Museum Access Season 2 Episode 5 Mystic Seaport Museum
- February 1, 2019
- 26 min
In the fifth episode of season two of Museum Access, host Lucy is taking us on a journey through the Mystic Seaport Museum, located in Connecticut. This museum is dedicated to preserving America's maritime history and includes several vessels, artifacts, and exhibits that highlight the history of the sea.
Lucy starts the episode by giving a brief history of the museum and its origin. She explains that the Mystic Seaport Museum was established in 1929 and has since become one of the premier maritime museums in the world. The museum covers more than 19 acres and includes 17 exhibit buildings and over 500 historic vessels.
Throughout the episode, Lucy takes us through various exhibits in the museum. She starts by visiting the "Viking" exhibit, which showcases a replica of an ancient Viking vessel used for seafaring. Lucy describes the impressive size of the Viking ship and provides interesting facts about the Viking-age and their maritime history.
Next, Lucy takes us to the "Treworgy Planetarium," which is a unique exhibit found within the Mystic Seaport Museum. Here, Lucy provides a brief history of the planetarium, which was built in the 1960s, and explains that visitors can learn about the celestial bodies and their effect on the sea. The Treworgy Planetarium exhibit was renovated just two years ago and now has advanced projection technology to provide visitors an immersive and educational experience.
Lucy then takes us to the "Shipsmith's Shop," an exhibit that showcases a traditional blacksmith shop that was used for repairing and building boats. Here, Lucy explains that the exhibit is dedicated to preserving the art of shipbuilding and the craftsmanship required to build such vessels. She also points out that in the past, the shipsmith's shop was an essential part of every port, and this exhibit provides a glimpse of the specialized work required for making ships seaworthy.
Lucy then visits the "Charles W. Morgan" exhibit, which is the museum's flagship attraction. The Charles W. Morgan was a whaling ship built in 1841 and is one of the last remaining whale ships in the world. The exhibit provides an in-depth history of how the Charles W. Morgan was used to hunt whales and a showcase of the hunting tools used during the time. Lucy also takes a tour of the ship itself, which has been restored to its original glory, and she explains the significance of the ship's history.
Finally, Lucy takes us to the "Marine Gallery," which showcases artwork and artifacts related to America's maritime history. Here, Lucy explains that the gallery consists of various oceanic paintings, nautical models, and artifacts that highlight America's seafaring history. The Marine Gallery is a must-visit exhibit for anyone interested in maritime history.
Overall, the Mystic Seaport Museum is a vast and impressive exhibit of America's maritime heritage. The museum has something to offer for visitors of all ages, including immersive exhibits and interactive experiences that make the experience that much richer. Museum Access season two episode five provides a valuable insight into what the Mystic Seaport Museum has to offer, and it is a must-see for anyone interested in America's seafaring history.