Mystic Seaport receives federal grant to preserve maritime skills
Nov. 5—MYSTIC — Mystic Seaport Museum has receive a $40,038 American Rescue Plan grant to maintain and expand its Maritime Trades and Skills Program, in which museum interpreters are trained in historic crafts and trades.
The interpreters demonstrate and explain the importance of blacksmithing, sail making, open-hearth cooking, coopering and many other 19th century skills to visitors as they stroll the museum's grounds and enter its buildings.
Museum spokesman Dan McFadden said Thursday the training allows the interpreters to not only explain, for example, how to make a wooden barrel but why that job was important in a 19th century maritime community. He said the grant will allow the museum to cross-train its interpreters in various skills, making them more versatile.
The grant was announced this week by Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, who said the grant will come through the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The funding was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act, which Courtney voted to pass in March.
"These funds are critical to our plans to rebuild and expand our historic trades, crafts and maritime skills program. This will enable us to have our experts cross-train current and new staff members in the arts and crafts of blacksmithing, coopering, wood carving, printing, open-hearth cooking, and the maritime skills of the sailor. It is only by continued professional instruction and sharing with the public that these important aspects of our nation's history are preserved for future generations," Seaport President Peter Armstrong said. "We are very grateful to Rep. Courtney for his support of this legislation and our museum's mission to connect every American to their own sea story."
In a statement, Courtney said the American Rescue Plan has helped "overcome a lot of the collateral damage brought on by the pandemic."
"We've seen our towns use Rescue Plan funds to save jobs and support police stations, schools, and fire houses, hundreds of small businesses and restaurants have received relief funding, and it's good now to see resources supporting jobs at the Mystic Seaport Museum while also preserving our region's maritime heritage," he said "This is an excellent use of American Rescue Plan resources — it will support jobs right off the bat, it helps preserve our region's history and maritime culture, and it will be used to help folks train and acquire skills that could be used for jobs in the maritime sector."
