Mystic Seaport Podcast
This is the official podcast of Mystic Seaport, Museum of America and the Sea.Video Episodes:
23 Views
18:58:00 04/30/10
Inside Mystic Seaport - TUGS! Exhibit Preview
[LESS INFO] 23 VIEWS | ADDED 18:58:00 04/30/10
In May 2010, a brand-new exhibit in the R.J. Schaefer Building will bring the fascinating story of American tugboats to Mystic Seaport members and visitors.
Every day tugboats move millions of tons of cargo, escort cruise ships, save lives during maritime disasters, conduct environmental clean-ups, and salvage wrecks. Yet, many people still think of tugs as the cheery, coal-smoke bellowing little ships from children's storybooks. This exhibit will explore this "invisible industry" of maritime towing, a key component of every cargo port in the country, from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon. It will introduce the kinds of work that tugboats do and how they've changed over the past 150 years in their design, operation, and use. Visitors will also learn why today's tugs are stronger, safer, and more efficient than ever, and how tugs might change in the future.
Our plans for the exhibit include several interactive components, including radio-controlled model tug demos and workshops, a mock tug bridge, a CAD design work station, and hands-on activities exploring the physics of propulsion and bollard pull.
A colorful, inviting exhibit designed for family audiences and school groups, but with plenty of content to satisfy even the most knowledgeable maritime expert, it will include hands-on activities as well as material drawn from Mystic Seaport's rich collections - historic photographs, paintings, models, and manuscripts about important Tug-related people, places, and events.
The Museum hopes to host visiting tugboats on our waterfront campus, and will develop interpretive programs for visitors of all ages.
"We're thrilled with all the interest and support we've received for the Tugs exhibit," said Jonathan Shay, Director of Exhibits & Interpretation. "This exhibit builds upon research and planning done over the past few years, including a symposium we hosted for tugs enthusiasts in March 2007 that was organized by staff member Chris Freeman. Last summer an outside evaluator tested our Tugs exhibit ideas with Museum visitors and members, which really helped us to refine our plans and get funding to make the exhibit a reality."
This new exhibit is made possible thanks to a $149,000 grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) as well as generous individual donations and in-kind support. IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Its mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.
With leadership support from The Dibner Fund in hand, Mystic Seaport hopes to match the IMLS grant funds in total.
5 Views
17:00:00 03/16/10
Milling
[LESS INFO] 5 VIEWS | ADDED 17:00:00 03/16/10
Shipwrights at the Henry B. DuPont Preservation Shipyard at Mystic Seaport use the Lucas chainsaw mill to cut large slabs of oak. These slabs will then be fashioned into futtocks and installed into the frame of the Charles W. Morgan. Much of the wood being milled has come from trees downed during Hurricanes Katrina and Ike.
7 Views
21:11:00 03/08/10
Inside Mystic Seaport - Maritime Matinees
[LESS INFO] 7 VIEWS | ADDED 21:11:00 03/08/10
Meet the director, filmmaker, photographer and/or actor and hear the inside scoop on how the maritime story was created: the challenges, the mistakes, and the balance between truth and fiction. This is a rare opportunity to see a program related to the sea, and meet the people instrumental in making it all happen.
March 6: The Marine Photography of Benjamin Mendlowitz
Benjamin Mendlowitz has traveled the globe for more than 25 years to photograph wooden boats. He is well-known throughout the boating world for his contributions to nautical publications and for his award-winning annual Calendar of Wooden Boats%reg. Seven books of his photography have been published to date.
Mendlowitz grew up in New York City, and his passion for wooden boats began during the summers of his youth at the New Jersey shore, where he visited and was influenced by the local traditional boat builders. After graduating from Brandeis University and after a one year of farm work and photography in Florence, Italy, he began his photographic career. In his travels, he met Jon Wilson, founder of WoodenBoat magazine, and his photographs soon began to appear in that publication. In 1983, Mendlowitz formed his company, NOAH Publications, and published his first Calendar of Wooden Boats%reg.
The focus of Benjamin's work is to capture the beauty, romance and fine craftsmanship of a classic wooden boat. His photography is dedicated to the continued preservation of these craft. A question-and-answer discussion session follows Benjamin's visual presentation.
March 13: American Fisheries
Local filmmaker Bailey Pryor and producer Stephen Jones explore one of the greatest sea stories of all time, the dramatic tale of the 500-year-old North Atlantic cod fishery. Today the fishery is in ruins, and fishing regulations are a quagmire of red tape while small-time fishermen of New England are living on the edge of poverty.
Drawing on the sometimes contradictory perspectives of fishermen, ecologists, fisheries managers and historians, this stirring film reveals an epic story that stretches from the age of sail when people fished with hooks and lines to the 1950's when new technology in the form of sonar, advanced net design and huge factory ships devastated North Atlantic codfish populations.
After the film, Bailey and a team of fishing experts discuss the embattled fishing industry -- one of the most significant environmental disasters in history -- and implications for the future. The film was chosen as one of 30 out of 3,000 entries for the prestigious Boston International Film Festival in 2008.
March 20: Braving the Northwest Passage
In November 2009, filmmaker Sprague Theobald and his crew pulled up to a dock in Seattle, turned off the engines, and announced their official return from the five-month Arctic expedition. They had successfully navigated the Northwest Passage and captured over 250 hours of HD video footage and audio diaries for a new documentary film, Braving the Northwest Passage, due out in 2010.
Sprague will share stories from this incredible journey and a unique sneak preview of footage taken above and below the Arctic waterline where they encountered towering glaciers, polar bears, and all the extreme and desolate conditions that the Arctic has to offer. Midway through the trip, the crew nearly succumbed to ice floes that froze around their ship and tried to run them aground. A blog with interactive maps from his Northwest Passage expedition is available online at www.NorthwestPassageFilm.com .
March 27: Maine Built Boats
Gary Jobson is a world class sailor, ESPN television commentator, author and corporate advisor based in Annapolis, MD. He has won many championships in one-design classes, the America's Cup with Ted Turner in 1977, the infamous Fastnet Race and many of the world's ocean races. He has led ambitious expeditions to the Arctic, Antarctica and Cape Horn and sailed on every continent. Hear Gary's comments about his new film, Maine Built Boats, and why he's excited about doing a full documentary on Maine's boatbuilding industry. "Everyone cares about their job; there is a high level of talent here, and Maine boats stack up against any in the world," says Gary.
Jane Wellehan, president of Maine Built Boats, and other boat builders from Maine join Gary in a lively post-program discussion.
Members: $35/series, $10 per program Non-members: $40/series, $12 per program
Call 860.572.5322 for more information.
11 Views
17:57:00 03/02/10
Laser Scanning the Hold
[LESS INFO] 11 VIEWS | ADDED 17:57:00 03/02/10
In an effort to precisely document the measurements of the Charles W. Morgan, Feldman Land Surveyors from Boston, MA were brought in with their high-tech laser scanner to create a photo-realistic 3-D model of the ships hold.
Laser Scanning blends highly accurate measurements with three dimension expression of the space and the relationship among the various structural elements. It not only gives us a record of the vessel but has tremendous value as an educational tool describing the structure to those not familiar with traditional naval architectural drawings.
9 Views
20:29:00 02/18/10
Inside Mystic Seaport - Liberty Days 2010
[LESS INFO] 9 VIEWS | ADDED 20:29:00 02/18/10
Kids, come spend a day [or more!] at Mystic Seaport for February vacation fun!
Why do we call our February vacation program Liberty Days? Well, everyone needs a vacation, even sailors of long ago. When a ship arrived in port, the captain would allow the sailors to take turns having "liberty" ashore.
Two free planetarium programs will also be shown daily: "Zoo in the Sky," a 10:30 a.m. show that uses stories of the animals of the night sky to journey among the stars and "Winter Stars of a Voyage to Freedom," a 2 p.m. show that details the sky that led the freedom schooner Amistad's crew to freedom.
Additionally, visitors can explore the Museum's 19th-century seafaring village; climb aboard the world's last surviving wooden whaleship, the Charles W. Morgan; and discover the history of the nation's waterways in Building America's Canals, a hands-on traveling exhibit organized by the National Canal Museum.
Make it a vacation to remember this February at Mystic Seaport!
9 Views
20:04:00 12/17/09
Inside Mystic Seaport - Holiday Magic 2009
[LESS INFO] 9 VIEWS | ADDED 20:04:00 12/17/09
It's the week after Christmas. The kids are home from school. What to do?
Visit Mystic Seaport and experience Holiday Magic!
Take a Holiday at Sea Family Tour aboard the Charles W. Morgan at 11 a.m. Hear stories of sailors, captains and their families that were at sea during the holidays and discover how they observed special days.
At noon, visit the Abracadabra Magic Workshop on the third floor of the Stillman Building and learn magic tricks that will impress your friends and family. The magical fun continues with historical magician E.A. Davis' authentic 19th-century magic show at the Greenmanville Church. Performances are at 1 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.
Discover the winter sky with the free Treworgy Planetarium program "Celebrations of Light" at 12:30 and 2 p.m. And don't forget to drop in to the Children's Museum to make your very own keepsake!
All activities are included in Museum admission.
6 Views
16:11:00 11/09/09
Ceiling Plank Removal Begins
[LESS INFO] 6 VIEWS | ADDED 16:11:00 11/09/09
Shiprights at the Henry B. DuPont Preservation Shipyard begin removing the ceiling planks from the hold of the Charles W. Morgan. With the ceiling planks removed, they can get to many of the ships frames that need to be replaced.
6 Views
16:29:00 10/15/09
Inside Mystic Seaport - Nautical Nightmares: Blood of the Mutineers
[LESS INFO] 6 VIEWS | ADDED 16:29:00 10/15/09
Nautical Nightmares: Blood of the Mutineers A Premier Halloween Event in Connecticut.
2009 Performance Dates: October 16-18, 23-25 and 29-31
A vengeful captain, a villainous mutineer, a witness driven mad and a jury of the damned...this autumn, join us for our Halloween production, Nautical Nightmares: Blood of the Mutineers. Search the darkened village for clues to the captain's unrest. But beware! This village is haunted by a secret that only its ghostly victims can bring to light.
Tours begin nightly at 6:15 p.m and leave every 15 minutes.
NOTE: Nautical Nightmares tours will begin at the Museum's North End entrance (by Seamen's Inne). For easiest access, please park in the North parking lot and proceed through the walkway to the North gate entrance for check-in and ticket purchase on performance nights.
This event is not recommended for children under 12. Nautical Nightmares is not wheelchair accessible as it includes several steps.
Tickets: Adult: $19, Youth (Ages 4-18): $18 Member Adult: $17, Member Youth (Ages 4-18): $16
A $2 per-ticket handling fee will be applied to all reservations.
Advance reservations are strongly recommended. Tickets available online or by calling 860.572.5322.
11 Views
19:44:00 10/06/09
Overhead Trolly
[LESS INFO] 11 VIEWS | ADDED 19:44:00 10/06/09
To aid the shiprights working in the hold of the CHARLES W. MORGAN, an overhead trolly system was installed.
31 Views
15:34:00 09/09/09
Inside Mystic Seaport - Restoring an Icon: The CHARLES W. MORGAN Exhibit
[LESS INFO] 31 VIEWS | ADDED 15:34:00 09/09/09
Last fall saw the hauling ashore of the mighty Charles W. Morgan in the Museum's Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard for a planned three-year restoration. Climb aboard the world's last wooden whaleship and learn more about the unprecedented restoration of this American icon in the Shipyard Gallery's newest exhibit, Restoring an Icon: The Charles W. Morgan. Learn all about the tools and timbers and the skills and stories that are part of the preservation of this National Historic Landmark vessel. And while the Morgan may be a product of the 19th century, Mystic Seaport is up-to-the-minute, providing an interactive cell phone audio tour to guide you through the exhibition.
10 Views
16:14:00 08/31/09
Inside Mystic Seaport - Fish & Ships Seafood Festival
[LESS INFO] 10 VIEWS | ADDED 16:14:00 08/31/09
Fish & Ships A Labor Day Weekend Seafood Festival September 5-7, 2009 Saturday - Sunday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Celebrate the bounty of the sea at Mystic Seaport's second annual Labor Day Weekend seafood festival. Sample a variety of fresh seafood from local docks including steamed lobster, grilled fish and scallops, our famous New England clam chowder and an icy cold raw bar with clams, oysters and jumbo shrimp. And for the landlubbers, our Grill-on-the-Green offers burgers, hot dogs and chicken sandwiches. Additional a la carte items, as well as beer and wine are also available. Spend the last official weekend of summer taking part in 19th-century games on the Village Green, climbing aboard tall ships and exploring exhibits. Get out on the water aboard our steamship Sabino and gaze at stars under the Treworgy Planetarium dome. Museum admission is required to attend the seafood festival. Cost of food is additional.
6 Views
18:57:00 08/07/09
Inside Mystic Seaport - Be a Kid Again
[LESS INFO] 6 VIEWS | ADDED 18:57:00 08/07/09
Be a kid again at Mystic Seaport. On Mondays in August, adults pay children's admission prices to the museum. Stroll through our 19th-century seafaring village or watch the restoration of the last American wooden whaleship, Charles W. Morgan. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you come down and re-live some of your favorite childhood memories with us. For more information, visit: http://www.mysticseaport.org
12 Views
16:33:00 07/23/09
Inside Mystic Seaport - Antique & Classic Boat Rendezvous 2009
[LESS INFO] 12 VIEWS | ADDED 16:33:00 07/23/09
Antique & Classic Boat Rendezvous 2009 Featuring Little Vigilant July 25 - 26, 2009 Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 9 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Downriver Parade, Sunday at 12:45 p.m. Come to Mystic Seaport for a gathering of classic vehicles just like any other, except this one happens to take place on the water! The Antique & Classic Boat Rendezvous is a dazzling display of high-quality antique vessels built before 1965, including cruisers, sailboats, runabouts, launches and more. An award competition recognizes excellence in restoration, authenticity and workmanship. Dressed and in pristine condition, approximately 40 classic vessels create a colorful gathering along the Museums waterfront all day Saturday and Sunday morning for your viewing pleasure. Sunday at 12:45 p.m., watch as the vessels make their way down the Mystic River in a jubilant, costume- and music-filled three-mile parade. This year we feature Little Vigilant, a vessel designed for Drayton Cochran and built by Abeking and Rasmussen in 1950. During this time, Mr. Cochran brought the Concordia plans to A%R beginning a long standing relationship between the two organizations resulting in the construction of more than 100 Concordia Yawls. The 70' Little Vigilant was based on a larger vessel, Vigilant, a 100' sardine carrier style boat built in the 1930s. She was designed by Walter McGinnis to be able to navigate the inland waterways of Europe, and has a fold down rig and removable wheelhouse to enable this. Mr. Cochran used her for 6-8 weeks each summer in European waters, traveling as far as the East coast of Africa and the Baltic. She recently underwent an extensive rebuild and now operates out of New Bedford, MA.
8 Views
22:04:00 06/30/09
Inside Mystic Seaport - Maritime Mystery
[LESS INFO] 8 VIEWS | ADDED 22:04:00 06/30/09
Be a part of Mystic Seaport's first ever whodunit! Follow clues through the 19th-century sea-faring village as you uncover a plot that has the village people in its grip. Investigate clues, gather evidence, interview 'suspects' and see if you can find the culprit behind it all! Family friendly. Recommended for older children, teens and adults. Approximately 1-hour in length. Saturdays, July 4, 11, 18, 25 6:30pm & 7:00 pm admission times Saturdays, August 8, 15, 22 6:00 pm & 6:30 pm admission times Saturdays, August 29 & Sept 5 6:00 pm admission time Pricing: Groups of 1-2 $16 per person Groups of 3-4 $15 per person Groups of 5-6 $14 per person Hurry! Be the first to experience this new adventure and figure out 'who dun it'!
12 Views
16:39:00 06/02/09
Inside Mystic Seaport - 30th Annual Sea Music Festival
[LESS INFO] 12 VIEWS | ADDED 16:39:00 06/02/09
30th Annual Sea Music Festival June 11-14, 2009 Evening Concerts: June 11-13 at 7 p.m. (Concert tickets required) Daytime Entertainment: June 13-14, Noon - 5 p.m. (Museum admission required) Mystic Seaport is proud to host its 30th annual Sea Music Festival, one of the worlds premier sea music events. More than 5,000 people gather each year to hear a solid core of performers carry on classic musical traditions of the golden age of sail. We have featured music from maritime cultures around the world, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, Australia, Iceland, Poland, Netherlands, France, Canada and Africa, as well as native peoples within the United States. For more information about Mystic Seaport or the 30th Annual Sea Music Festival, visit www.mysticseaport.org
14 Views
19:53:00 05/21/09
Inside Mystic Seaport - Rosenfeld Collection
[LESS INFO] 14 VIEWS | ADDED 19:53:00 05/21/09
The Rosenfeld Collection, acquired in 1984 by Mystic Seaport, is one of the largest archives of maritime photographs in the United States. This Collection of nearly one million pieces documents the... The Rosenfeld Collection, acquired in 1984 by Mystic Seaport, is one of the largest archives of maritime photographs in the United States. This Collection of nearly one million pieces documents the period from 1881 to the present. Images are captured in a variety of formats, from glass plate negatives to color transparencies, and from glossy prints to photographic murals. The Collection represents the evolution of photographic technology and developments in the maritime industry over the last century. The Rosenfeld Collection is built on the inventory of the Morris Rosenfeld & Sons photographic business, which was located in New York City from 1910 until the late 1970s. The firm grew as Morris' sons David, Stanley, and William joined the business. Although they became famous as yachting photographers, the early work of the Rosenfelds included assignments for such firms as the New York-based entities of the Bell System (currently known as AT%T, Western Electric, and Bell Telephone Laboratories) from the 1910's through the 1940's. Even though the Rosenfelds maintained a busy schedule, they always made time for yachting photography. As a result, the America's Cup Races are fully represented from 1885 to 1992. The early America's Cup images, from 1885 to 1910, are from separate collections acquired by Morris Rosenfeld. These collections of remarkable glass plate images are the work of Arthur F. Aldridge, Charles Edwin Bolles, James Burton and Edwin J. Carpenter. It should be noted that these collections also contain images of subjects as varied as socialites participating in leisure activities, steam yachts, battleships, and riverboats on the Ohio River. The America's Cup races, starting in 1920, were exhaustively covered by the Rosenfelds themselves. As a family of photographers, they quickly became a part of the America's Cup tradition. The respect they received from some of the greatest yachtsmen of the day gave them unusually close access to races, and the result is a remarkably dynamic and often intimate view of the sport. A broad spectrum of competitive sailing is also reflected in the Rosenfeld Collection. Images of children participating in sailing lessons are housed next to views of maxi-boats competing on the international circuit. The world of powerboating, both competitive and recreational, received equal attention from the Rosenfelds. The development of powerboat racing in America is chronicled in the Collection. Of particular interest to powerboat historians is the Collection's extensive coverage of early Gold Cup and Harmsworth Trophy Races. Due to the chronological arrangement of the negatives in the Collection, the evolution of sail, hull and engine design across the span of more than a century can be observed by the researcher. Today, the Rosenfeld Collection is stored in a climate-controlled vault in the new Mystic Seaport Collections Research Center. Image content as well as photographers' notes from the prints and the negative sleeves are currently being catalogued and entered into the museum's computer data base. Approximately ninety-seven thousand images have been catalogued by Rosenfeld Collection staff, assisted by volunteers. Sixty-seven thousand images, captured from both prints and negatives, are available in video disc form for research purposes. Currently the Rosenfeld Collection staff is involved in the preservation of negatives and prints. The goal is to transfer all of the historic images, many of which are presently in acidic storage housing, into archival storage containers. This task will help to retard the deterioration common to all photographic materials. Mystic Seaport encourages the use of the Collection for research purposes. Inquiries are handled through staff researchers by letter, fax, email, or scheduled office appointment. Fees are charged for research services. Reproductions of Rosenfeld images are available to the public, for both personal and commercial uses. Prints generated by the Mystic Seaport Photography Department are used for a variety of purposes, including book illustrations, corporate brochures and promotions, exhibitions, and personal and scholarly research. Print reproduction fees and image use fees for commercial uses, will be quoted upon request. Rosenfeld Collection images are also available for exhibitions and permanent installations. Selections from an inventory of over one hundred and forty 16" x 20" matted and framed photographs are available for exhibitions and traveling shows. Please note that Rosenfeld Collection fees and reproduction revenue go into a Museum fund for the preservation of the existing collection.
04/30/10
