Going to the Dogs — Mystic Seaport Style

When I read that ‘so and so’  is Grand Marshal of a parade coming to a town near me, I immediately envision someone very distinguished looking, riding in an open convertible, smiling and waving to the crowd as the car passes by.

On Friday, August 27 from 5-7 p.m., Mystic Seaport is having its first-ever dog parade, but the Grand Marshal  won’t be waving to the crowd.  Instead he’ll be wagging his tail and possibly woofing a greeting as he passes by.  His name is Rufus , and this Bull Terrier is well-deserving of his status in the parade.

Awarded  the 2006 Westminster Best in Show Champion medal, Rufus holds a total of 700 titles in all. This winning dog has since used his fame to raise money for multiple animal and human charities in addition to bringing a touch of cheer to humans as a Certified Therapy Dog.

On August 27^th, Rufus will be leading a multitude of fellow canine parade participants, some of whom have already had their own ‘moment of fame’ by being selected as Sea Dog of the Week in Mystic Seaport’s  photo contest.  For the parade, all dogs can compete for prizes in the categories of Best Dressed, Best Nautical Theme and Judge’s Choice. Rufus will be head judge along with fellow judge Lee Elci, dog owner and radio personality on 104.7, WXLM.

We humans don’t need to beg for this treat. All we need to do is register our costumed dogs at 5 p.m. if they are to participate in the parade. Otherwise, we can just come, with or without our pooch, and watch from the sidelines. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. Admission to this after- hours event is FREE! And, everyone that comes Friday night will receive a coupon for reduced admission on the weekend.

What a fun way to kick off Dog Days weekend at Mystic Seaport.  ‘See you at the parade….and at all the other special events and demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday.  These animals are amazing in what they can do. No wonder dogs are considered man’s best friend!

This entry was written by Museum volunteer Trudi Busey. Trudi no longer has a dog, but she is known to spend time dog sitting for friends and family.

End of Summer Doesn’t Mean the End of Fun

Yeah, those hazy lazy days of summer are winding down. All the more reason to take advantage of warm sunlit days while flip-flops and shorts are still in vogue. 

Mystic Seaport has the antidote for any end-of-summer blues you may be feeling.  Take any one or more of the list below and you’ll feel better. This may even be a situation where an overdose is a good thing!

Here are prescriptions  we recommend you fill:

• Refills remaining – 1: Music for the ears, purchased hors d’oeuvres and drinks from Spouter’s Tavern.  Must be taken Sundays 8/27 upon free entry to Mystic Seaport grounds  between 5-8 p.m.
• Register for some dog therapy. This can be done either by watching or participating with your pet in Mystic Seaport’s first ever dog parade on Thursday, August 27^th at 5 p.m. No charge.
• Dosage on the above may be increased on Dog Days Weekend, August 28-29.  Museum admission necessary to receive full benefits of dog demonstrations in areas of search and rescue, K-9 police work, hunting skills and dog therapy.
•  Learn about those hard-working tugs in Mystic Seaport’s  TUGS! exhibit and you may feel your job isn’t so tough after all. Relax by the pool and navigate a miniature tug yourself.
• Simply spend a day at Mystic Seaport.  It will cure just about anything!

If the above prescriptions don’t do the trick, we’ll keep you posted on exciting things to look forward to in September and October at Mystic Seaport.

This blog was written by Trudi Busey — herself a victim of a Mystic Seaport overdose!

Ever-changing Exhibits

I learned something new today.

Working at Mystic Seaport you would think I’d be keenly aware that all the permanent and changing Museum exhibits don’t just happen overnight. Well, I DO realize that —  but this morning was an eye-opening education.

Jeff Crewe, a key member of the Museum’s Exhibits Department, spoke about all the research, brainstorming, planning and teamwork that goes on before the ultimate construction of an exhibit. It’s an awesome process with a singular goal – to have the exhibit engage, entertain and educate visitors during their visit and make them want to visit Mystic Seaport more often.

Jeff likens making an exhibit to film-making: it must have appeal and reach the right audience; there are actors (interpreters who man an exhibit); and there’s a script (explaining the exhibit). The big difference is that an exhibit has about 15 minutes or less to keep a visitor interested, whereas a film has up to two hours to do that. Hmm.

Bet you never thought about that either.

There’s a term called ‘museum fatigue’ that refers to a feeling of too much information to absorb by reading only. At the risk of sounding partial, I don’t think that affliction is likely to happen at Mystic Seaport.  From games on the green, building a wooden boat, drawing your own map, learning to tie sailors’ knots, boarding amazing vessels, taking a carriage ride or a steamboat ride, gazing at the star-studded universe….the list goes on and on. The only museum fatigue you might have is physical exhaustion from a great day at Mystic Seaport!

I hope when you do visit, that you’ll think a bit more about the exhibits Mystic Seaport has provided with you in mind. Come not just once, but over and over again. Exhibits are always changing.

This post was written by volunteer Trudi Busey. Just try and catch up with her as she explores all Mystic Seaport has to offer!