Mystic, Connecticut is perfectly situated in the heart of New England for a military reunion of any size. Mystic and the surrounding communities are steeped in nearly four hundred years of incredible military history dating back to the Pequot War of the 1630s. Today, Mystic is a premier destination for military reunions, with many interesting museums, parks, historic sites, and dining-destinations for you and your group to explore. Below are only a few of the many military-related destinations in the Mystic area that we encourage you to experience.
Mystic Seaport Museum (Mystic): Mystic Seaport Museum, the premier maritime museum in the United States, was established in 1929 by three men, including Lieut. Charles Stillman, a local physician and veteran of World War I. Founded with the purpose of gathering and preserving the rapidly disappearing artifacts of America’s seafaring past, the Museum has grown to become a national center for research and education with the mission to “inspire an enduring connection to the American maritime experience.” The Museum’s grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River and include a recreated New England coastal village, a working shipyard, formal exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. The Museum is home to more than 500 historic watercraft, including four National Historic Landmark vessels, most notably the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan, which survived Confederate raiders during the American Civil War and German U-Boats during the outbreak of World War I before arriving in Mystic in 1941. Also, on permanent view at Mystic Seaport Museum is the Danish-built training vessel Joseph Conrad, which was used as a floating barrack in Florida during World War II and a davit from the USS Maine, which exploded in Cuba’s Havana Harbor in February 1898, sparking the Spanish-American War. Mystic Seaport Museum has hosted 100s of military reunions over the years. Veterans, their families, and friends, love our 19 acres of grounds, restaurants, meeting rooms and unique, ever-changing special events. With 4 registered National Historic Site vessels to explore — including The Charles W. Morgan, the only surviving wooden whaleship in the world – plus always-new exhibits and exhibitions, boat tours along the historic Mystic River aboard the restored 1908 steamboat Sabino, there’s something here for everyone. Wander through The DuPont Preservation Shipyard where Mystic Seaport shipwrights restore and renovate tall timber vessels or enjoy a sit-down show at our planetarium. Our reunion team works collaboratively both with local hotels and reunion planners to create one-of-a-kind events that attract a massive turn-out. Our on-site caterer creates options to suit every need – from delicious box lunches perfect for a great day exploring our site, to a sit-down dinner for 175 in our river side pavilion. Located halfway between Boston and New York, at exit 90 on I95, or just 1 hour from Bradley Airport in Hartford or T.F. Green Airport in Providence, it’s an easy trip to get here from anywhere in the country. Whatever your needs, we’re here to help you build an enjoyable gathering.
Fort Griswold (Groton): Fort Griswold, located in the community of Groton, about six miles away from Mystic, was the site of the single largest battle fought in Connecticut during the American Revolutionary War. In September 1781, British forces, commanded by Connecticut-native General Benedict Arnold, sieged the communities of New London and Groton along the Thames River. Fort Griswold was under the command of Col. William Ledyard, who courageously defended the Fort alongside approximately 165 local militiamen and volunteers before being killed in the battle. Today, Fort Griswold is marked by the Groton Monument, a towering 135-foot tall obelisk commemorating the defenders of the Fort and the Monument House Museum, which holds various historical artifacts from the American Revolutionary War.
The Submarine Force Museum (Groton): Groton, which is located about six miles from Mystic, is known as the ‘Submarine Capitol of the World” for its long history of manufacturing submersibles for the US Navy. Groton is home to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics, which manufactured more than 70 submarines during World War II alone. Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine, was built in Groton between 1951 and 1954 and was the first commissioned nuclear-powered vessel in the US Navy. Nautilus was decommissioned after a ground-breaking 25-year-long career in the US Navy and has returned to Groton and is available to visit and board at the Submarine Force Museum on One Crystal Lake Road in Groton, Connecticut.
Fort Trumbull (New London): Fort Trumbull, located about seven miles away from Mystic, was the fortification along the Thames River for the community of New London. Originally constructed in 1777, the fort was destroyed along with the majority of the other buildings in New London in September 1781 when British forces, commanded by the infamous traitor Benedict Arnold, sacked the town and burned New London to the ground. Today, the rebuilt Fort Trumbull is a Connecticut State Park that enjoys scenic views of the Thames River and Long Island Sound. Fort Trumbull is situated less than three miles away from the United States Coast Guard Academy and often offers incredible views of the USCGC Eagle, known as ‘America’s Tall Ship.’
Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center (Mashantucket): The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, which is located on the ancestral land of the Indigenous Pequot Nation, opened in 1998 and is home to state-of-the-art exhibitions featuring contemporary Indigenous artwork and historic cultural heritage artifacts. Walk through a recreated 16th Century Pequot village, complete with trees, wigwams, and authentically life-casted figures of Indigenous people. Discover the rich history of the Pequot people and learn about the impacts that European colonial settlement had on the Indigenous occupants of this region. Watch ‘The Witness,’ a film dramatizing the events surrounding the Pequot War and the Battle of Mystic Fort- also known as the Mystic Massacre- which happened in Mystic, Connecticut in May 1637. At the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, you will learn about the past, present, and future of the Pequot Nation and those Indigenous men and women who have proudly served in the American armed forces throughout its existence.
Ready to get started? Reach out to Aisha with Mystic Seaport Museum
