A View From the Mystic River Bridge

A View From the Mystic River Bridge. . The Bridge This bridge, built in 1922 is the sixth one on the site since a private wooden toll bridge was built here in 1819. Called a bascule (French for "seesaw"), this unusual bridge is listed on the National Park Service's Historic American Engineering Record Two 40-horsepower electric motors pivot the 85-foot movable span, weighing 660 tons which is counterbalanced by two 230-ton concrete weights. The bridge is operated and maintained by the Connecticut Department of Transportation. , The Mystic River This estuary is thought to take its name from the Mohegan word for "great tidal river." Although the waterway is navigable for only six miles form Old Mystic down the Noank, between 1784 and 1919 shipbuilders launched more than 1,400 vessels into its waters --from fishing boats, and barges to coasting schooners, steamboats, and clipper ships -- a remarkable output for a small New England region. , Mystic Seaport Today, the nation's maritime heritage is brought to life for visitors of all ages at Mystic Seaport -- The Museum of America and the Sea (1 to 2). Founded by local residents in 1929, Mystic Seaport is now one of the worlds leading maritime museums, drawing millions to see its renowned ships, waterfront exhibits, collections, and programs. The Museum's floating collection of National Historic Landmark vessels includes the 1841 square-rigged whaleship Charles W. Morgan, the 1908 passenger steamboat Sabino, the 1921 Gloucester fishing schooner L.A. Dunton, and the locally built 1866 fishing smack Emma C. Berry. Artisans still practice traditional skills as they preserve the Museum's collection Mystic Seaport occupies the historic locations' of the George Greenman and Co. (1) and Charles Mallory and Sons shipyard (2), which between them launched more than 150 vessels from 1837 to 1878. , The Towns Formerly known as Mystic Bridge the coming from the the east (right) bank is part of the Town of Stonington (?) schooners and pleasure boats now tie up (3) where seagoing ships and barges loaded and unloaded cargo and coal from the 1870s to the 1920s. On the west (left) bank, in the town of Groton, is the settlement once known as Mystic River. There, along Gravel Street (4), are homes built between 1790 and 1890 for some of Mystic's prosperous merchants and ship captains. Upriver is Appelman's Point (5), an important ship building site from 1853 to 1885.