I used to love Mystic seaport, there was always more to see than I had time for, but I would try to read everything or come back to finish going through the display halls. But, the last time I went it seems like the curators are going for a minimalist approach to displays which I personally hated. The museum holds vast collections of art, yet there is no permanent gallery exhibiting the country's great maritime artists (Yorke, Raleigh, Smith, Jacobsen, Lane, the Bards, etc.) . Hardly any ship portraits are displayed, which would be very useful in explaining all the vanished ship types, their evolution, and events concerning them. Instead, there was the whaling panorama from the New Bedford Whaling museum. While a great artifact, which many have seen, it seemed to be displayed in a large, new, modern building in which little space was actually occupied by exhibits, as though the open spaces are supposed to add something. While I can understand the desire not to look like a cluttered junk store, I think I would have gotten more out of more cluttered displays. If I have to look at the same section of wall viewing 6 paintings and then move on to five more such walls, I'm obviously going to get more out of that than 6 walls with 1 painting each. If I'm overwhelmed, well, I can just take a break or skip over things. Obviously I got my money's worth. Also conspicuously absent is a permanent display of ship models. There used to be excellent ones that attempted to show the different types of vessels and their evolution. As it is now, the museum's interior exhibits might be good for someone who knows little about maritime history and just wants a look see for the day, the type of person who calls all sailing vessels "schooners," but the new display designs left me asking "where's the meat?!" and wishing I had not made the very long drive. Realizing these are financially hard times, I would think less money should have gone to reconfiguring to these 90% empty space gallery displays, perhaps en vogue with the gallery and museum curatorial crowd, and instead things should have been left as they were. This video, touting about the vast amount of things in storage and out view only drives home the point that better use should be made of the limited display areas than is currently done with the single artifact on a pedestal per wall gallery technique someone has bought into. The museum might have gotten a big display building that clashes with its entire motif of a 19th century village, but I'm not impressed by voids. In 40 years, I have never had such an unrewarding visit as I did this October.
Mystic sucks now man. The seaport isnt what it was. Less to see less being showed. The village changed so much. So much less fun. The hotel i been staying at for 15 years has been taken over by some cheap assholes and they dont take care of the place. Just not what it used to be😐
One of the problems with Connecticut is when you grow up there and then move out of the state for example California you are so much more cultured and educated that it can cause issues
I've been going to Mystic Ct, for 25 years I never get tired of it.
We try to go at least once a year.We LOVE the history of the whaling ships.GREAT PLACE to visit👍
I went there 3 years ago
It was a great place to visit but expensive for a family to explore
I used to love Mystic seaport, there was always more to see than I had time for, but I would try to read everything or come back to finish going through the display halls. But, the last time I went it seems like the curators are going for a minimalist approach to displays which I personally hated. The museum holds vast collections of art, yet there is no permanent gallery exhibiting the country's great maritime artists (Yorke, Raleigh, Smith, Jacobsen, Lane, the Bards, etc.) . Hardly any ship portraits are displayed, which would be very useful in explaining all the vanished ship types, their evolution, and events concerning them. Instead, there was the whaling panorama from the New Bedford Whaling museum. While a great artifact, which many have seen, it seemed to be displayed in a large, new, modern building in which little space was actually occupied by exhibits, as though the open spaces are supposed to add something. While I can understand the desire not to look like a cluttered junk store, I think I would have gotten more out of more cluttered displays. If I have to look at the same section of wall viewing 6 paintings and then move on to five more such walls, I'm obviously going to get more out of that than 6 walls with 1 painting each. If I'm overwhelmed, well, I can just take a break or skip over things. Obviously I got my money's worth. Also conspicuously absent is a permanent display of ship models. There used to be excellent ones that attempted to show the different types of vessels and their evolution. As it is now, the museum's interior exhibits might be good for someone who knows little about maritime history and just wants a look see for the day, the type of person who calls all sailing vessels "schooners," but the new display designs left me asking "where's the meat?!" and wishing I had not made the very long drive. Realizing these are financially hard times, I would think less money should have gone to reconfiguring to these 90% empty space gallery displays, perhaps en vogue with the gallery and museum curatorial crowd, and instead things should have been left as they were. This video, touting about the vast amount of things in storage and out view only drives home the point that better use should be made of the limited display areas than is currently done with the single artifact on a pedestal per wall gallery technique someone has bought into. The museum might have gotten a big display building that clashes with its entire motif of a 19th century village, but I'm not impressed by voids. In 40 years, I have never had such an unrewarding visit as I did this October.
Mystic sucks now man. The seaport isnt what it was. Less to see less being showed. The village changed so much. So much less fun. The hotel i been staying at for 15 years has been taken over by some cheap assholes and they dont take care of the place. Just not what it used to be😐
@@The1ajj Agreed, sadly. They messed with a good thing. They're also getting all woke too from what I hear.
One of the problems with Connecticut is when you grow up there and then move out of the state for example California you are so much more cultured and educated that it can cause issues