Mystic in Stonington in Southeastern Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)

The Amistad – Flagship of Connecticut

Photographed by Michael Herrick, September 16, 2024

1. The Amistad – Flagship of Connecticut Marker

Inscription.

The Amistad – Flagship of Connecticut. . , The Amistad is a replica of the coastal schooner that was used to transport slaves from Havana to sugar plantations on the coast of Cuba. It was built in the Mystic Seaport Museum Shipyard and commissioned in 2000. It is the flagship of Connecticut. The ship's story was made popular in the film AMISTAD, directed by Steven Spielberg. , The story starts in 1839 with the mutiny aboard the ship, during which 53 Africans, who had been illegally abducted into the slave trade, managed to gain control of their captors' ship off the coast of Cuba. The mutineers spared the lives of two Spanish navigators to help them sail the ship back to Africa. , The navigators steered east toward Africa during the day, but changed course to north at night. Instead of West Africa, the ship eventually ended up off the coast of Long Island, where it was seized by the US Navy and towed into New London. The surviving Africans on board were imprisoned as runaway slaves. , In an unfamiliar country, and not speaking a single word of English, the Africans were the subject of a prolonged legal battle. They were charged with piracy and murder. But their plight was taken up by a group of abolitionists. Through an interpreter enlisted by the abolitionists, the Amistad Africans told of their kidnapping from West Africa and being sold into slavery, which was then illegal. The Africans were, therefore, free citizens of Sierra Leone, and not slaves at all. Eventually that argument prevailed - but only after it was appealed to the US Supreme Court in 1841. The Africans were eventually returned to their homeland in 1842. , Today, this ship is used as a floating classroom by the non-profit educational organization Discovering Amistad, based in New Haven. As a vessel for change, Discovering Amistad teaches the lessons of the Amistad Uprising to advance racial and social justice today. , For more information on our educational programs go to www.DiscoveringAmistad.org

The Amistad is a replica of the coastal schooner that was used to transport slaves from Havana to sugar plantations on the coast of Cuba. It was built in the Mystic Seaport Museum Shipyard and commissioned in 2000. It is the flagship of Connecticut. The ship's story was made popular in the film AMISTAD, directed by Steven Spielberg.

The story starts in 1839 with the mutiny aboard the ship, during which 53 Africans, who had been illegally abducted into the slave trade, managed to gain control of their captors' ship off the coast of Cuba. The mutineers spared the lives of two Spanish navigators to help them sail the ship back to Africa.

The navigators steered east toward Africa during the day, but changed course to north at night. Instead of West Africa, the ship eventually ended up off the coast of Long Island, where it was seized by the US Navy and towed into New London. The surviving Africans on board were imprisoned as runaway slaves.

In an unfamiliar country, and not speaking a single word of English, the Africans were the subject of a prolonged legal battle. They were charged with piracy and murder. But their plight was taken up by a group of abolitionists. Through an interpreter enlisted by the abolitionists, the Amistad Africans told of their kidnapping from West Africa and being sold into slavery,

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which was then illegal. The Africans were, therefore, free citizens of Sierra Leone, and not slaves at all. Eventually that argument prevailed - but only after it was appealed to the US Supreme Court in 1841. The Africans were eventually returned to their homeland in 1842.

Today, this ship is used as a floating classroom by the non-profit educational organization Discovering Amistad, based in New Haven. As a vessel for change, Discovering Amistad teaches the lessons of the Amistad Uprising to advance racial and social justice today.

For more information on our educational programs go to www.DiscoveringAmistad.org

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 2000.

Location. 41° 21.75′ N, 71° 57.892′ W. Marker is in Stonington in Southeastern Region, Connecticut. It is in Mystic. It can be reached from the intersection of Greenmanville Avenue and Bruggeman Place, on the right when traveling south. Located in Mystic Seaport. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 75 Greenmanville Avenue, Stonington CT 06378, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Connecticut Shoreline,

in Greater New London, in Mystic and the Eastern Shore,

and in the Thames River Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New London County

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The History of the Charles W. Morgan (within shouting distance of this marker); Connecting Cultures (within shouting distance of this marker); Whaleship Charles W. Morgan

Photographed by Michael Herrick, September 16, 2024

2. The Amistad – Flagship of Connecticut Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); Changing Perceptions of the Natural World (within shouting distance of this marker); Men and Women of our Early Seaport Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Fishing Schooner L.A. Dunton (within shouting distance of this marker); Research Submersible Asherah (within shouting distance of this marker); Perils and Profits (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stonington.

Also see . . .
1. Discovering Amistad. (Submitted on December 19, 2024, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. La Amistad (Wikipedia). (Submitted on December 19, 2024, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
3. Mystic Seaport. (Submitted on December 19, 2024, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

Photographed by Michael Herrick, September 16, 2024

3. The Amistad

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2024, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 348 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 19, 2024, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.