'Brickwrecks': LEGO Shipwreck Exhibition To Debut At Mystic Seaport Museum

MYSTIC, CT — Mystic Seaport Museum will host the North American debut of “Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in LEGO Bricks” beginning March 28.

The exhibition, developed by the Australian National Maritime Museum in partnership with the Western Australian Museum and LEGO Certified Professional Ryan “The Brickman” McNaught, explores shipwrecks through LEGO models, artifacts, and interactive displays, according to a museum statement.

Spanning more than 3,000 years of maritime history, the exhibit highlights eight shipwrecks. Each LEGO model is paired with artifacts, replica objects, and multimedia elements.

Featured wrecks include Uluburun, a Bronze Age trading vessel discovered off Turkey; Shinan, a 14th-century Chinese cargo ship; Vasa, which capsized in 1628; and Batavia, a Dutch East India Company ship lost in 1629.

Also included are HMS Pandora, lost in 1791; HMS Terror and HMS Erebus, which were trapped in Arctic ice; Titanic, which sank in 1912; and Rena, a modern container ship that grounded off New Zealand.

Interactive components allow visitors to test what caused Vasa to capsize, pilot a remotely operated vehicle beneath Arctic ice, explore decision-making aboard Titanic and respond to an oil spill scenario. Visitors can also build LEGO creations inspired by the stories.

“Brickwrecks brings maritime history to life through creativity, curiosity, and play,” Chris Freeman, interim president and CEO of Mystic Seaport Museum, said in a statement.

The exhibition runs through Jan. 3, 2027. It is included with general admission and free for museum members.

An opening day celebration is scheduled for March 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Thompson Exhibition Building. Activities include a collaborative LEGO mosaic build and a museum-wide search for hidden LEGO minifigures.

For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org.