The first question that may spring to your mind (because it certainly sprang to mine) is, why is there a Viking ship in Connecticut right now? In fact, why is there a Viking ship period? The project is the brainchild of modern-day Viking Sigurd Aase who, in 2008 gave in to a relentless curiosity and thirst for history, persuading some of the top shipbuilders and historians in Scandinavia to help him achieve his dream of recreating a seaworthy Viking ship. Aase and his team began construction in 2010 using Norwegian "clinker-built" methods and drawing inspiration from archaeological records of original Viking ships as well as Norse mythology and both traditional and modern boat building practices.

Draken uses hemp rope on board rather than synthetics, though it is believed that the Vikings may have used rope made from animal skins

Once the ship was built, there were a series of multi-year sea trials to perform in order to determine the seaworthiness of the Draken and get to know the sailing characteristics of this unique vessel. Finally, in April of 2016, Draken Harald Harfagre set sail with a crew of 32 sailors from around the world retracing the voyage made by the earliest known European explorers to run into the shores of North America. In order to cross from east to west, the ship had to take advantage of strong winds in the North Atlantic; essentially having to make the entire five-week voyage under constant storm conditions. The expedition made stops in the Shetland and Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Greenland before landing near L'Anse aux Meadows, a national historic site in Newfoundland, Canada where it is believed that Viking explorer Lief Erikson was in some way connected to the ancient settlement there dating to around the year 1000. From there the ship made its way from Canada down to the United States before landing in Mystic where it will spend the winter in the protective waters of the Seaport. 

One of Odin's raven advisors keeps watch over the deck of the Draken

It is striking to stand on the deck of Draken and imagine this shallow, wooden ship being tossed about in the turbulent seas of the North Atlantic. The crew, who shared a very small living space throughout their voyage, weathered some very stormy seas indeed before reaching their final destination. Because this is the 21st century, this crew had the benefit of modern technology to help them navigate their way through rocky seas. That the Vikings managed this all those centuries ago without the benefit of GPS or weather mapping is remarkable indeed.

Demonstrating a weather tracking app used by the crew to navigate the winds of the North Atlantic

Luke Snyder, the affable expedition manager, is a font of knowledge when it comes to all things Draken and Viking. Snyder has a strong background in sailing and has worked tirelessly to understand the methods used by his historical counterparts, incorporating them whenever possible on board Draken. Snyder and a team of volunteers live aboard the ship and conduct tours that include information about everything from history to mythology and even Swedish snacking preferences. My kiddos were particularly in awe of the clothing Draken's sailors needed in order to survive the trip. On top of seven layers of warmth, each sailor wore a waterproof suit as well as a heavily insulated survival suit.

Sailors on the Draken wore these suits over seven layers of warm clothing during the voyage

Once we tried our hand at maneuvering some of the ship's steering and sailing equipment, we quickly gained a strong respect for the muscle involved to keep Draken moving from underneath all those layers. 

Expedtion Manager Luke Snyder demonstrating how to steer a 115 foot dragon ship

I cannot recommend strongly enough finding a day to visit the Draken before it's closed for the season. This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness a piece of history up close and personal that most people will never experience. The Draken is open Tuesday - Thursday from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm and Friday - Sunday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Tickets for guided deck tours can be purchased next to the ship or in advance. Admission to the Seaport is also required. Check their website for more information.