Freedom Schooner Amistad
Discovering Amistad and Its Mission
Discovering Amistad is a nonprofit educational organization that brings to life the story of the 1839 Amistad Rebellion through a reconstructed tall ship and immersive learning experiences. The centerpiece of the initiative is a modern recreation of La Amistad, a Baltimore Clipper built in the late 1990s at Mystic Seaport, modeled after historical records and a painting of the original vessel.
The ship serves as a floating classroom and exhibit, traveling to various ports with the goal of advancing conversations on racial and social justice. The organization continues the vision of Warren Q. Marr II, who first envisioned the reconstructed ship as a means to foster dialogue, education, and unity among people of all backgrounds.
Origins of the Reconstructed Amistad
Warren Q. Marr II, former editor of the NAACP’s The Crisis magazine, was inspired to recreate the Amistad after witnessing a mock version of it during Operation Sail 1976 in New York Harbor. That ship, a Western Union vessel disguised as the Amistad, inspired Marr to pursue an authentic recreation that would do justice to the legacy of the African captives.
In the late 1990s, Mystic Seaport took on the construction of the new Amistad—its first and largest vessel ever built—partnering with students from Connecticut vocational schools and dedicated volunteers. The design drew from original documentation, including ship registration records and artwork from 1839.
The Story of the Original Amistad
In 1839, 53 African captives aboard La Amistad rebelled against their captors at sea after being illegally sold in Cuba. They were eventually intercepted off Long Island and imprisoned in New Haven, Connecticut. The case gained national attention and culminated in a Supreme Court decision—argued by former president John Quincy Adams—that granted the Africans their freedom.
After the court case, the ship Amistad was left without an owner and sold by the State of Connecticut at auction in 1840. It was renamed Ion by Captain George Howland and used as a merchant ship before disappearing from historical records. The vessel was likely dismantled after reaching the end of its usefulness.
Discovering Amistad Today
The reconstructed Amistad ship continues to sail, offering powerful, hands-on programming at ports throughout Connecticut and the Atlantic Coast. Programs include:
- Onboard educational tours and school field trips
- Workshops on racial equity and civic dialogue
- Dockside historical exhibits and lectures
- Professional development sessions for educators
This initiative provides a moving and immersive experience that connects the historical struggle for freedom with present-day issues of equity, justice, and community empowerment.
This site is open to the public at designated ports.
Learn More
Contact
P.O. Box 8061
New Haven, CT 06708
(860) 992-4933
info@discoveringamistad.org
www.discoveringamistad.org
This site is open to the public.