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
Anonymous,Nick Korstad, John Steffian, Jr., The Maco Family Fund, DOCKO, the State of Connecticut, CtHumanties, USLHS, Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, Chelsea Groton Bank, the City of New London , IMLS, United Rentals, & CDBG
New London Maritime Society (NLMS) CUSTOM HOUSE MARITIME MUSEUM l 150 Bank Street l New London, Connecticut 06320 l 860-447-2501 l email
EXHIBITIONS now on view
The
museum's most important artifact may well be the building, itself. Built
in 1833 as New London's U.S Custom House and designed by architect Robert Mills. NL's Custom House opened in 1835. It is the longest continuously-operating custom house in the country. The building has been the museum's home since 1983.
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The Custom House Maritime Museum - your local, independent, community museum - open year-round - telling the stories of New London's waterfront!
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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
Our MUSEUM SHOP offers all kinds of unique gifts. 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.
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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Our rooftop New London HarborCam is now live with over 1.7 million views since July 10, 2019! Many thanks to our anonymous donor for this exciting transformative gift.
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.
Meet at the lighthouse, then climb 116 steps to the lantern room -- all the while learning about the 260-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!
The visit takes around 45 minutes. Everyone uses hand sanitizer and we all wear masks. Book a tour for one small Covid pod of up-to four people.
Suggested donations are $35 for adults, $30 for NLMS members, & $25 for youth 7-to-18 years old. Tours are scheduled for Saturday and Sundays between 10 and noon.
The Custom House is open Wednesdays through Sunday, from 1 to 5 PM!
We practice COVID-19 safety.
Read about what we're doing in the CT Examiner.
Whaler’s journal transcription complete; author’s identity revealed, by Brian Hallenbeck in The Day, 5.8.21 -- about our whaling journal transcription project. Read new information on the journal's author by Tom Schuch.
ZOOM recordings
The US Lighthouse Service and Women Lighthouse Keepers, Illustrated Lecture with historian Mary Rasa,hosted by the Henry L. Ferguson Museum in partnership with the New London Maritime Society – Custom House Maritime Museum, March 28.2021.
SHIPWRECKED, Coastal Disasters and the Making of The American Beach,with author Jamin Wells. Hosted by Pierce Rafferty, director Henry L. Ferguson Museum in partnership with the New London Maritime Society – Custom House Maritime Museum, Susan Tamulevich, executive director. January 31, 2021
Restored 1814 piano has new home at Custom House Museum
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.
Watch a video by Peter Houppoi of The Day
Matthew Male - My View from Great Gull Island: Photos from the Edge of the Sound
through Spring 2021
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
Marcus Milukas
Northeast Aerial Imaging
Thanks to a generous gift from NLMS vice president Christina Corcoran, the Custom House Maritime Museum invites New London students and their families to visit for free!
We've got a new series of concerts, Custom House Soirees, to be held concurrent with New London's Eat in the Street summer events.Pianist Aymeric Dupré la Tour is offering us a small plate of most scrumptious piano favorites. Sit back an enjoy the mini-concert in a COVID-safe environment, all the while sipping wine & coffee, and sampling delicious desserts. Sign up online.
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.
We thank Tamara Singer, shown here with son Brodie and John Haskell, for the generous donation of five models made by her father Edward Singer. They arrived today -- May 28,2021.
Wednesday, July 7 at 7 & 8 o'clock
'Eat in the Street' then come to the Custom House Soiree for Aymeric Dupré la Tour's Pirate Fantasy