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Mystic Seaport Annual Reports
A Message from the Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Dear Fellow Mystic Seaport Members and Friends,
A lot of good things are happening at Mystic Seaport that I believe show our mission continues to resonate with all Americans. Despite a challenging financial environment, our most recent fiscal year again demonstrated a year of progress. You will find within the following pages snapshots of things that our dedicated staff accomplished during the year.
Since its founding in 1929, Mystic Seaport has had to navigate both good and difficult economic times. The last few years have posed a severe challenge to the strength and durability of the Museum. Nevertheless, we remain unwavering in our commitment to present America's maritime history, culture, and artifacts, which underlie our unique national character and inform how the economic foundation of our great country was created. We can do this thanks to the unparalleled collections, staff, and visitor services at Mystic Seaport, and the financial support of our generous members, volunteers, donors, and friends. Thank you all for continuing to believe in Mystic Seaport, its mission, and all it does.
What do we envision for the months and years ahead? Our vision is not complicated: We seek to significantly influence how new generations engage with our nation's past, present, and future. Trustees and staff are working to identify, protect, and fund those core educational, collection, and watercraft assets that meet our criteria for inspiration, knowledge, authenticity, stewardship, and community. With their optimal use, we believe that we can create the exhibitions that tell the great maritime story of America to coming generations.
Perhaps the best example is our current restoration of the Charles W. Morgan and our plans to take her on a ceremonial 38th Voyage. You will learn within this report how the physical restoration is progressing, how the fund raising is tracking, what the education department is planning in support of the voyage, even how our Collections Department continues to identify and collect important artifacts related to the vessel.
Why is it so important for us to undertake such a large and expensive project at this time? The answer is she is not just an object but an encompassing idea. She is a ship from the past with a message about the future. She is the living spirit of American enterprise -- a spirit that was forged on our coasts, is global in scope, and where risk, courage, and sacrifice were not abstract ideas but a way of life. The work that is being carried out today at the Museum demonstrates that the spirit of American enterprise is alive and well at Mystic Seaport!
All of us who cherish Mystic Seaport owe a debt of thanks to you, the current stewards of our Museum. And those of you, who, like me, believe that our best days lie over the near horizon, I welcome and appreciate your continuing support.
Richard R. Vietor
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
This message is from the 2010-2011 Annual Report.
2010-2011 Annual Report
Download the 2010-11 Annual Report
Also available, the 2009-2010 Annual Report, 2008-2009 Annual Report, 2007-2008 Annual Report, 2006-2007 Annual Report, 2005-2006 Annual Report, and the 2004-2005 Annual Report.
