Our monthly OpenMic welcomes performers of all kinds. Share your original music, poetry, prose, stand-up, or just say what is on your mind. Bring your bongos. Perform, join in, or just enjoy. Admission by donation.
Marcus Milukas
Northeast Aerial Imaging
Saturday., September 14
Take our excursion to Fishers Island to view the 2019 exhibitions 'Against the Tide: Prohibition on Land and at Sea, 1919-1933', and 'The English Springer Spaniel on Fishers Island', both curated by Pierce Rafferty, at the Henry L.Ferguson Museum. A light lunch will be provided.
We thank our Friends and Sponsors
ARPA - Bodenwein Foundation - Chelsea Groton Foundation - Community Foundation of Eastern CT - CT Humanities - CT Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts - Eleven+ - Frank Loomis Palmer Fund - Maco Family Fund - Robinson+Cole - State of CT - SVOG U.S. Small Business Administration - Veolia / NL Water Authority.
New London Maritime Society (NLMS) CUSTOM HOUSE MARITIME MUSEUM l 150 Bank Street l New London, Connecticut 06320 l 860-447-2501 l email
London
A history of the Customs
service and its influence on
the Port of New London,
Connecticut
The
museum's most
important artifact may well
be the building, itself.
Built
in 1833 as New London's
U.S Custom House, designed
by architect Robert Mills.
NL's Custom House
opened in 1835. The
building has been the
museum's home since 1983.
Search our library collection online HERE
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NLMS is in the NEWS Read about us HERE
The Custom House Maritime Museum - your local, independent, community museum - open year-round - telling the stories of New London's waterfront!
WHAT'S UP at the CUSTOM HOUSE ?
EVENTS
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Read our 2022 SUMMER Newsletter
Volunteer at the Custom House - we need you!
Seafood WATCH - What seafood to buy now.
FISHWATCH The nation's database on sustainable seafood
For all events going on in the region, visit the
What's new in the MUSEUM SHOP?
Support NL Maritime Society
Saving our local maritime heritage sites through education, advocacy, & preservation.
New London Maritime Society is a New London-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. You may make a donation online (above), or by mail.
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New London Maritime Society - open year-round
your local, independent, community museum,
telling the stories of New London's waterfront.
150 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320
$7 Admission; $5 Children age 7 to 14; Free for NLMS members, New London students & their families (with local ID), USCG cadets, active-duty military & their families. If you require accommodations due to a disability please email us to discuss your needs. The request should be provided with enough time to reasonably set up the accommodation.
The Custom House is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 1 to 5 PM, Wednesdays and Saturdays e open at 10AM.
We practice COVID-19 safety. Everyone wears masks!
ZOOM recordings
Claudia Kenyon spoke
at the December 2021
JIBBOOM CLUB meeting.
Listen to her tales of the
waterfront.
Claudia Kenyon's Tales of the New London Waterfront. - Louis & the Gulf Weed Claudia's family has been on the water for generations -- both in New London and the French West Indies -- one relative working for the TA Scott Company at the time of the infamous Deutchland submarine incident. She shares her stories at a Jibboom Club gathering, November 16, 2021.
The US Lighthouse Service and Women Lighthouse Keepers, Illustrated Lecture with historian Mary Rasa. March 28.2021.
SHIPWRECKED, Coastal Disasters and the Making of The American Beach,with author Jamin Wells. January 31, 2021
We Stand With Black Lives Matter
New London Maritime Society stands with others for equity and justice, and in denouncing racism, intolerance, and exclusion. We will pursue cultural consciousness throughout our organization through substantive learning and transparent policies. We will dismantle any inequities within our policies, programs, and services; and we will commit time and resources to expand more diverse leadership within our board, staff, and advisory bodies.
The Custom House Maritime Museum strives to be a place where the entire community can learn from our shared history in order to build a more just & compassionate future.
NLMS acknowledges that the land, Nameeg, meaning fishing place, is the territory of the Western Nehântick, Mohegan, and Pequot, who have stewarded this land for generations. We thank them for their strength and resilience in protecting this land and its waterways, and aspire to do better to uphold our responsibilities according to their example.
AMISTAD: A True Story of Freedom -- a permanent exhibition at the site of the original Amistad events of 1839.
Kids Ahoy! Tracing the Nautical Influence on Children's Clothing, Toys, and Entertainment
Vintage Dive Helmets
from two private collections: Jay Kane and Ed Uditis
View Online Exhibitions
of New London Maritime History
local friendly authentic
In everything we do, we work to support our community.
In 1983 NLMS was formed by citizens who who stopped an impending federal sale and kept NL's US Custom House intact & accessible. That's still who we are.
We believe in preserving our community's historic maritime structures. We believe in defending access to our local landmarks. We believe in free museum admission for New London students & their families!
Today we run a local maritime history museum, provide a free education program in NL Public Schools, and preserve three lighthouses.
Thanks to a grant from the State of Connecticut, we commenced landscaping work at New London Harbor Light in November, 2021. We ended June clearing out poison ivy at the entrance and planting periwinkle in the shaded front section of the property. The three new cedars did not survive and will have to be replaced in the fall, but the grasses are already 6" above the planters' back wall.
What's next? A Go Fund Me campaign will allow us to Wash the Lighthouse some day soon. Our next fundraiser will be to install a proper gate rather than a chain across the front. To cap it off, we'll also need a sign.
On August 16, the JIBBOOM CLUB presents former NUSL engineer Walter Banzhaf, who will present 'The Incredible True Story of the Sinking of the R/V Sea Survivor -- Wally lived to tell the tale! The talk will be live at the Custom House. Please come and bring a friend!
OpenMic at the Museum
Our monthly open mic welcomes performers of all kinds. Share your original music, poetry, prose, stand-up, or just say what is on your mind. Bring your bongos, perform, or just sit back & enjoy. Everyone wears masks! OpenMic meets from 6-9 PM on the last Sunday of the month.
Tuesday, August 16, 1:30 pm
JIBBOOM CLUB #1
EXHIBITIONS now on view
Our MUSEUM SHOP offers all kinds of unique gifts. We have an extensive selection of books on maritime, local history, Freedom, and lighthouse topics. See what's NEW.
Our gifts have an extra feel good factor: when you shop with us, your purchases support the museum exhibitions & educational programs.
We're happy to report that the Museum has joined Museums for All to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits.
The program encourages those receiving food assistance (SNAP) benefits to visit the Museum for free. There is no limit to how many times a person can visit, and the free admission is good for up to four people per visit with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.
The NL HarborCam is back -- just installed & online as of 6.16.22. Take a look! We now have the ability to pan and zoom the camera. Our thanks to everyone who contributed to replacing our eye on the harbor!
Come 'on! Visit inside two great New London Lighthouses!
Trips in July for NL kids & parents are just $5, thanks to a grant from the NL Water Authority/Veolia.
Our boat leaves this Saturday for one last trip from New London Waterfront Park. Register in advance online. You'll love it!
Meet at the lighthouse, then climb 116 steps to the lantern room -- all the while learning about the 261-year history of Harbor Light, one of the oldest lighthouses in the country, and the tallest on Long Island Sound. The views at the top are spectacular! Book a tour online or email to schedule.
We have only two Race Rock tours this summer: Saturdays August 13 and 20. Times TBD.
Book it now -- There are just six spots on each trip. SOLD OUT
Sunday, August 28, 6 to 9 PM
Tuesday, July 26, was the launch of our Race Rock Preservation Fund, with a film premiere & reception on Fishers Island, NY. Our great thanks to Ferguson Museum director Pierce Rafferty & the Henry L. Ferguson Museum for hosting a smashing start to our Lighthouse Preservation campaign. What a terrific film! Watch it now online: The History of Race Rock Lighthouse! It was truly a memorable day.
Rare & Special Excursion to Little Gull Lighthouse
This is the rare first-ever opportunity to land at Little Gull and explore inside the Little Gull lighthouse (est, 1802, current tower 1867) all the way up to the lantern. Working with the Little Gull Light Foundation, we are offering three, two-hour trips out of New London, CT, aboard the high-speed Silver Eel.
FOUR trips: Sat, August 20
at 10 AM, 1 PM, & 4 PM, Sundat at 10 AM.
Trips leave from New London and last 2 hours.
Register today! Seats are limited.
Sparkling Wine & Cake Toast to the new Lighthouse Inn
Please join us on Saturday, September 10, 2022, from 3-5 PM, for a 'Sparkling Wine & Cake Toast to the new Lighthouse Inn'. This occasion celebrates the restoration of the Lighthouse Inn and honors both Alwyn Christie, the Inn's owner, and Ned Hammond, the former Economic Planning Director of the City of New London, each of whom worked for years to bring the Inn back to life. As Economic Planning Director, Ned Hammond made sure potential buyers of the property appreciated what a remarkable place the Inn had been and the important role it played in the life of the Community. For new owner Alwyn Christie, the restoration of the Inn became a labor of love -- and a trial that now has gone on for seven years to reach this point.
In addition to the sparkling wine, light hors d'oeuvres, elegant cake, and silent auction, guests will have the opportunity to tour the Inn's ground floor. They will be introduced to Chef Michael Dei Maggi, who began his culinary education at the Inn, only to return to the Inn last month after years of studying and cooking abroad. Although the main dining rooms will not open until October 20, guests will be able to reserve for a special dinner immediately following our event, and which will be held in the Inn's main dining room. Chef Michael Dei Maggi will create a pris fixe menu, with a choice of entrees, that both honors treasured Lighthouse Inn favorites while also pointing in the direction the new Inn is headed. We have very few tickets left -- sign up here. See you in September!