Mystic Seaport

Mystic Seaport was a surprise addition to our trip.  We took the afternoon to explore it rather than continuing our drive and getting sleep.  It was well worth it.  Froggy has spent more time talking and reminiscing about it than any other part of the trip. 

Mystic Seaport shows the marvelous nautical history of the Eastern Shore.  Living where we do, Colonial America through the Civil War has been easy to see but it has all been land-based, even in the great city of Boston.  In Mystic, we got to see both the good and the bad of the nautical history, from the amazing ship building capacity to the sad whaling vessels.

At the H.B. DuPont Preservation Shipyard, we were able to climb aboard Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whaleship in the world. The all volunteer crew at the museum are working diligently to restore the ship. 

 

Froggy was amazed to see that they squeezed 22 crew members into the tiny forecastle.

 

 The figureheads were much more interesting than I expected.  It was neat to see the different sizes and levels of detail.

 What seaport is complete with a lighthouse?

 And finally Froggy got to see a good example centerboard and casing like Amazons use.

 

 Froggy then got a chance to put herself back in time.  She dressed in some period clothes and put on a very non-period puppet show.

She then tried her hand at rowing a small craft and realized how truly difficult it was. It takes skill and muscle.

 

She finished the day by making her own sailing vessel.