The historic Amistad Freedom Schooner has arrived at the boat ramp at Veteran's Memorial Park and Marina in Norwalk, just in time for the start of this year's Oyster Festival.

The 129-foot Amistad Schooner is a reconstruction of the historical La Amistad ship.

It has been sailing and docking around Connecticut since 2000 to educate the public on the history of slavery, discrimination and the Amistad uprising of 1839.

"Fifty-three men on this ship that looked very similar to this, and they fought for their lives on this ship, and they fought for their freedom in the courts," says Paula Mann-Agnew, executive director of Discovering Amistad.

The Amistad Freedom Schooner tours also help students in Norwalk learn about the historical ship.

"There's no better way than talking about it in the classroom and then coming out to the harbor and experiencing it in a replica that puts them almost in that time and place in history," says Dr. Alexandra Estrella, the Norwalk Public Schools superintendent.

The Amistad will be in Connecticut for the next week at the boat yard for free public tours.

Free public tours will be held aboard the Amistad Freedom Schooner on Wednesday, Sept. 6, Thursday, Sept. 7, Wednesday, Sept. 13, and Thursday, Sept. 14, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Tours will also be available for the public during Norwalk's 45th Annual Oyster Festival, which is being held from Friday, Sept. 8 through Sunday, Sept. 10.