James Driggs Shipsmith Shop
This shipsmith shop was built in New Bedford, Mass., by James D. Driggs in 1885. It is the only manufactory of ironwork for the whaling industry known to have survived from the 19th century.
Kids' Tour
Calling our youngest sailors. See, touch, explore, and climb aboard! Enjoy a collection of kid-friendly exhibits and activities, from Playscapes to real ships.
JOSEPH CONRAD: Squared Rigged Ship
The veteran training ship Joseph Conrad sailed under three flags before mooring permanently at Mystic Seaport in 1947. Built in Copenhagen in 1882, the 111-foot vessel was designed to accommodate eighty boys in training for the Danish merchant service.
Art Spot
Equipped with artistic tools and imagination, artists young and old can set out on Museum grounds to paint their own maritime keepsake.
Children’s Museum
Here, young sailors can swab the deck, move cargo, cook in the galley, dress in sailors’ garb, and even sleep in ships’ bunks. And to think people used to complain about the sailor’s life!
Discovery Barn
It’s all hands on deck at the Discovery Barn! Learn to tie knots, develop good teamwork by furling a sail, touch and smell baggywrinkle and see where it’s found on ships, and learn two secret forms of communication between ships: signal flags and semaphore. See how steady your hands can be while playing the old-fashioned [...]
Playscapes
Climb aboard the newest additions to our fleet–a sailing ship, tug boat, and fishing dragger. Don’t worry, none of these boats float in the water. They’re all playscapes, designed just for kids to explore.
Toy Boat Building
Build your own toy boat keepsake! Take home your toy boat as a souvenir of your visit to Mystic Seaport.
Neptune’s Orchestra: Songs of the Seafarer
Go on a musical journey through a variety of music made by and heard by seafarers in the age of sail. Out of their musical memories from home, experiences during voyages and their encounters with unfamiliar musical traditions, sailors created distinctive music that reflects their lives, work, and dreams.
For Kids & Families
Calling our youngest sailors. See, touch, explore, and climb aboard! Come take part in fun indoor and outdoor activities designed just for you at the nation’s leading maritime museum.