Mystic Seaport: One of the Best Things to See in Connecticut!

One of my favorite places to bring visitors in Connecticut is Mystic Seaport. If you’re planning to spend time in Connecticut, I highly recommend adding a visit to the coastal town of Mystic. It’s known for its shipbuilding history, and the Mystic Seaport Museum is a fun and interactive way to learn about maritime history. I used to live in Connecticut, and I had the opportunity to visit the Mystic Seaport Museum several times over the years. In this post, I’ll share why the Mystic Seaport Museum is one of the best things to see in Connecticut!

About the Mystic Seaport Museum

The Mystic Seaport Museum has been dedicated to preserving Mystic’s maritime history since 1929. It’s frequently been recognized as one of the best maritime museums in the country. In addition to the exhibits and the marina, the museum offers numerous research and educational programs. The Mystic Seaport Museum has over 19 acres of attractions!

Things to Do at the Mystic Seaport Museum

There are tons of things to do at the Mystic Seaport Museum. You could easily spend an entire day there. Here’s a few things we recommend that you check out during your visit.

Disclosure: Cover photo provided by Mystic Seaport Museum. This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Exhibits at the Mystic Seaport Museum

One of our favorite parts about the museum was exploring its numerous exhibits. At the time of this writing, the museum has the following exhibits

• Figureheads & Shipcarvings
• Mystic River Scale Model
• Sailor Made
• Small Boats
• Thames Keel Shipbuilding Exhibit
• Sentinels of the Sea: Lighthouses
• Whaleboat Exhibit
• Voyaging in the Wake of the Whalers
• Sea as Muse
• 19th-Century Navigation
• Benjamin F. Packard Ships Cabin

I particularly enjoyed the Figureheads & Shipcarvings exhibition. Each of the displayed figureheads gave its boat a unique personality, and the types of figureheads varied tremendously across the different countries and time periods represented. 

Seaport Village

One of the things we liked best about the Mystic Seaport Museum was how it encompassed so much more than a single building. In addition to the exhibits listed above, the museum also contains the Seaport Village. The Seaport Village is a re-created 19th-century village. Many of the buildings were original cottages from that time period that were carefully moved to the museum. As you stroll through the village, it’s important to note that the buildings aren’t replicas, but rather original pieces of historical architecture. 

When my parents visited Connecticut for the first time, I took them to the Seaport Village. It was one of their favorite parts of their trip to Connecticut!

Historic Vessels

The Mystic Seaport Museum extends to the marina where you can board a number of historic vessels. When you visit you’ll be able to see the last surviving wooden whaleship, the Charles W. Morgan which was built in 1841. It’s one of the oldest commercial ships to still afloat. The museum’s collection of ships includes four National Historic Landmark vessels: the Morgan, Dunton, Sabino and Emma C. Berry. 

Planetarium

The sailors relied on the stars for navigation, so it makes perfect sense that the museum would also have a planetarium. You can read more about the shows offered at the Treworgy Planetarium. 

Kids Activities at Mystic Seaport

The Mystic Seaport Museum has numerous activities for kids of all ages. When I first visited the museum I didn’t have children, but now that I’m a mom, I would love to take my daughter the next time we are in Connecticut. Children will enjoy the Susan Stucke Funk Children’s Museum, Home Port activity center, toy boat building on the weekends, discovery barn, and playscape. You can read more about the kids’ activities.

Shipyard

The marina is still home to a working shipyard. At the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard, you can observe carpenters at work. You might also be able to catch a ship being lifted from the water at the Hays and Ros Clark Shiplift. At the John Gardner Small Boat Shop, you can learn how small boats are made. Finally, you can see several large marine engines as you observe the shipyard.

Go for a Boat Ride

There are even opportunities at the museum to get out on the water. One option is to take a 25-minute boat ride on the Liberty. (Free with museum admission.) Boat rides will resume 4/30/22. There’s also opportunities to charter boats.

Dining at Mystic Seaport

The museum offers several dining options. Latitude 41º Restaurant & Tavern is a full restaurant, Schaefer’s Spouter Tavern is a casual restaurant, and you can also grab a quick bite at Anchor Mystic Café & Sweets. The Galley Café is also set to reopen in spring 2022.

Directions

The Mystic Seaport Museum is located in the state of Connecticut. It’s located conveniently off of Interstate 95. It’s about 56 miles east of New Haven, Connecticut, and about 49 miles away from Providence, Rhode Island. 

Recommended Hotels in Mystic

• The Whaler’s Inn: The Whaler’s Inn is located near the Mystic Seaport Museum of America and has a restaurant on-site.
• Hilton Mystic: This hotel is located directly across from the Mystic Aquarium. It has an indoor pool and is about a mile away from Olde Mystic Village.
• House of 1833 Bed and Breakfast: This charming Greek revival mansion was built in 1833. The rooms are uniquely decorated and the property has a beautiful English garden. The bed and breakfast also has a seasonal outdoor pool. 

Summary

We typically spent several hours visiting Mystic. We really liked the historical exhibits, but my favorite part was walking onboard the vessels. I hope this post inspires you to visit as well!

Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.