The American Alliance of Museums (formerly the American Association of Museums) is the one organization that supports all museums. Through advocacy and excellence, the Alliance strengthens the museum community. The Alliance supports 21,000 museums, individuals and companies by developing standards and best practices, providing resources and career development, and advocating for museums to thrive.
From New York to Maine, Brewer Yacht Yards have set the highest standards in the industry for amenities and services. Boaters can choose from 22 marinas to find the most ideal slip, storage, and service facility
Mystic Seaport and Brewer Yacht Yards have joined together to offer boaters exclusive discounts. Through this partnership, Brewer members can use their Brewer Preferred Customer Card when docking at Mystic Seaport. This special offer grants a two-night dockage at Mystic Seaport at a $.50 per foot discount off the Museum’s current dockage rate. Brewer customers who are also Mystic Seaport members will receive a $.50 per foot discount off the Museum’s current member rate.
To all non-Brewer transients, Mystic Seaport will offer Brewer Cruising Club Cards (CCC). By showing a CCC, boaters will be entitled to a 25% discount off transient fees after the first night, as well as a $.05 discount off fuel purchases for the rest of the season at any Brewer marina.
These special offers are valid on a space-available basis only and do not guarantee a reserved slip.
Cangarda, a frequent visiting vessel to Mystic Seaport, was built at the beginning of the 20th century in the Edwardian tradition of the late 1800s. The elegant yacht was a toy of the super rich – what might be referred to today as a mega-yacht. Built in Wilmington, DE, before the days of the income tax, Cangarda is the last surviving American-built steam yacht in the country — and one of only three of its type left in the world.
Cangarda was named after its original owners, Charles Canfield and his wife Belle Gardner. They later sold the yacht to George Fulford, a prominent Canadian, whose business sold “Pink Pills for Pale People.” Home-ported for much of its life in the Thousand Islands stretch of the St. Lawrence River, the yacht hosted a dinner in 1927 attended by the Prince of Wales, Duke of Kent and the English and Canadian Prime Ministers.
Cangarda served the Royal Canadian Navy as a training vessel during World War II, but in her post-war years, she slowly fell into disrepair. A restoration effort got underway in the 1980s, under Richard Readly, who fully dismantled the vessel, sent its seven steam engines to England for restoration and painstakingly preserved and stored its elaborate wooden components. Readly, however, became ill and was forced to abandon the project. The hull actually sank at a Boston pier in 1999.
Cangarda was restored to her current form from 2004-2008.
The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut is a collaborative of business and community leaders dedicated to securing and enhancing the economic vitality of eastern Connecticut. The Chamber is located on the Hartford Turnpike in Waterford, Connecticut.
Connecticut Humanities (CTH) is a non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities that funds, creates, and collaborates on hundreds of cultural programs across Connecticut each year. CTH brings together people of all ages and backgrounds to express, share and explore ideas in thoughtful and productive ways. From local discussion groups to major exhibitions on important historical events, CTH programs engage, enlighten, and educate.
The Council of American Maritime Museums (CAMM) is an organization dedicated to preserving North America’s maritime history. CAMM’s 80+ members include museums, museum professionals, and scholars from United States, Mexico, Bermuda, Australia, and Canada.
CAMM works to promote high professional standards in the preservation and interpretation of maritime history. Its members seek to convey and preserve this history through collections, sites, vessels, projects, exhibitions, and research.
The Cruising Club of America (CCA) is an international organization with a membership of more than 1,200 men and women who have voyaged the oceans for adventure and recreation. The members have vast sailing experience, exemplified by superior seamanship and demonstrated through significant command. Equally important to the mission of the club are the members’ geniality of spirit and willingness to share knowledge and friendship with fellow members through cruises, publications, social events, and posts on CCA’s website.
The CCA and its members contribute to the sport of sailing and history of yachting in many ways. The club makes awards for exceptional passage making, seamanship, and literary works. The club organizes and runs the biennial Newport Bermuda Race, and conducts seminars on safety at sea for hundreds of sailors. The Bonnell Cove Foundation makes grants to not-for-profit organizations for projects in safety at sea and environmental protection.
The Herreshoff Marine Museum / America’s Cup Hall of Fame is dedicated to the education and inspiration of the public through presentations of the history and innovative work of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company and the America’s Cup competition.
The Museum, bordering beautiful Narragansett Bay, in Bristol, Rhode Island, is one of the nation’s most important historic maritime treasures. The Museum regularly hosts classic yacht regattas, sponsors symposia on classic yacht design and restoration, and operates an outstanding sailing school for youth and adults. The Museum celebrates excellence in design, innovation, education, and technology.
Mystic Seaport and the Herreshoff Marine Museum have a broad collaborative relationship as each museum’s mission, assets, programs and aspirations are complementary with the other. Both museums operate independently with their existing assets, but serve as resources to the other as needed. Mystic Seaport and Herreshoff Marine Museum work closely together in a number of areas including collections management, curatorial and custodial support, and exhibitions.
The mission of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. IMLS provides leadership through research, policy development, and grant making.
TUGS!, a recent exhibition at Mystic Seaport celebrating the story of American tugboats, was made possible thanks to a large grant from IMLS, as well as generous individual donations and in-kind support.
The International Congress of Maritime Museums (ICMM) brings maritime museum professionals together from all over the world for regular conferences, creating a strong network of maritime museums and people. The organization is a service provider for maritime museum professionals and provides a focal point of contact and professional help for museums large and small. ICMM also offers technical assistance on ship and boat preservation; opportunities to exchange collections or staff; loan exhibitions; planning, research, educational programming, and public relations; and procurement of supplies for maritime preservation projects. ICMM is an ICOM-affiliated organization and has the status to represent and support member museums in matters of common professional interest.
The Lynx Educational Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan, educational organization, dedicated to hands-on educational programs that teach the history of America’s struggle to preserve its independence. The maritime challenges during the War of 1812 are taught aboard the American Privateer Schooner Lynx utilizing a comprehensive, interactive program designed to enrich personal achievement through teamwork and the discipline of sail training. The Lynx Educational Foundation is dedicated to all those who cherish the blessings of America. The Lynx educational program meets the State of California Curriculum Standards and has been officially endorsed by the Orange County Board of Education, and is an LAUSD Officially Approved Venue for field trips.
Mystic Country (mystic.org) is the only regional tourism web site for Mystic Country. Geographically, Mystic Country’s destination is all of eastern Connecticut plus Westerly, Rhode Island. The region spans nearly 50 miles of shoreline from Clinton, Connecticut to southwestern Rhode Island, plus thousands of acres of country north to the Massachusetts border, including the Quiet Corner. Mystic Country offers everything tourists need to plan their next visit, including what to do, where to stay, where to eat and where to shop. More than 600,000 unique visitors visit mystic.org as a one-stop resource for planning their vacation.
Mystic Rotary Club is a member of the worldwide association of Rotary International. Its mission is to provide service to others, promote high ethical standards, goodwill and peace through its fellowship of business, professional and community leaders. The Rotary’s main fundraiser is Mystic Seaport’s annual Memorial Day Weekend event, Lobster Days, and all net proceeds from the event are distributed to local charities and scholarships supported by the club.
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency created in 1965 and is one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States. Because democracy demands wisdom, NEH serves and strengthens by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans. The Endowment accomplishes this mission by awarding grants for top-rated proposals examined by panels of independent, external reviewers. NEH grants typically go to cultural institutions, such as museums, archives, libraries, colleges, universities, public television, and radio stations, and to individual scholars.
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, a private, non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, was created to assist the federally managed National Marine Sanctuary Program with education and outreach programs designed to preserve, protect and promote meaningful opportunities for public interaction with the nation’s marine sanctuaries.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an agency that enriches life through science. From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America’s gross domestic product. NOAA’s dedicated scientists use cutting-edge research and high-tech instrumentation to provide citizens, planners, emergency managers and other decision makers with reliable information they need when they need it. NOAA’s roots date back to 1807, when the Nation’s first scientific agency, the Survey of the Coast, was established. Since then, NOAA has evolved to meet the needs of a changing country. NOAA maintains a presence in every state and has emerged as an international leader on scientific and environmental matters.
The National Rowing Foundation‘s (NRF) underlying principle is to support athletes who pursue excellence in the sport of rowing. For the past 42 years, the efforts of the Trustees and Directors have been directed toward this pursuit with the primary goal of promoting the United States’ participation in international rowing competition. The NRF’s Rowing Hall of Fame is located in the G.W. Blunt White Building at Mystic Seaport.
The mission of the New England Museum Association (NEMA) is to strengthen member museums and museums in the region. To achieve this mission, NEMA fosters communication and ethical conduct; provides professional development; promotes excellence in museum operations; and encourages support for the museum community.
The North American Society for Oceanic History was founded in 1973 to provide a forum for maritime history and remains actively devoted to the study and promotion of naval and maritime history. The society’s objectives are to promote the exchange of information among its members and others interested in the history of the seas, lakes, and inland waterways; to call attention to books, articles, and documents pertinent to naval and maritime history; and to work with local, regional, national, international, and government organizations toward the goal of fostering a more general awareness and appreciation for North America’s naval and maritime heritage. NASOH also houses the U.S. Commission on Maritime History which is a constituent member of the International Commission on Maritime History. Along with the Canadian Nautical Research Society, NASOH co-sponsors publication of The Northern Mariner/ Le Marin du Nord, a quarterly journal of maritime history scholarship.
Ocean Classroom Foundation is an educational organization that provides programs of sea education and adventure for the youth of America aboard the schooners Westward, Spirit of Massachusetts and Harvey Gamage. Ocean Classroom Foundation is a leader in experiential education, with award-winning programs sailing from the Canadian Maritimes to the Caribbean Sea. Programs vary from one-day, to one-week, to semester long adventures for middle school, high school and college students; custom programs for schools, youth and community organizations and continuing education for American history teachers.
The Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center (PNC), founded in 1985, is a multi-purpose facility which offers a variety of social, educational, health and human services programs with an emphasis on community spirit. Its mission is to improve and enhance the quality of life of residents of all ages living within the communities it serves by providing basic human needs, social interaction, and senior transportation to obtain medical care.
All of the canned goods donated to Mystic Seaport during the Museum’s annual Community Carol Sing are donated to and distributed by PNC.
Through the work of Smithsonian Affiliations and the many Smithsonian Affiliates across the country, people can experience the Smithsonian in their own community. Smithsonian Affiliates are partners in a bold effort to share America’s artistic, scientific, and historic heritage. Experience the landmark moments of space flight, the mystery of gems, the beauty of nature, the passion of art, and the march of history – all at your doorstep. Mystic Seaport is proud to be a Smithsonian Affiliate.
The mission of Special Olympics of Connecticut is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Tourism Cares is an innovative nonprofit organization formed in 2005 through a consolidation of the National Tourism Foundation and the Travelers Conservation Foundation. The organization works to preserve the travel experience for future generations through a three pronged approach. Tourism Cares awards grants to natural, cultural, and historic sites throughout the world. In addition, the organization hosts unique volunteer restoration projects designed specifically for travel professionals. Recognized as the most innovative “give-back” program in the industry, Tourism Cares volunteer project and Volunteer Day draw thousands of corporate leaders and individuals together to share in the conservation and preservation of treasured cultural and historic sites. The organization also helps assure a knowledgeable tourism workforce by granting academic and service-focused scholarships to hospitality and tourism students.
Mystic Seaport was the proud recipient of a $10,000 Special Grant from Tourism Cares in May 2011.
Trinity College is a co-educational liberal arts school located in Hartford, Connecticut. The college’s commitment to urban-global education is groundbreaking, as is its interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program and First-Year Program, one of the earliest in the nation. Trinity College has also just added more than 20 young teacher/scholars to its faculty, and its faculty across the board is committed to collaboration with students on real-world research projects.
Mystic Seaport is proud to host an annual summer internship program in museum education through Trinity College.
The University of Connecticut (UCONN) is one of the nation’s leading public research universities. UConn’s main campus in Storrs is admitting the highest-achieving freshmen in University history. Student diversity continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice.
Just as it has for centuries, Connecticut remains a haven for original ideas and fresh thinking. A magnet for dreamers and doers, the state blends the old and historic with the young and energetic to create an inspiring dynamic – one that motivates people to experience new things, defy convention and blaze their own trails.
Nationally accredited and internationally recognized, Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology has been producing skilled boat and yacht designers, many of whom have become leaders in the industry, for 80 years. Since 1930 the Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology has been providing the education necessary for anyone with the drive and desire to become a practicing small-craft designer. Although the design curriculum requires graduates to master computer aided design, it is also committed to ensuring that students gain solid traditional drafting and design skills.
The Williams-Mystic program educates undergraduate students in a semester-long academic investigation of the sea that is accompanied by travel throughout the United States and original research opportunities. Courses are hands-on, discussion-based, and place an emphasis upon original research: it’s not unusual to be on a boat, at the beach, or studying within Mystic Seaport’s vast historical collections for class. Students take classes in marine science, maritime history, maritime literature, and marine policy, which all connect with each other in addition to student life and field seminars in observance of our unique interdisciplinary academic approach.