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Mystic Tourist Attractions

The old boatbuilding and whaling town of Mystic is now a popular tourist resort, with the Marinelife Aquarium and the Mystic Seaport as its principal attractions; the latter is the largest open-air martime museum in the United States with some wonderful old ships.

Mystic Aquarium & Institution For Exploration

Encounter ocean animals with a visit to the Mystic Aquarium. Experience Birds of the Outback, an interactive exhibit. Reach in and touch a ray, go beak to nose with a penguin, and feel the splash of a beluga whale. Visitors can experience a wonderful variety of animals from beluga whales to Steller sea lions, African penguins, blue tongued skinks and more. Take a ride on the new XD Motion Theater Deep Sea 3D. Dive into the deep with the world's only exhibits based on Dr. Robert Ballard's expeditions. Come see Dr. Ballard's new exhibit, "Exploring Your National Marine Sanctuaries", which takes visitors live into some of the National Marine Sanctuaries where you will discover shipwrecks and see colorful corals without having to leave the Aquarium!
Picture - Sea anemone at the Mystic Aquarium.
Picture - Aquarium in Mystic.
Picture - A beluga whale surfacing at the Mystic Aquarium in Mystic.

Mystic Seaport

Mystic Seaport is one of the major nautical museums in the United States as well as being a recreation of an historical seaport village. The major ships on display include the last antique whaling ship, the Bark Charles W. Morgan (1841). Other historical ships featured are the Joseph Conrad, the Schooner L.A. Dunton and various steam vessels.
The buildings on the grounds are not only the houses and stores of a small village, but also the sailmakers, ship builders and others who provisioned the ships of old. Several museums feature ship figureheads, the history of shipping and ship models.
Picture - Ship sails in Mystic Seaport.
Picture - Sailboats in the harbor at Mystic Seaport.
Picture - Interior of whaling Bark Charles W. Morgan at Mystic Seaport.
Picture - Oyster House at Mystic Seaport.
Picture - Mystic Seaport.
Picture - Steam boat at Mystic Seaport.
Picture - Ships in at Mystic Seaport.
Picture - Ships and storm clouds at Mystic.
Picture - Mystic Seaport in Winter.

Denison Homestead Museum

The Denison family occupied this Colonial Revival home from 1717 to 1941. It is decorated with Denison family heirlooms offering a unique glimpse of a variety of time periods. The house is situated on 200 acres of forest and meadows.

Mystic Art Association

The Mystic Art Association is located on the bank of the Mystic River and has been in existence since 1913. It features changing exhibits, programs and workshops.