MYSTIC, Conn. — Across five acres at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic is home to the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard where a team of just over 20 shipwrights stays busy.
Now in its 50th year, the Preservation Shipyard has more projects on the grounds than ever, said Scott Gifford, the lead shipwright and project manager.
"We basically take vessels that have historic significance and try to keep them afloat, keep them working and keep them available to the public to learn from," Gifford said.
This summer, there are five major preservation projects happening at the shipyard, said Walt Ansel, the Director of the H.B. duPont Shipyard.
“As shipwrights here, we buy trees and turn them into vessel parts, we sort of use the old buzz term “From Tree to Sea," Ansel added.
With current projects that will take anywhere from a few months to three or four years (or more), the team said that the work today will help the boats set sail sometime in the future.
“That’s why I’m here, it’s not just a job, it’s not even a career, it’s a love," Gifford said,
To learn more about the H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard, which is open for public visits click here.
Jimmy Altman is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at jaltman@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
---
Have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com
----
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.