan is the last wooden whale ship and is the centerpiece of the village. Built in 1841 and finishing its career in 1921 the ship was moved to Mystic in 1941 where it has become the icon for many of when thinking of Mystic Seaport.
Although this ship is undergoing restoration you can still climb a tall set of stairs and board the vessel. Coming aboard the first thing you notice are the large try pots where the blubber from the whales was rendered.
The educator aboard the ship had my complete attention when he described how the Captain would climb out on a plank and cut the skin and blubber off the large whale while rolling it in the water. A motion similar to pealing the skin of an orange. The large pieces were brought over the side of the ship using a large mechanism. The deck hands then placed the large slabs of whale fat into the deck below for later processing.
Moving below deck I was struck by the small living quarters for the sailors. I was awestruck when I realized that these people would be at sea for years hunting whales, while having to live in this confined space. I don’t think I will complain about my job anymore, especially when I realized they did not have electricity or air conditioning.
To provide light below deck during the day a simple yet effective invention called a deck prism provided more light than I expected. The deck prism is a piece of glass placed in holes on top of the deck allowing light below. The light is dispersed through a pointed triangular prism structure below deck. The deck prism serves the same purpose and resembles modern skylights used today providing ambient light in our homes.
Amistad
During the Amistad revolt of 1939 African slaves took over this ship off the coast of Cuba, ordering their captors to sail them back to Africa. The slaves wound up sailing to America, taken into custody, and stood trial. The famous story is documented in the film “Amistad” where Mystic Seaport was the location for the filming of many scenes.
Ironically the word Amistad is translated to mean friendship. You can tour this historic replica and learn more about the slaves struggle and fight for freedom. A website created by the Mystic Seaport Museum does a great job of detailing the story of the Amistad.
Bring the kids
This is one place where children can truly have fun while learning. They can make their own maps, learn how to sail, or be a deck hand at the children’s museum. Children of all age groups can get involved in the many events and even sign up for a summer camp.
Big kids like myself are envious of the many activities for children. For parents the website is a great tool for planning and arranging activities for your youngsters. The numerous activities will surely drain their energy by the end of the day!
Food and shopping
Many restaurants and eateries are located throughout the village. Servers in period costumes deliver lunch and dinner.
If you are wondering what to get your friends, family, or yourself as souvenirs you need not look far. The main museum shop has everything you could imagine. A large book store full of historic and current nautical books, a wonderful art store, and unique crafts fill this museum shop. You can even purchase an authentic deck prism.
Sentinels of the Sea
A replica of Nantucket’s Brant Point Lighthouse stands along the Mystic River and is home to a great new exhibit, “Sentinels of the Sea”. An interesting video full of spectacular photos explains the structure and history of lighthouses. This is wheelchair accessible and is a must see.
The lighthouse has a 4th order Fresnel Lens, developed by the French and one of the most significant contributions to lighthouse technology and coastal navigation. Learn more about this lens by watching the video at the exhibit or online.
Nearby is the Danish lighthouse tender, Girda III, used during World War II to rescue Jews during the Nazi occupation of Denmark. Originally donated by the Danish government to the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, the boat is proudly displayed and cared for at the Mystic Seaport Museum.
Mystic Pizza
Old Mystic Village can be viewed from the seaport and is full of quaint boutique shops. A building displaying a scale model of the Mystic River during the 1870’s is a site you should see before venturing off to the many shops downtown. While visiting the many climate controlled shops, try to imagine what it was like to visit this town while many ships were being built and repaired.
After visiting the museum we decided to have a “slice of heaven” at Mystic Pizza, the place where actor Julia Roberts was filmed in the movie of the same name. A very busy restaurant, the interior is full of pictures from scenes in the movie. Many famous actors and dignitaries have visited Mystic Pizza as evidenced by their pictures hanging on the wall.
You will want to come back
We planned to visit for the day but wish we had taken a week to explore the many attractions at Mystic Seaport and the surrounding areas. There are numerous places to stay ranging from simple hotels to opulent bed and breakfasts overlooking the river.
Activities abound near Mystic Seaport including whale watching, the Mystic Aquarium, and the quaint shopping village of Mystic. Other activities within a short drive include casinos and other maritime activities and museums. A weeks’ vacation can be planned full of activities or a simple respite from your busy work schedule.
For More Information:
United States Lighthouse Passport Program
What to see and do in Mystic, Connecticut
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