Mystic Seaport

Mystic Seaport Fosters Maritime Education through Library Lottery

2008-12-05T14:36:25Z

The Ashaway Free Library in Ashaway, RI, is this year’s winner of the annual Mystic Seaport Library Membership Lottery drawing.

Through the support of an anonymous donor, Mystic Seaport annually offers any public library in Connecticut, Rhode Island or Long Island the opportunity to receive a library membership to the Museum for one year, a gift valued at $500. The membership allows the library’s cardholders to check out a free admission pass that entitles one family (two adults and up to three children) free admission for a day at Mystic Seaport. The passes are valid the entire year.

Established in 2002, the endowed library fund helps to educate children about maritime history. More than 120 of 300 libraries have responded to the offer.

Ashaway Free Library is a community library located in the southern portion of Hopkinton, RI. Its year-round enhancement curriculum includes children's reading activity programs, along with special activities for seasonal events such as the Holiday Stroll.

“We try every year and thought we would never win. Thank you, Mystic Seaport!” said Heather Field, the Library’s spokeswoman.

Experience Family Fun with Holiday Magic at Mystic Seaport

2008-12-03T17:00:46Z

Enjoy family-friendly activities all week long, including special presentations, workshops and programs for kids of all ages during Holiday Magic at Mystic Seaport December 26-28, 2008, and December 30, 2008, through January 4, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

A special Sea Family Tour aboard the L.A. Dunton will be offered daily at 11 a.m. Discover how sailors, captains and their families observed the holidays at sea.

At 12 p.m., visit the Abracadabra Magic Workshop on the third floor of the Voyages Exhibit and learn a magic trick or two to share with your friends and family. The magical fun continues with historical magician E.A. Davis’ authentic nineteenth-century magic show at the Greenmanville Church. Show times are 1 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. daily.

Discover the winter sky with the planetarium’s Celebrations of Light show at 12:30 and 2 p.m. Explore the Arctic from the warmth of the Schaefer Gallery with the Museum's latest exhibition, Frozen In: Captain Comer and the Hudson Bay Inuit and then drop in to the Children’s Museum anytime between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to make your own Inuit keepsake.

All activities - excluding the $2.50 planetarium show - are included in admission.

Mystic Seaport is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Winter admission is $15 for adults and $9.50 for children ages 6-17. Children 5 and under are admitted for free. For more information, call 888.973.2767 or visit www.mysticseaport.org.

Mystic Seaport to Host 53rd Annual Community Carol Sing; December 21st Event to Benefit the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center

2008-11-20T15:07:14Z

The 53^rd annual Community Carol Sing at Mystic Seaport will be held Sunday, December 21, from 3 - 4 p.m.

Admission to the Museum is free that day with the donation of a canned good item. All contributions will be donated to and distributed by the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center.

Former Ledyard High School choral director, Jamie Spillane, will once again lead the crowd in song, backed by the Mystic Seaport Carolers and a brass quartet.

Additionally, the Museum's Planetarium will present "The Star of Bethlehem," a program which explores the winter skies, merging science, mythology, religious observance, winter traditions and music. The show will run hourly from 12 - 3 p.m. Cost is $3. Children five and under are free. Visitors are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to starting time. For more information about the program, call 860.572.5315.

For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org.

International Marine Art Exhibition at Mystic Seaport Honors Artists; Exhibition runs in Maritime Gallery through Nov.16

2008-11-11T18:20:41Z

Thirteen participating artists were honored at the Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport’s twenty-ninth annual International Marine Art Exhibition.

The awards are as follows:

The Museum Purchase Award—given annually to an artist whose piece is selected to be added to Mystic Seaport’s permanent collection – was awarded to Steven Lush of North Andover, MA, for his watercolor painting, “Red Tanker.”

The Rudolph J. Schaefer Award – given in memory of Mystic Seaport Trustee Rudolph J. Schaefer’s devotion to preserving maritime history and is presented to an artist whose work best documents an aspect of our marine heritage – was awarded to Dusan Kadlec of Canada for his oil painting, “Brooklyn Bridge from South Street, 1974.” This is Kadlec’s second International Award.

The Stobart Foundation Award – which encourages the importance of painting from life and is recognized for its uniqueness of style, quality of light and atmosphere – was awarded to Angel Ramiro Sanchez of Italy for his oil painting, “Under the Shade.”

The Maritime Gallery Yachting Award – which celebrates the singular pleasures of going to sea and work and best captures the beauty and excitement of the “sport of kings” in all its many forms – was awarded to Don Demers of Kittery, ME, for his oil painting, “Breeze on the Bay: Herreshoff P. Boats.” This is Demers’ 11^th International Award.

The Marine Environmental Wildlife Award – which acknowledges the importance of preserving the fragile balance within the world’s ecosystems and best depicts marine mammals, fish or birds in their native habitat – was awarded to Kent Ullberg of Corpus Christi, TX, for his stainless steel sculpture, “Silver Ghosts.” This is Ullberg’s third International Award.

The Thomas M. Hoyne III Award – given in memory of Thomas M. Hoyne III’s dedication and contributions to accurate and historical representations of Gloucester fishing schooners, as well as the men who sailed them – was awarded to Harold Johnson of Seatac, WA, for his oil painting of sunlit fishing boats in “Blue Boat.”

The David Thimgan Award – given in memory of artist David Thimgan’s (1955-2003) passion for portraying the rich and diverse maritime history of the West Coast, and whose work best portrays the geography and history of the North American West Coast and Pacific Rim regions of the worlds, emphasizing quality of light and atmosphere – was awarded to Robert B. Dance of Kinston, NC, for his alkyd painting, “Resurrection Bay, Alaska” which depicts Resurrection Bay near Seward, AK. This is Dance’s third International Award.

The Thomas Wells Award – given in memory of artist Thomas Wells’s (1916-2004) depiction and celebration of commercial tall ships and their ports of call and recognizes the work that best documents sail commerce and trade routes at the turn of the century – was awarded to Ian Hansen of Australia for his oil painting, “ THERMOPYLAE and EMPRESS OF INDIA”. This is Hansen’s 3^rd International Award.

Five artists were additionally cited for the quality of their work and received Awards of Excellence:

J. Terry Culpan of Great Britain for his watercolor painting “An 1812 Encounter.” This is Culpan’s second International Award.
Russ Kramer of Stonington, CT, for his oil painting, “The Joy of Sailing: CARA MIA and the New York 30’s of 1905.”
Victor Mays of Madison, CT, for his watercolor painting, “Harbor Traffic – Early 20^th Century.” This is Mays’ 10^th International Award.
Don McMichael of North Bend, OR, for his oil painting “Hunting the Great Ice Whale.” This is McMichael’s third International Award.
Jeff Weaver of Gloucester, MA, for his oil painting, “Fishing Schooners in the Ice Field.” This is Weaver’s third International Award.

Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport to Host Holiday Exhibitions and Sales

2008-11-07T16:23:33Z

The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport presents Maritime Miniatures by Maritime Masters and Three Distinguished Artists, two holiday exhibitions and sales which open November 24 and run through December 31.

Maritime Miniatures by Maritime Masters features paintings by top national and international marine artists. More than 125 framed paintings will be displayed and available for purchase —each no larger than 12 inches in height or width.

“This is one of our most popular shows,” said Jeanne Potter, director of the Maritime Gallery. “Each painting is truly a miniature masterpiece created by some of the most respected maritime artists working today. These paintings are reasonably priced and beautifully framed, making them perfect for gift giving and also giving collectors the chance to own original works by their favorite artists at affordable prices.”

Also opening in the gallery is Three Distinguished Artists, an exhibition featuring the works of Leonard Mizerek, F. ASMA; Sergio Roffo, F. ASMA and Jeff Weaver. The exhibit features more than 25 original oil paintings that celebrate the timeless beauty of the sea.

“For art lovers, and especially collectors, this exhibition and sale is a unique opportunity to see works by three highly acclaimed maritime artists,” said Potter. “Each work was specifically selected to showcase the technique and aesthetic qualities that are hallmarks of the best in contemporary maritime art for which each of these artists is noted.”

A holiday open house with hot cider and cookies will be held Saturday, November 29, and Sunday, November 30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A special discount of five percent on the sale of art will be available for Mystic Seaport members. Maritime Gallery patrons receive a 10 percent discount.

For more information on these exhibitions and any of the featured artists, visit www.mysticseaport.org/gallery or call 860.572.5388.

The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport is the nation’s foremost gallery specializing in contemporary marine art and ship models. Through its parent organization, Mystic Seaport, the gallery is proud to offer access to the world’s leading experts in the marine field, and the highest standards of scholarship, integrity and connoisseurship that the nation’s finest maritime museum represents. The gallery is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers free admission.

Post-Thanksgiving Day Family Fun at Mystic Seaport

2008-10-31T15:29:46Z

Burn off Thanksgiving calories while spending quality time with family at Mystic Seaport’s annual Field Days, Friday and Saturday, November 28 - 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In addition to the Museum’s regular exhibits and demonstrations aboard tall ships, children can try their hand at nineteenth-century games on the Village Green, enjoy rollicking songs of the sea in a family-friendly music program and take part in a craft station.

Children can also climb aboard the Museum’s playscape boats, learn how sailors navigated by the stars under the planetarium dome and observe America’s last wooden whaleship, the Charles W. Morgan, which has been hauled out of the water for restoration in the Museum’s Shipyard.

All activities, excluding planetarium programs and horse and carriage rides, are included in Museum admission.

Mystic Seaport Names New President and CEO

2008-10-30T20:45:33Z

Stephen C. White, the former headmaster of the Fay School in Southborough, MA, has been named president and chief executive officer of Mystic Seaport.

White will assume his position January 15, 2009. Retired Coast Guard Rear Admiral Doug Teeson, the Museum’s current president and CEO, who earlier this year announced his plans to retire, will remain in his position until that time.

“It was important to find a successor capable of building on Doug’s many achievements,” said Richard Vietor, chairman of the Museum’s board of trustees. “We’ve found that person in Steve White – an experienced educator, successful fundraiser and someone with a deep passion for sailing and for Mystic Seaport.”

“What inspires me about Mystic Seaport is the pervasive sense of a clear mission – connecting Americans with the sea – and how palpable it is in everything the Museum does,” said White. “This is not just a challenging time; it’s an inspiring time. History is such a central part of our national fabric, and I am thrilled to be in an environment that is as rich and rewarding as Mystic Seaport.”

White served 18 years as headmaster of Fay School, the country’s oldest junior boarding school, founded in 1866. Fay School now educates an international student body in grades 6-9 as boarding students and day students in grades 1-9.

During White’s tenure, Fay School established a dynamic strategic plan and a comprehensive master plan for future campus development. Under his leadership, the School dramatically increased its endowment and, most recently, he also completed a $20 million campaign designed to support key elements of the strategic plan, including compensation, scholarships, program development and campus expansion.

The year following White’s arrival at Fay in 1990, the School was honored with the Blue Ribbon Award from the U.S. Department of Education. The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools for demonstrating academic superiority or for dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels.

Throughout White’s tenure at Fay, the School opened a new performing arts center, a math and science wing, a new gymnasium and a learning center to enhance students’ educational environments.

“Steve has addressed and accomplished many of the same issues currently facing Mystic Seaport,” Vietor said. “And, as the Museum works to add value to visiting families and expand educational offerings throughout the year, Steve’s experience is well-suited to help us accomplish those goals."

Teeson, who has led the nation’s premier maritime museum for the past seven years, is confident the Museum will continue to evolve and adapt as it moves into its eightieth year.

“I have great confidence in Steve’s ability to steer the next leg of the race,” Teeson said. “With great generosity from trustees and other donors, we’ve ensured that our collections, including the national historic landmark vessels, will be here for future generations to experience. And we have ambitious plans to lift the Museum to much higher levels of educational and cultural achievement, on a year-round basis. I eagerly look forward to introducing Steve to Mystic Seaport’s many constituencies.”

A native of Camden, ME, White has long enjoyed a connection to the sea, sailing with his grandfather and father in wooden boats. He found his call to education through the sea as well, having spent summers as a director of junior sailing programs at Camden Yacht Club and Ft. Worth Boat Club.

Before beginning his teaching career, White made two trans-Atlantic crossings on a sloop from Connecticut.

“Mystic Seaport provides more than a career challenge,” White said. “It gives me an opportunity to return to my roots. And, more importantly, to tell stories. As an educator, I cherish the opportunity to tell stories. And there is no better place to tell maritime stories than Mystic Seaport.”

White’s involvement with multiple non-profit organizations includes serving as director of the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of MetroWest, as well as serving as a trustee for both Berwick Academy in South Berwick, ME, and at Hillside School in Marlborough, MA.

As a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE), White has invested time and effort to the advancement of independent school groups which provide meaningful experiences for children. With a B.A. in English and Education from Hartwick College, White has additionally completed coursework at Columbia University/Teachers College through a Klingenstein Fellowship.

White presently resides on Cape Cod with his wife, Maggie.

Fall into Fun with Kids’ Half-Price Weekends at Mystic Seaport

2008-10-10T20:55:17Z

Children ages 6-17 will be admitted for $6.50 into Mystic Seaport the weekends of October 18-19, 25-26 and November 1-2. The fall promotion offers a $6.50 savings from the normal $13 youth admission ticket.

“Mystic Seaport is an unparalleled family destination,” said Douglas Teeson, president and director of the Museum. “In light of continued economic uncertainty, it is our goal to ensure that all families have the opportunity to experience the richness of Mystic Seaport this season.”

Children can enjoy the changing season, as well as the Museum’s many activities, including climbing aboard historic tall ships, creating a nautical masterpiece in the Art Spot, exploring the Children’s Museum, observing stars in the Planetarium and discovering America’s lighthouse history in the Museum’s newest exhibition, Sentinels of the Sea.

The “Kids’ Half-Price Weekends” offer is not transferable and subject to change without notice. For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org.

Mystic Seaport Presents Third Annual America and the Sea Photo Contest

2008-10-07T18:20:25Z

Mystic Seaport invites amateur photographers of all ages to submit their visions of coastal America to the Museum's third annual America and the Sea photo contest.

All entries must be received by December 1, 2008. Winners will be announced in the summer 2009 issue of Mystic Seaport magazine.

Photographers are encouraged to present their view of America and the sea regardless of their proximity to the water. Bays, harbors and inlets, inland lakes, streams and fishing holes, rivers and waterways all join the vast ocean coastlines in framing our maritime nation.

Photographs may include landscape views, lifestyles, animals, details and people and must be submitted via email to AmericaandtheSeaPhotos@mysticseaport.org.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second, third place and honorable mention entries in both the "Life" or "Landscape" categories for adults and first, second, third place and honorable mention entries in the "Youth" category.

For complete contest details, visit www.mysticseaport.org/photocontest2008.

Mystic Seaport Launches Children’s Birthday Parties; Celebration Includes all-day Museum admission for 15 people

2008-09-30T19:54:57Z

Mystic Seaport now offers nautical-themed birthday parties for kids.

Children ages 3 to 10 can select one of four themes for their special day – Pirates, Mermaids, Girls of Long Ago or A Sailor’s Life. A two-hour celebration will then be designed by Mystic Seaport around the motif of choice.

Children and their guests are encouraged to dress in keeping with the party’s theme. The celebration will include a mini-tour of Mystic Seaport led by a Museum teacher, exploration of a tall ship (substituted by making a birthday treat for the Girls of Long Ago theme), a craft and game, a private party room with Mystic Seaport party favors, birthday cake with all of its supplies and all-day Museum admission for 15 people.

Parties can be scheduled Saturdays and Sundays between 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 2 - 4 p.m.

Birthday celebrations cost $325 ($300 for Museum members) for a minimum of five guests and a maximum of 15. An additional five guests may be added for $20 per person. Lunch may be added to the birthday celebration for $10 per person, as well as a Planetarium show for $3 per person.

Reservations can be made now by calling 860.572.5322. All reservations are subject to availability and payment must be made in full when parties are booked.

For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org/birthdayparties.

Lantern Light Tours at Mystic Seaport Begin November 29; Advance Reservations Strongly Recommended for Popular Holiday Event

2008-09-26T19:12:11Z

Tickets for Lantern Light Tours at Mystic Seaport go on sale October 6.

Performances are November 29-30 and December 4-7, 11-14, 18-21 and 27-28. Tours begin at 5 p.m. and leave every 15 minutes.

Tickets are $25 for adults ($23 for members) and $18 for children ages 4-18 ($16 for member youth). A $2 handling fee will be applied to each ticket. Tickets can be purchased online at www.mysticseaport.org/lanternlighttours or by calling 860.572.5331 Monday though Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors must indicate the need for a handicap-accessible tour when making a reservation.

A New England holiday tradition, Lantern Light Tours is a 70-minute progressive play that takes its audience back in time to Christmas past. Visitors tour Mystic Seaport on foot and are given horse-drawn carriage rides, experience a traditional dance and may even sight old St. Nick.

This year’s performance, “Nothing Without Charity,” takes visitors through the town of Greenmanville on Christmas Eve 1876. The shipbuilding industry isn’t what it used to be, so the town has decided to put on a benefit production. It couldn't have chosen a better show, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. But things are not going as planned. Tonight, one prominent businessman must face the choices of his past.

For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org.

Mystic Seaport Presents its 2008-09 Adventure Series

2008-09-24T14:23:32Z

Climbing remote mountains, discovering sunken pirate ships and defying physical expectations are just some of the journeys visitors will experience in the 2008-09 Adventure Series at Mystic Seaport.

The Adventure Series runs once a month from October to April. Each presenter will speak at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the River Room at Seamen’s Inne. Tickets for the entire afternoon series are $85 ($70 for members). Tickets for the entire evening series are $95 ($80 for members). Single tickets can be purchased after October 3 pending availability. Early registration is recommended, especially for the evening series. Call 860.572.5339 for tickets.

The 2008-09 Adventure Series features:

Thursday, October 16 – Matt Newcomb, a scientist who studies astronomy at the South Pole – and commutes through 12 time zones to do so – will discuss what it’s like to study microwaves emitted by the early universe and how to build a telescope out of ice.

Thursday, November 20 – Mountain climber and photographer Charles Gray will give a multi-media presentation – choreographed to the native music of China and Tibet – which features videos of his climb on Cho Oyu, the sixth highest peak in the world.

Tuesday, December 16 – Sailors Bill and Mary Russell will share their story of migrating to a raised pilothouse trawler in order to fulfill their dream of cruising to the Georgian Bay on Lake Huron via a continuous 6,000 mile trip.

Thursday, January 15 – Backpacker Andrew Skurka, named National Geographic Adventure’s “Adventurer of the Year,” will discuss what it was like to be the first person to

complete the Great Western Loop – a 6,875 mile journey that links together five long-distance hiking trails and passes through 12 National Parks and more than 75 wilderness areas.

Thursday, February 19 – Bruce and John Abele, sons of the commander of the U.S.S. Grunion – a submarine which was lost at sea in July of 1942 – will show high definition video of the wreck to share their story behind the search for their father’s sub.

Thursday, March 19 – Award-winning writer, photographer and cruising sailor Bernadette Bernon explored Vietnam on land and then chartered a 38-foot sailboat and traced the country’s coast. Bernon will share her discoveries of the country, its history and people.

Thursday, April 16 – Underwater archaeological explorer Barry Clifford discovered the 28-gun pirate ship Whydah off the coast of Cape Cod in 1984. Clifford will describe this only authenticated pirate shipwreck that has been discovered so far in American waters.

For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org/adventureseries.

Chowder, Foliage and Music at Mystic Seaport’s Annual Chowderfest

2008-09-18T13:50:56Z

Celebrate the changing seasons by enjoying an afternoon of cool sea air and steaming hot “chowda” at Mystic Seaport’s annual Chowderfest, Saturday, October 11, through Monday, October 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On the menu are traditional New England, Rhode Island and Manhattan chowders; additional seafood specialties, including lobster salad rolls and a raw bar; non-seafood items such as hamburgers; seasonal desserts and beer, wine and apple cider. Menu items range from $2 to $8. The cost of food is in addition to Museum admission.

Chowder isn’t the only thing served up at Mystic Seaport Columbus Day weekend. Stroll through the village, climb aboard tall ships and enjoy live music from Finest Kind. Bring the kids to enjoy a “clammy” art project and story time in the Children’s Museum. Play nineteenth-century games on the Village Green and learn about the late summer stars under the Planetarium dome. Take a cruise aboard our 100-year-old steamboat Sabino for the last time this season and get a closer look at the colorful autumn foliage.

Chowderfest proceeds benefit Mystic Seaport and Special Olympics Connecticut. Support for Chowderfest is provided in part by Cabot Creamery and Coca-Cola of Southeastern New England.

Mystic Seaport Announces Charles W. Morgan Restoration Plans

2008-09-17T20:27:00Z

Mystic Seaport will officially begin the restoration of the Charles W. Morgan, the world’s last wooden whaleship, during a special celebration, Saturday, September 27.

The event will mark the kick off to the Morgan’s three-year, $5 million restoration project which will renew areas of the vessel from the waterline down to below the turn of her bilge, including parts that haven’t been seen since she was built more than 160 years ago.

A National Historic Landmark and the Museum’s signature vessel, the Morgan was built in 1841 in New Bedford, MA. During her 80-year career, she made 37 voyages across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. In 1941, the Morgan came to Mystic Seaport, where millions of visitors have since walked her decks.

“The Charles W. Morgan is an enduring symbol of the American spirit embodied by our seafaring ancestors,” said Museum President and Director Douglas Teeson. “Mystic Seaport is honored to be the proud caretaker of this precious piece of maritime history and to preserve the vessel for future generations.”

The restoration ceremony will begin at Chubb’s Wharf at 1:30 p.m. Keynote speaker Dr. Raymond E. Ashley, Ph.D., the executive director of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, will discuss the importance of historic ship preservation. He will also read excerpts from Charles W. Morgan’s personal diary from the day the vessel was first launched – July 21, 1841.

A highly regarded and long-time member of the maritime community, Ashley came to his present position at the Maritime Museum of San Diego in 1996 following a career that included experience in ship preservation, conservation, shipbuilding, historical scholarship, publication and teaching at the university and community college levels.

Other scheduled speakers include Teeson, who will discuss the Morgan’s significance to Mystic Seaport and the Museum’s Chairman of the Board, Dick Veitor, who will detail the vessel’s planned move, haul and her three-year restoration plan.

Karen Senich, the Executive Director of the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, and Rob Simmons, Business Advocate for the State of Connecticut, will also speak.

The event will conclude with the ceremonial lowering of a yard from high above the deck. This initial phase of down-rigging will mark the beginning of the Morgan’s restoration “voyage.”
Additional tours, programs and demonstrations will be held throughout the day aboard the Morgan and on Museum grounds.

The Morgan’s restoration “voyage” will continue October 19 when the whaling ship is moved from her berth at Chubb’s Wharf down alongside the Museum’s state-of-the-art Shiplift in the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard. The whaling ship will then be hauled out of the water November 1.

All scheduled movement for the Morgan between September 27 and November 1 is dependant on opportune weather and tide conditions. Regular updates on the Morgan’s restoration progress will be posted at www.mysticseaport.org/morganrestoration.

Thomas B. Crowley Jr. to Receive Mystic Seaport’s America and the Sea Award

2008-09-11T19:21:55Z

Thomas B. Crowley Jr., Chairman, President and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corporation, will be honored with Mystic Seaport’s third annual America and the Sea Award at a gala dinner held at the Rainbow Room in New York City, Wednesday, October 29.

The annual award recognizes an individual or organization whose contributions to the history, arts or sciences of the sea best exemplify the American spirit and character.

“This award honors and celebrates America’s relationship to the sea and the spirit of exploration, adventure, creativity, competition and freedom that inspires us all,” said Mystic Seaport President and Director Douglas Teeson. “Tom Crowley has demonstrated unparalleled professional achievement while guiding Crowley Maritime Corporation into the twenty-first century. He has expanded upon his father’s and grandfather’s vision, providing both domestic and international patrons with marine transportation services of the highest caliber.”

Crowley began his role as CEO of the family business in 1994 at the age of 27. Under his leadership, the company’s annual revenues have exceeded $1.5 billion and the corporation has become one of the largest United States flag marine transportation companies, the leading container shipping line in Latin America and the Caribbean Basin and the world’s largest tug and barge operator. With corporate headquarters in Jacksonville, FL, the worldwide diversified maritime company has expanded to more than 4,100 employees and operates a fleet numbering more than 210 vessels. Crowley continues to develop the business his grandfather founded in 1892, focusing on the corporation’s expertise on water while also maximizing opportunities for growth in new areas of business.

In fact, the company now has the following operating lines of business: Puerto Rico/Caribbean Liner Services, Latin America Liner Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services. Offered within these operating lines of business are the following services: liner container shipping, logistics, contract towing and transportation; ship assist and escort; energy support; salvage and emergency response; vessel management; vessel construction and naval architecture; government services, and petroleum and chemical transportation, distribution and sales.

Crowley Maritime Corporation’s 116 years of growth and success have facilitated its leadership role within the industry as it relates to corporate social responsibility. In addition to environmental and charitable outreach initiatives, a key area of focus has been education. The company has given tens of thousands of dollars to deserving college students from Alaska to Central America and points in between in the name of Crowley’s father, Thomas B. Crowley, Sr., who guided the company to extraordinary heights before passing away in 1994.

In 2002, Crowley established the Crowley Maritime Corporation Scholarship and the Crowley Maritime Corporation Summer Internship, both of which benefit students attending the Williams-Mystic Program at Mystic Seaport who demonstrate superior academic performance and financial need. Each fall, Crowley hosts the Williams-Mystic students onboard one of his ocean-going tugs in San Francisco Bay. Every spring, he provides students with a seminar tour of the Seattle harbor.

The gala will begin with cocktails at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m., dancing and the presentation of the award.

Tickets to the America and the Sea Award gala are $600 per person ($375 is tax deductible) and can be purchased now by calling 860.572.5365. The black-tie event is one of the Museum’s leading annual fundraising events.

Previous America and the Sea Award winners include pre-eminent yacht designer Olin J. Stephens II and respected author and historian David McCullough.