Tourism Cares for Mystic Seaport

Non-profit plans volunteer project to give back to Mystic Seaport

 

Mystic, Conn. – Tourism Cares announced today that Mystic Seaport is the site of the 2011 Tourism Cares volunteer program scheduled for May 6, 2011.

The project, in its 9th year, brings members of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries together to make a difference at historic sites nationwide. During this Tourism Cares restoration and clean-up project, tourism professionals, from the front line workers to the corner office executives, will work side-by-side with a common goal – the visible improvement of Mystic Seaport. The impact of this volunteer project is far-reaching, as the project will likely increase visitor confidence in the area, boost the area’s economy and spark further acts of responsible tourism.

            Located along the banks of the historic Mystic River, Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum and attracts 300,000 visitors annually. Established in 1929, the Museum campus entails more than 100 buildings spread across 50 acres.
            As one of the leading tourism destinations in Connecticut, Mystic Seaport is home to more than 500 historic vessels, including four National Historic Landmarks. Among them is the Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whaleship in the world and the recipient of a Tourism Cares grant in 2007. The Museum holds more than two million objects in its collection of rich maritime artifacts.
            “Maintaining such a large and diverse campus can be a challenge for the Museum staff.  Tourism Cares volunteers will lend a hand and help the Mystic Seaport staff complete projects that might normally find themselves on the deferred maintenance list,” said Bruce Beckham, Executive Director, Tourism Cares.  Among other things, volunteer projects for the day will include roofing, painting, landscaping, ship maintenance and more. Registration will open soon and is available to anyone who is employed in the travel and tourism industry. Visit www.tourismcares.org for more information.
            “We are grateful for the continued support of Tourism Cares,” said Mystic Seaport President Steve White. “We work hard to maintain a first-rate facility for our visitors. It’s not easy to care for a campus of our size – particularly in a challenging economic climate. To have this type of help speaks volumes of the people in the tourism industry and their willingness to pitch in and help out.”
            The project at Mystic Seaport joins a long list of destinations Tourism Cares volunteers have come together to help including, New York/New Jersey’s Ellis Island, New Orleans before and after Katrina, the Mississippi Gulf Coast post Katrina, Gettysburg and most recently, Angel Island in San Francisco Bay.
            Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum features a working preservation shipyard, tall ships, a re-created 19th-century seafaring village and exhilarating exhibits. For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org.
            Tourism Cares is a 501c(3) non-profit public charity that benefits society by preserving the travel experience for future generations by awarding grants to natural, cultural and historic sites worldwide; by presenting academic and service-learning scholarships to students of hospitality and tourism; and by organizing volunteer efforts to restore tourism-related sites in need of care and rejuvenation. For additional information about Tourism Cares, visit www.tourismcares.org.