The Museum of America and the Sea is a great place to take the kids to teach them about the importance and effects of the whaling industry on the towns dotting the Connecticut shoreline. America's last wooden whaling ship, the Charles W. Morgan, resides at this fascinating living history museum in Mystic, a quaint seaside town about an hour outside of New Haven. Learn about the steps involved in making the perilous trip out to sea for fishing or whaling, admire the historic vessels on display here, and walk down memory lane as you explore a historic seafaring village. Scenes from Steven Spielberg's 1997 film Amistad were filmed here. Visitors can also participate in numerous hands-on activities, making a trip here an incredibly memorable one. The nation's leading maritime museum, Mystic Seaport is a must-see if visiting Connecticut.