Galleries

Charles W. Morgan launch celebration

Image No. 1 | Filmmaker Ric Burns addresses the launching ceremony for the historic whaleship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the Mystic Seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Filmmaker Ric Burns addresses the launching ceremony for the historic whaleship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the Mystic Seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Image No. 2 | Sarah Bullard, descendant of Charles W. Morgan, christens the ship bearing her ancestor's name as the Mystic Seaport launches the historic whaling ship into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Sarah Bullard, descendant of Charles W. Morgan, christens the ship bearing her ancestor's name as the Mystic Seaport launches the historic whaling ship into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Image No. 3 | The Mystic Fire Department's fireboat sprays a water cannon salute as the Mystic Seaport launches the historic whaling ship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

The Mystic Fire Department's fireboat sprays a water cannon salute as the Mystic Seaport launches the historic whaling ship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Image No. 4 | Shipyard staff gather for a photo in front of the ship as the Mystic Seaport launches the historic whaling ship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Shipyard staff gather for a photo in front of the ship as the Mystic Seaport launches the historic whaling ship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Image No. 5 | Crowds line the shore along Bay St. as the Mystic Seaport launches the historic whaling ship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Crowds line the shore along Bay St. as the Mystic Seaport launches the historic whaling ship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Image No. 6 | Movie actor Michael Douglas, left, is among the spectators as the Mystic Seaport launches the historic whaling ship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Movie actor Michael Douglas, left, is among the spectators as the Mystic Seaport launches the historic whaling ship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Image No. 7 | Crowds begin to gather for the Mystic Seaport's launch of the historic whaling ship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Crowds begin to gather for the Mystic Seaport's launch of the historic whaling ship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Image No. 8 | Filmmaker Ric Burns addresses the launching ceremony for the historic whaling ship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the Mystic Seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Filmmaker Ric Burns addresses the launching ceremony for the historic whaling ship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the Mystic Seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Image No. 9 | A sizable spectator fleet fills the river as the Mystic Seaport launches the historic whaleship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

A sizable spectator fleet fills the river as the Mystic Seaport launches the historic whaleship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Image No. 10 | Shipyard workers continue final touch-up work as the Mystic Seaport prepares to launch the historic whaling ship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Shipyard workers continue final touch-up work as the Mystic Seaport prepares to launch the historic whaling ship Charles W. Morgan into the waters of the Mystic River Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard.

Thousands of people lined the banks of the Mystic River and the museum grounds, while a flotilla of several hundred kayaks, dinghies and small boats packed the river waiting for shipyard lift dock to slowly lower the world’s last surviving wooden whaling ship into the water at Mystic Seaport Sunday, July 21, 2013.