Mystic Seaport's Hidden Gem: Historic Ship Figureheads
My (Kate) favorite part of the Mystic Seaport museum was actually the room of figureheads. All the ones on display were from decommissioned ships from the 18th and 19th centuries, although figureheads were in use on ships many centuries before then. Figureheads come in all shapes and sizes. The exhibit currently features about 30 total carvings, with most of those being figureheads. Some, like the Hippocampus (sea horse) are not figureheads, but intricate carvings from the same period. The exhibit rotates the museums full collection which includes several dozen detailed pieces. There is also a ship’s carver location on site at the museum where you can discuss the process with the carver when he is in (he was on lunch during our visit to his shop).
