Cultural History

Mystic has a rich history as a significant seaport in the state of Connecticut, with 600+ ships built over 135 years starting in 1784. As a result, the Mystic Seaport, one of the largest maritime museums, is home to a number of these ships. The last wooden whaling ship, the Charles W. Morgan, calls the seaport its home. The Morgan was built and launched in 1841 and remains the oldest commercial ship still afloat, the USS Constitution is the only vessel still floating that is older! Known as a "lucky ship" the Morgan traveled to every corner of the globe, surviving crushing Arctic ice, countless storms, Cape Horn roundings and after retiring from whaling, it even survived the Hurricane of 1938.

While ships and the shipping industry helped to build Mystic, it's not the only draw to this corner of Connecticut. Mystic and her surrounding area is home to numerous attractions, such as the Mystic Aquarium, museums, breweries/wineries, a broad variety of dining options, the casinos, beaches, and more!

Take a few moments to peruse our guidebook to see all that our part of the state has to offer!

Mystic Guidebook