Day 2: 9/8/14

Today we are off to see Mystic Seaport.  A 10 acre area, that once held a ship building company, has been rebuilt to resemble a seaport town circa 1800.   “SPOILER ALERT”:  There never really was a seaport at Mystic because the water is to shallow.  A loaded ship would have never made it in or out of the harbor.  However, it was a busy ship building and cod fishing town.  Ships that were built here had to be towed with empty hulls to the deep water port of New London where the ballast could be added and the rigging set in place.  Mystic Seaport does take you back in time and makes you feel a part of those days of yesteryear.

We arrived early enough to catch the first cruise of the day aboard Sabino.  Built in 1908 she is registered as a National Landmark and is the only active coal fired steamship in the U.S.  We sat just above the engine room and only heard a faint chug-chug-squeak, chug-chug-squeak, as we cruised around Mystic harbor.

Our youngest shipmate was three years old and by special invitation of the captain she helped steer the boat.

Stoking the fire

Other ships to be found at Mystic Seaport are the: 
 L. A. Dunton, a fishing schooner

L. A. Dunton

It looks like this captain ran aground!

Joseph Conrad, an iron-hulled sailing ship, originally launched in 1882 and used to train sailors in Denmark. After sailing around the world as a private yacht in 1934 she served as training ship in the United States, and is now a museum ship at Mystic Seaport 

Joseph Conrad

Charles W. Morgan, was a US whaling ship during the 19th and early 20th century.  She is the world's oldest surviving merchant vessel. She also hold the distinction of being the only surviving wooden whaling ship from the 19th century American fleet

Charles W. Morgan

Among the more than thirty restored and recreated buildings you will find such as a cordage merchant, a shipsmith (blacksmith), an instrument shop (for compasses, chronographs and sextants), the chemist (drug store), a church, a school, and company store (grocery, dry good and hardware) and just about every business needed to run a ship building community.

Lighthouse Point

If you ever travel to Mystic Seaport arrive early.  It is an entire day’s adventure.

The Shipsmith

Inside the Cooperage

The Instrument House

School

The Chemist

General Store

There are several museums with small boats and boat building displays.  One of them is dedicated to figureheads, carvings, and music of the sea.

Besides being a recreated town Mystic Seaport  is an active marina and shipyard.

Band Saw

Mystic Pizza is a 1988 American coming-of-age film directed by Donald Petrie. It stars Annabeth Gish, Julia Roberts, and Lili Taylor.

Our daughter-in-law wanted us to check out if there is really a Mystic Pizza.

 Yes Sharon there really is a Mystic Pizza!

Home again after a busy day

Mystic Seaport:   41°21’42.94” N                71°57’53.57” W