A Great New England Vacation
By Judy Koutsky
Mystic is a great place for families because there’s so much to see and do. Attractions include the Mystic Seaport, Aquarium and Mashantucket Pequot Museum. Spend a long weekend getting to know this favorite destination on the easternmost shoreline of Connecticut.
The Mashantucket Pequot Museum (www.pequotmuseum.org) is well worth a day’s visit. The museum is celebrating its ninth anniversary this year and boasts over 1.8 million visitors since its opening. The center houses one of the largest and most comprehensive Native American museums in the country. It includes permanent and special exhibits, performances and presentations of Native American culture and two libraries—one devoted just to children.
Located in southeastern Connecticut on land that has been continuously occupied by Native Americans for over 10,000 years, the 308,000-square-foot facility blends in with the landscape, with two of the five levels of the structure built underground.
Not to be missed is the 185-foot stone and glass observation tower than stands at the easternmost point of the center. After taking the elevators to the top of the tower, visitors have unobstructive views of the reservation and miles of Connecticut land.
Nineteen special exhibits have been presented in the Mashantucket Gallery, a 4,200-square-foot space that presents changing displays of Native arts and cultures.
One of the most intriguing exhibits (for both adults and kids) is the Native American village which boasts 85,000 square feet of lifelike dioramas. Visitors can see how food was prepared in a 16th century village; discover what it was like to hunt caribou and other local game; and visitors can walk through a wigwam or sit down with a sachem. Each visitor is given their own audio device and thus they are able to spend as much—or as little time—at each station as they like.
This interactive museum will keep even the fussiest, short-attention-span children entertained. Ever changing multimedia presentations are offered in the auditorium. Allow a full day to get through the many exhibits and galleries.
NEXT: Mystic Aquarium and Seaport
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