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Mystic Seaport - The Museum of America and the Sea
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19 reviews for Mystic Seaport - The Museum of America and the Sea
I like the seaport in Mystic. It's very enjoyable for the whole family and it can be an educational experience for the kids also. They did a good job of recreating an old seaport town. The first time I went there I didn't realize how big it was, but when I recently went back, I realized that this place was huge.
Walk around the old town and check out all the stores. The old paper/newspaper printing shop is very cool.
Also, make sure to check out the lighthouse.
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I thought this was nice, but having been to Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Mi earlier this year (which is a lot bigger) this was very deja-vu for me. Like a movie you see for the third time in a year.
Still, very well done. We took a horse carriage ride to give us an impression of what all is there. Not sure if I would return a next time I'm in the area.
SO and I stopped by Mystic on the way home from Providence. We wanted to do something this past weekend (had spent all of Saturday moving in little sister at Brown, so we didn't get a chance to see the city). We decided on Mystic, since I hadn't been since a little kid, and SO has never.
He's really into boating, whaling history, sea faring history, etc so he loved it. I'm not as interested, but I love most things historical. It was a fun time and we didn't have to stay so long to see everything; perfect for our travels back to NJ, since it's right off of 95.
We both loved the exhibit of the Charles W. Morgan and seeing it being slowly restored. The exhibits on figureheads, old sea maps/cartography, They also have special events, and we were there for Garden Days; in the main pavilion/green there were many stands set up showing various horticultural-related exhibits, clubs, etc. You can also rent rowboats and sailboats, which was something we wanted to do but time didn't allow us to. My favorite part of the recreated village was the letterpress shop, where you could also hand press/print your own card.
The only thing I would say is that it was surprisingly expensive. At first, we were not aware of the admission fee- which is 24.00. But that was poor planning on our part. I also advise grabbing something to eat outside the museum, as the places in the museum are touristy-expensive- a lunch of a pork sandwich, tuna salad, 2 iced teas and a small glass of wine ended up being 45.00give or take.
I imagine it would be a lot more fun if we had kids with us, and grouped along with the aquarium it probably would be a great day. Nonetheless, if you're just heading into new england, it's a nice stop up if you're going further north.
We came here for the wooden boat show two weeks ago, and we were very impressed with the vendors that were here. There were a ton of hand-built wooden boats on display that were very unique.
It was overcast, so it wasn't too hot to enjoy the grounds. We became members, so I'm sure we'll be back again.
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Tourist trap? Yea. Worth the $24 per person? Probably not. Was I glad I did it? For the most part.
When you're in the area at a local B&B like I was, you're looking for things to do during a Saturday afternoon and this is at the top of the list that most places mention to visit. The boats are nothing overly impressive but this isn't the Navy Shipyard in Boston or the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, it's a small NE coastal town, so set your expectations there. The musuems aren't anything memorable either but not an overly terrible way to spend some time. Me and my gf did rent a rowboat for $10 for 30 minutes and row around the port, which I found the most entertaining. Lots of nice views from the water. So again, not a bad way to spend a couple hours if you're staying at a local B&B but $24? C'mon, it should really be more like $15.
Historical Seaport.
Arrghhh I can't believe I didn't review this matey.... This is the main attraction of Mystic, CT and they do a really nice job of showing how it used to be back in the sail era.
Lots of things to do and see and the help there is very knowledgeable about the historical aspects of the ships and what it was like back then.
Definitely worth a look.
Parking lots within walking distance.
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I had been to Mystic when I was a child and I remember I really liked it back than so I recently returned. I think they actually do a good job at recreating a bustling little New England seaport from the 1800s. There are many interesting buildings, with all kinds of craftspeople and historic artifacts. I really enjoyed the Ship Figure heads and statues that they had on exhibit. There are some old boats that you can board and look around. They also have a very large sailboat named the Charles W. Morgan, which is said to be the last wooden whale ship. Although it is in dry dock and they are restoring it, you can tour it and learn its history and what they are doing to it now.
We also took an afternoon sail down the river aboard a steam boat named the Sabino. It was nice seeing the river at sunset and looking at some of the nice houses that line the river. Bring food and drinks with you if you want.
The admission to the Seaport was $24 per adult. I think it was worth it. The Sail on the Sabino which was 90 minutes was only $12 - well worth it.
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Great job of recreating what life was like in mid-1800s Mystic area.
Perhaps my expectations for this place were too low, but I was thinking this place was going to be overpriced, cheesy, Disney-fied, lame, etc. It actually wasn't at all, and I think it was very much worth the $24 entry fee. It had lots of fun exhibits about boating, boat-building, whaling, shellfishing, and generally just living in olden times. And if you get hungry while you're there, the Seamen's Inne is a great place for a quick snack and a beer.
if you (or your kids) like boats and the history behind boats, whaling, and new england ports and the such, this is a pretty cool destination. i think it should be cheaper to get in, but overall its not too bad if you spend a day wandering around the little recreated old town and go on some of the boats. so you can stay at the museum they have a decent little coffee shop (had a very good mocha here once), a little seafood fry type restaurant that i have not been to, and the more fancy 'seamens inne' (had a few good meals here - nice brunch buffet, even some good vegetarian options) tavern/pub/catering hall..
also - its a nice place to get married in the fall :)
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What a great museum. Prepare to spend at least two hours here, if not more when the weather is nice. We went on a cold, windy, winter afternoon and it was still bustling with people. Not everything is open in the winter, so we'll plan to go back in the summer.
We learned way more about ships than I could have ever imagined, and all sorts of other nautical information. The grounds are really pretty, and you can look at all sorts of old ships and buildings.
Amazing interactive museum. We especially enjoyed chatting with the "roleplaying actress" whaler captain's wife from 1835. The exhibits are easy to take in and very educational. Great childrens play and activity area. The various ships are a joy to climb in, the whaling ship Morgan that they are restoring was very cool, even if I kept hitting my head on overhead beams below deck. You really need a full day to do the entire museum site properly, maybe even two - and admission is good for two days!!! Highly recommended.
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I wouldn't consider myself much of a history buff but Mystic Seaport is my single favorite place on the planet. The beauty of the grounds alone is worth going to see. (There's a reason it's such a popular place for weddings!) Beyond that, the museum is one of the world's finest. This is an interactive museum so you have to talk to the exhibit interpreters to get the best experience. That makes Mystic Seaport uniquely fun and not at all your typical stuffy museum. (If you are looking for the stuffy museum experience, they do have a few 'typical' museum exhibits in air conditioned buildings).
You will learn what you are interested in and your visit is tailored to you; you don't have to read the same generic signs as everyone else. The hands-on activities change every day as well. It's just as fun to visit the 20th time as it is the first time! Even the exhibits specifically made for kids can be fun for adults (and vice-versa) as the staff will be able to speak to your group on many levels. All of the employees are incredibly passionate and knowledgeable. Make sure to ask for their recommendations of the best things to see and do, as it's near impossible to see everything in one day!
Some recommendations:
1. Get a schedule and make sure to see some demonstrations.
2. Ask knowledgeable employees for their recommendations on what to see.
3. Check the website and consider visiting during one of the special events.
4. Your pass is good for more than one day!!!
5. Get out on the water! You can rent kayaks and small boats, take a ride on the steamship Sabino or the Resolute launch, or ride for free on the water taxi!
Finally: Investigate lunch options before you go. Mystic is full of great places to eat with a variety of price ranges if you know where to look. (Thanks http://Yelp.com!) My personal recommendation is to stop by Mystic Market East in the morning or bring your own picnic lunch and leave it in a cooler in your car. There are plenty of shaded benches by the water. Perfect for a picnic!
-If you're at the museum already and don't want to leave for lunch, the best option is the historic pub in the middle of the museum. It's an exhibit but they also serve great sandwiches for around $7.
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Mystic Seaport Museum is so much more than just a museum. You might expect to walk in one building, as I did when I visited, but you would be wrong. Once you pay for admission in the gift shop, you come out on the other side and you're basically in a village. Mystic Seaport is so big that they actually have a water taxi to transport you from one end of the village to the other. Admission to the seaport is about $20 each. There are some exhibits or boat rides that require an extra charge, but you can easily be occupied all day here with all of the other places to explore.
Be sure to refer to the map when you go. As others have mentioned, several activities go on throughout the day, so use the guide to figure out what you might be interested in. This "village" has several historic buildings, such as the ship carver and shipsmith shop. Definitely check out the figurehead exhibit. You can also see the preservation shipyard where they repair the ships. You can board a few of the ships (most of them seem to be permanently docked there), including the last remaining wooden whaling ship, the Charles W. Morgan. (See pics.)
Mystic Seaport is incredibly kid-friendly. In fact, when I went a few weeks ago there were what appeared to be several camp groups. If you're taking the kids, there are several opportunities for hands-on experiences. There are gift shops which are a bit pricey and a few spots to get food but I went to Olde Mistick Village a few miles away for lunch.
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The people at Mystic really mean business when it's anything to do with the sea. It's a two hour drive from Boston and completely worth it. When they say "museum," don't think of stuffy buildings with art hanging on the walls - no, the "museum" is an entire walking park area built to look like a waterfront town. There are real historical (or recreated historical) buildings staffed by fully trained volunteers in old skills like carpentry, coopering, blacksmithing, and a real working 19th century printing press. They have a fully stocked ship's chandlery. And not only do they have a working 1800s-era wharf and dock for more than 10 authentic historical vessels, but they have a working shipyard for restoring and building ships using (for the most part) 19th century techniques. Their last full project there was the reconstruction of the Amistad.
For museum buffs of the more traditional type, they do have several art galleries as well as rotating exhibits. The ships' figurehead gallery is worth checking out, as is the model ship exhibit. The rest of the area is open air and walkable, and very kid-friendly. They've usually got programs going on all day around the park for both kids and adults. (In the winter, the outbuildings and some of the ships are closed to the public, but you can sign up for a free tour that will take you to the main ones)
The only drawback is that if you spend the whole day there and get hungry, their restaurant prices are on the high side. I suppose that is standard for a museum of any sort, but as there really aren't that many other places to eat in the area (Mystic is rather isolated) you're out of luck unless you want to save money and bring your own lunch. There are benches and seating areas all around the museum park that would be really nice on a sunny day.
If nothing else, go to Mystic to see the Charles W. Morgan, the world's last wooden whaleship, and then to shop in their fantastic gift shop, which has a really fantastic bakery that makes great fudge.
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Mystic Seaport Museum is a great place to visit. There is interesting dining, shopping and sightseeing in and around the town of Mystic as well. If you're a movie buff, you can dine at Mystic Pizza.
If you're a history buff or just find the seafaring life interesting, you'll enjoy the visit. Mystic has wonderful interpretive staff (volunteers?) that will get into character and demonstrate Barrel making (Cooper) and other trades. There is an old newspaper office where kids can learn where terms upper case and lower case came from and even set some type and make a copy.
One of the high points of our visit was a volunteer that was playing violin and singing an irish folk song on one of the tall ships. The sound just came eerily drifting across the water.
We go to Mystic regularly, have been to the Seaport Museum just once for the day.
At the freeway exit for Mystic there is an interesting shopping center, Olde Mystic Village. Very eclectic mix of shops, probably around 40 different little stores.
Another interesting touristy place to visit in this area is the sub pens in Groton, where you can tour a retired nuclear sub (U571 as a matter of fact).
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A fabulous place, especially for adults who are into maritime history. My parents brought me here when I was a kid, about 6 or so, and I barely remember it. As an adult, however, I found this place really fascinating. They have the only remaining whaling ship in the world, and their recreated 19th century seaport-town is fantastic.
We made the trek down here from Boston (just about 2 hours sticking to 95S) and ended up staying for about six hours, really enjoyed it. And believe it or not, the food there is actually reasonably priced, so don't be afraid to get lunch there if you need to!
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Mystic Seaport was a nice place to hang out at on a warm humid Summer day. They had a few ships that you could get aboard and check out. Also had a few nice places to grab a snack or dine at. We even got on a boat and cruised the river and got to see a view of the million dollar homes along the water. Again, like many things in Mystic, the touristy stuff is more enjoyable for children or families with kids. As 2 adults hanging out there once weekend, it was decent, but not that memorable.
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Been here many times when I lived in Massachusetts. They have a huge aquarium and its on the way to NY. They offer discounts for student's, seniors and active military.
Summer Hours (April to October)
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Winter Hours (November to March)
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Love this place. The people there have a gift for gab, they're knowledgeable and must love what they're doing or else they wouldn't shiver on, or below, deck in April in a 40 degree drizzle, the perfect conditions for me since it kept the crowds away and produced a miserable, cold atmosphere very conducive to discussions about whaling on a ship without a heat source.
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