Roos to Discuss Wells Boat Hall Plans at WoodenBoat Show

Mystic Seaport has amassed the largest collection of small watercraft in the country, with 470 boats. Opening in 2026, a new 34,000-square-foot space will house a third of that collection.

Located in the historic Rossie Velvet Mill in Connecticut, the new Wells Boat Hall will exhibit vessels from the museum’s collection, telling the stories of work and pleasure craft from 1824 through the present and of the people who designed, built, and used them. Until now, this space had only been available to private tours.

According to the Mystic Seaport Museum website, an estimated $15 million capital investment will allow the museum to convert the warehouse into a public exhibition space, including a new visitor entrance, repairs to the existing roof, and upgrades to heating and cooling.

Join Pieter Roos, senior curator of the American Watercraft Collection at the new Wells Boat Hall, to hear some stories of boats and about the plans for the installation of this remarkable new center. His presentation at the 2025 WoodenBoat Show starts at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, June 27. Visit the WoodenBoat Show event page for more information.

To learn more about the Wells Boat Hall and how to donate, visit the project page at MysticSeaport.org/wells-boat-hall.