Mystic — Mystic Seaport Museum has announced that beginning July 1 any Connecticut child age 18 or under, plus one accompanying Connecticut resident adult, will be able to visit the museum for free through Sept. 5.

The museum was awarded a grant from Connecticut Humanities to offer the free admission as part of the Connecticut Summer at the Museum program.

The museum said it will provide access to all children for the entire duration of the program. There will be no limit to the number of tickets available nor will there be designated time slots for visitation.

"We are thrilled to participate in this program again and provide children from across Connecticut the opportunity to experience everything the Museum has to offer," museum President Peter Armstrong said. "In the off season we committed to making improvements to enhance our visitor experience and we can't wait to see children and families take advantage of those offerings."

Some of those offerings include free rentals of row, pedal and sail boats to use on the Mystic River, and the Susan Stucke Funk Children’s Museum provides a hands-on environment for children ages 4 to 7 to engage in such activities as swabbing the deck, moving cargo, cooking in the galley and dressing in sailors’ garb.

Home Port, the museum’s family activity center, is geared toward children ages 8 to 12 with a variety of crafts and amusements. Discovery Barn is designed for families and themed around the schooner L.A. Dunton, exploring the scientific principles behind a boat's sail power, stability, hull shape and the simple machines that run it.

The museum also has upgraded its food offerings with the new Greenmans' Landing, Propellor Cafe, Anchor Cafe and Spouter's Tavern.