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North Boat Shed Exhibit or "Our Grandfather's Boats"

Just one example of the many watercraft on display The North Boat Shed (#52 on map) is one of the two areas where some of Mystic Seaport's collection of more than 400 historic watercraft are now exhibited under cover. The current exhibition is call "Our Grandfather's Boats."

Who took you out for your first boat ride? Was it your grandfather?

Then chances are it was in a small boat like one of these, built during the century from 1850 to 1950. This century saw tremendous changes in the way Americans lived and went boating.

* In 1850, boats were built one at a time in small shops, for fishermen and others who worked for their living on the water. By 1950, small boats were being built by the hundreds in factories, and sold like automobiles to Americans who just wanted to get out on the water and have fun.

* In 1850, traditional small craft were either pushed by the wind or pulled along by the strength of the rower. By 1950, these types had been overtaken by wave after wave of high-tech motor boats, powered by steam, naphtha and then gasoline.

Every boat in this exhibit has its unique history and its own special stories to tell us: stories about other times and other places and about people like our grandfathers.