I was taking my family to visit the excellent Mystic Seaport Museum of America and the Sea in Connecticut when I first heard the story of the schooner Amistad.
In 1839, slaves aboard this transport ship revolted and took over the vessel when it sailed from Havana. The situation became a court case (argued in New Haven, Connecticut) about the legal rights of the slaves who had revolted.
The Freedom Schooner Amistad, a re-creation of the ship, was built at the historic Mystic shipyard and now serves as a roving tall ship ambassador.
I found a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) video that shows some students who had the opportunity to sail and learn aboard the ship on its recent world tour; I think you’ll enjoy their insights into history and the world of sailing ships.
Related Family Travel post: Sail the ocean blue: where to get nautical with your kids
(For my RSS feed subscribers and anyone who doesn’t see the box, click here to see the video.
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Wow, that looks awesome! Great story. I wish I could sail on the Freedom Schooner Amistad. What a great opportunity for these kids.
Hi Sue, Yes, there are a lot of educational opportunities on tall ships; maybe I can talk one of my kids into going.
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