[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 152 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 152

  Commemorating Mystic Seaport: the Museum of America and the Sea in 
                     recognition of its 75th year.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 16, 2005

 Mr. Simmons submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
     referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Commemorating Mystic Seaport: the Museum of America and the Sea in 
                     recognition of its 75th year.

Whereas Mystic Seaport: the Museum of America and the Sea was founded as the 
        Maritime Historical Association on December 29, 1929, to preserve, 
        protect, and honor the legacy of America's great maritime tradition and 
        culture;
Whereas Mystic Seaport has grown into the largest, most diverse maritime museum, 
        and the fourth largest history museum, in the Nation;
Whereas the mission of Mystic Seaport is to create a greater awareness and 
        deeper appreciation of America's relationship to the sea and the impact 
        of that relationship upon us as individuals and as a Nation;
Whereas the collections of Mystic Seaport include four National Historic 
        Landmark vessels including the CHARLES W. MORGAN, the last wooden 
        whaling ship in the world; the LA DUNTON, one of the few remaining 
        fishing schooners of its era; the SABINO, the last coal-fired, steam 
        ship still in operation; and the EMMA C. BERRY, an 1866 wooden fishing 
        vessel;
Whereas Mystic Seaport also maintains the largest collection of watercraft in 
        the nation with more than 500 vessels representing sail, oar, paddle and 
        engine-powered boats spanning 2 centuries of history;
Whereas Mystic Seaport also features the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard 
        as a live working facility that showcases and interprets the art of 
        shipbuilding and restoration, including the restoration of its iconic 
        National Historic Landmark vessels;
Whereas the Mystic Seaport put the Preservation Shipyard to its highest and best 
        use in replicating the schooner AMISTAD in full public view, 
        demonstrating its claim that Mystic Seaport is the only museum in the 
        world that can build a large wooden vessel from the keel up and launch 
        it as part of a comprehensive museum experience;
Whereas the Collections Research Center of Mystic Seaport houses 75,000 maritime 
        artifacts, more than one million photographs, and 1.5 million feet of 
        film, and is a dynamic national maritime research facility;
Whereas the G.W. Blunt White Library is one of the largest and most thoroughly 
        catalogued and accessible collections of marine and maritime research 
        material in the world;
Whereas Mystic Seaport also features a representative 19th-century New England 
        coastal village featuring skilled tradesmen and live interpretation to 
        engage, educate, and entertain its visitors;
Whereas Mystic Seaport maintains educational and outreach programs for all 
        levels including accredited graduate and undergraduate programs through 
        the Munson Institute and Williams-Mystic, the cooperative Maritime 
        Studies Program of Williams College and Mystic Seaport;
Whereas Mystic Seaport continues to attract more than 300,000 visitors each year 
        and millions of other individuals through its interactive internet web 
        site, demonstrating its role as a vital cultural and educational center;
Whereas more than 1,500 volunteers each year assist 300 professional and support 
        staff in preserving and interpreting the collections of the Mystic 
        Seaport and in delivering its unique programs; and
Whereas Mystic Seaport has recently completed a comprehensive self-study and a 
        strategic program and master plan, and has recommitted itself to its 
        mission with an effort to strengthen its endowment and make its programs 
        more cohesive and compelling: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) commemorates Mystic Seaport: the Museum of America and 
        the Sea in recognition of its 75th year and commends the staff, 
        volunteers, and trustees of the Museum and encourages them in 
        their efforts to create greater awareness of America's 
        relationship to the sea and the profound impact of maritime 
        transportation and commerce upon our Nation's economic growth;
            (2) supports Mystic Seaport's presentation of our Nation's 
        Merchant Mariners and shipbuilders whose efforts promoted the 
        expansion of maritime transportation and commerce;
            (3) asks all Americans to join in celebrating this 
        milestone for Mystic Seaport and its mission of preserving and 
        interpreting the legacy of American maritime transportation and 
        tradition; and
            (4) encourages Mystic Seaport in its efforts to secure the 
        future of its collections and programs and supports its efforts 
        to make those programs even more compelling and engaging.
                                 <all>