Out on drizzly, mild day to visit Mystic, we drove through Willimantic with a scruffy little downtown, nice courthouse, and signs of when the town was the tread capitol of the US (Torrington, Connecticut was the needle center.)  Another reminder of what America, and particularly Connecticut once was, a land of people making things.

Mystic Seaport is a cluster of old buildings that demonstrate how things were made for the whaling ships, including boat repair shops, a blacksmith shop, carving, shop and more.  Big old boats are hauled out, repaired, and preserved, and newer small boats are crafted and maintained, much of the work done by volunteers.

Some very nice boats at the docks and in sheds

a steel sailing ship, the Joseph Conrad, originally used to train Danish sailors, now used as a dormitory for teen classes, couploe of old salts on deck

 a room of figureheads, each with its own story

  a section on music on ships, including recorded and live sea shantys and old photos

and big anchors lying around.

A fun and interesting day with good friends, as it should be.