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Speed boats and sail boats corner the glamour market but the underappreciated heroes of the boat world are tugs. Every day, they move millions of tons of cargo, escort cruise ships, save lives during maritime disasters, conduct environmental clean-ups, and salvage wrecks. People probably think of them as the cheery, story book little ships (toot, toot!) but in fact, they are powerful and agile.
And you'll never take them for granted again, once you visit the new exhibit at Mystic Seaport, TUGS!, opening May 8. It celebrates these powerhouses with a purpose and explores the "invisible industry" of maritime towing, a key component of every cargo port in the country, from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon. The exhibit shows what these workhorses do and how they've changed over the past 150 years in their design, operation, and use. Visitors learn why today's tugs are stronger, safer, and more efficient than ever, and how tugs might change in the future. Interactive displays convey how they maneuver. Real life tugboat captains tell their stories and visitors get a chance to see these maritime marvels in action. And you can try running a tugboat, a radio-controlled one, that is. The tugboat has many fans and groups devoted to its history, and this exhibit makes a good case for why this sturdy vessel should be worshipped. On May 22-23, a special slate of tug-related events is planned to coordinate with the exhibit, including the arrival of visiting tugboats. Admission is $15 to $24. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit Mystic Seaport's website.
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