The Mystic area of Connecticut was long known as a hub of wooden ship construction. The Mystic Seaport Museum was founded in 1929 to preserve the story of wooden ships and how they helped develop the country. Though Mystic Seaport is not an officially recognized town, it is a living history museum, the largest and leading maritime museum in the nation. In 1941, they acquired the last whaling ship, the Charles W. Morgan; it is prominently featured today. In addition, the museum preserves and teaches the textiles and trades that built and supported countless vessels.