Year of the CHARLES W. MORGAN

The Charles W. Morgan

Governor Dannel P. Malloy, State Senator Andrew Maynard (D-Stonington), and other Connecticut state legislators have designated the 2013-2014 academic year to be the “Year of the Charles W. Morgan” in the State of Connecticut. The designation affords students across the state and country a unique opportunity to learn about Connecticut maritime history, the significance of the whaling industry, and the importance of the state’s maritime heritage.

The Charles W. Morgan is the last wooden whaleship in the world and a National Historic Landmark vessel. The ship has been undergoing an extensive restoration in the Museum’s Shipyard since 2008 and will embark on an historic 38th Voyage to historic ports of New England in the summer of 2014. The ship serves as a portal into the past and a platform from which to examine contemporary issues. A dynamic and authentic artifact, the Morgan allows students to imagine what it was like to sail on a whaleship in the 19th century.

The Education Department at Mystic Seaport has developed special programming in celebration of the “Year of the Charles W. Morgan” for teachers to use, including lesson plans, videos, a music program, new roleplayers, primary source workshops, and more. Stay tuned for more information!