Sail the Morgan 2014

Sail the Morgan 2014 is a Mystic community group dedicated to raising $1.5 million to help Mystic Seaport restore and sail the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan. Comprised of local business people, professionals, educators, and civic leaders the group seeks to increase awareness of the effort to have the Morgan go to sea again and to rally together as a community to celebrate the spirit of American enterprise that she represents.

The Sail the Morgan 2014 committee was honored to present the 70th Anniversary celebration of the arrival of the Charles W. Morgan in Mystic. This weeklong celebration from October 28 to November 5 featured a restaurant week, shopping events, evening concerts, and art and photography exhibits focusing on 1941, the year the Morgan came upriver to the Marine Historical Association, which later became Mystic Seaport. Additionally, the Museum offered free admission on Saturday, November 5 to which drew nearly 4,000 people to the town and Museum. This special day will featured tours, demonstrations, and an opportunity to honor the remaining people who witnessed the Morgan’s arrival all those years ago.

None of this was feasible without the tremendous support of the Sail the Morgan 2014 committee and volunteers. This group stands as a model of how public support can help sustain private institutions, advance common goals and work together to celebrate the shared ideals that have helped shape our nation.

Mystic Seaport is proud of this collective effort. The Museum is deeply grateful to those who have given their time, expertise, and resources to help make the audacious vision of sailing the last wooden whaling ship in the world a reality.

Below are several of the speeches from the official anniversary ceremony in the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard at Mystic Seaport on November 5.

President Steve White

Sen. Richard Blumenthal

Keynote Speaker Nathaniel Philbrick