TODAY - August 7 - is National Lighthouse Day. This year, we join in celebrating BOSTON LIGHT - the oldest lighthouse in the country!
Above, Boston Light turns 300 this year. Visiting the small museum at Boston Lighthouse recently we spied a poster mentioning our lighthouse. The sign illustrates the US Postal Service 'Lighthouses of New England' stamps; issued in 2013, Boston Light represents Massachusetts, New London Harbor Lighthouse represents Connecticut.
New London Harbor Light is the oldest and tallest lighthouse on Long Island Sound. The original lighthouse was built through a lottery funded by Connecticut colony merchants in 1761. Lighthouses, like forts, were cosidered an important component of our coastal defense system.
Harbor Light
was fourth of the original 12 colonial lights that the young United States government managed under its newly established Lighthouse Board on August 7, 1789.
George Washington, himself, signed a contract authorizing the expenditure of $360 quarterly to supply New London Harbor Light's six lamps with spermaceti whale oil in 1791, when he enacted the Act for the Establishment and support of Lighthouse, Beacons, Buoys, and Public Piers.
The present NL Harbor Lighthouse was rebuilt in 1801 under the direction of New London's US Customs collector. US Customs collectors comissioned area lighthouses and lightships (we've got the letters in our library), appointed the keepers, and twice a year ordered the oil and wicks for all area lighthouses.
By taking ownership of Harbor Light, Race Rock, and NL Ledge Lighthouse, New London Maritime Society works to preserve the three major beacons leading into this historic port; we do this for you and for future generations. We are proud to work as partners with the United States Coast Guard, which still maintains the lanterns within these primary, aids to navigation in Long Island Sound.
Photo contest: click HERE. Win prizes for your best New London Harbor Light photo!
The Custom House Maritime Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 1 to 5 PM.
Albert Sussler is a ceramic artist based in Tokoname, Japan.
He was born in Norwich and raised in New London.
Above, Albert Sussler at his exhibition opening.
行って来い. To go and return
The influence of Japan and America on the ceramic works of Albert Sussler on view at the Custom House Maritime Museum through September, 2016.
Our Find your lighthouse! tours run on Wednesdays & Saturdays.
Find your lighthouse! personal, 90-minute signature tours, take only up-to 20 passengers. Explore the region's lighthouses with the one who knows them best.
(No tour this Wednesday!)
There is every variety of lighthouses within easy reach of New London harbor, from Long Island Sound's oldest and tallest lighthouse to it's smallest and youngest. New London Maritime Society owns three of these: New London Harbor 'Pequot' Light, Race Rock, and Ledge Lighthouse. Each summer New London Maritime Society provides a variety of lighthouse boat tours.
For 2016, we present an expanded version of our Yankee Magazine award-winning 'Best Lighthouse Tour' aboard the 20-passenger Popeye.
Sign up>
brownpapertickets.com/event/2557359
This year, all tours depart directly from the floating dock adjacent to City Pier, on Waterfront Park, just behind the New London rail station.
Reservations, 24 hours in advance, are necessary for all of our tours, as we need to notify our captains. (If you want to take a chance showing up on the day of the tour, please call 203-444-2884.)
All tour income to NL Maritime Society supports local lighthouse preservation!
Sunset & Full-Moon Lighthouse Boat Tours tours
take place monthly across the three nights of the full moon:
August 17, 18, 19 September 15, 16,16; October 15, 16, 17.
All tour income to NL Maritime Society supports local lighthouse preservation!
Excursion to Fishers Island, to visit the Henry L. Ferguson Museum
August 20, Saturday, 9:15 AM to 2 PM
Visit Fishers Island and see the 2016 exhibition,
Mansion House Hotel & Cottages, curated by Pierce Rafferty, at the Henry L. Ferguson Museum. We're taking the ferry from New London, just steps from the Amtrak station. A light lunch is included.
Total cost $60.
The trip is limited to 12 attendees.
Above: Little Gull Light, Rev. Josiah M. Bartlett (1803-1892), oil, ca. 1885, on view at the Henry L. Ferguson Museum, Fishers Island, Courtesy of Bagley Reid.
JIBBOOM CLUB - meets on the third Tuesday:
August 16, 1 PM
Getting the flavor of Navigation by Celestial Bodies: a beginning understanding, with Bill Andrews.
We will look at the sextant, use a sextant, and explore circles of equal altitude, lines of position and celestial fixes.
Above, 1776 Diderot - LARGE FOLIO engraving ASTRONOMY QUADRANT NAVIGATION
An Island Cabin - a boat tour out of Noank, with Steven Jones
This special boat tour, led by Stephen Jones, is presented in partnership with the Noank Historical Society. Tour the Islands off Noank, where author Arthur Henry penned his 1902 book,
An Island Cabin, in which five disparate friends from the Big City occupy a simple summer cabin--and things devolve from there.
Popeye, which leaves out of Noank for this special tour. $35.
Copies of
An Island Cabin are available for $10 at the Custom House and Noank Historical Society, and also can be mailed for an additional $6 postage. Call 860-447-2501.
Above, Construction of the lighthouse in Noank was directd by US Customs inspector Ingolsby Work Crawford, the first inspector to work in New London's 1833 custom house!
Sunday, August 28, with FREE performances at 4 and 6:30 PM
Make a full family afternoon of it in downtown New London on Sunday, August 28, when the City of New London with New London Maritime Society present the renowned
Nimble Arts Summer Circus, free of charge, on New London's Parade Plaza, with FREE performances at 4 and 6:30 PM. Back for a 5th year, this small circus troupe has become an annual New London summer happening. Smart, funny, sophisticated, Nimble Arts will surprise you with their internationally award-winning circus arts: trapeze, juggling, comedy, acrobatics. Prepare to be amazed!
Sunday, August 28, 2 PM
Again this year is the opportunity to attend a
juggling workshop taught by circus artists. The workshop takes place Sunday, August 28, just prior to the first performance, from 2-3 PM, for a fee of only $15, all materials provided.
KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S UP - click on the links below to keep connected
Farm to Pier Dinner New London Waterfront Park. Benefits FRESH's "Farm to School", a program in which NL public schools are provided fresh healthy food grown locally.
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The Friends of Fort Trumbull presents Deborah Donovan to speak on
New London Notables and the Deutschland.
Thursday, August 25, 2016, 7 PM, , at the Fort Trumbull Conference Center, 90 Walbach Street, New London, CT.
Custom House Maritime Museum is on Facebook. 'Like' us to keep up with our events as well as news about museums, worldwide, and issues related to our mission of preservation & conservation.
Facebook
New London Harbor Lightreports the latest on NL Harbor 'Pequot' Light and about American lighthouse preservation activities. W
e thank the Chester Kitchings Family Foundation for their generous pledge of multi-year support to our efforts at Harbor Light! We wish we could offer tours to Harbor Lighthouse and continue working towards that end.
Facebook
Race Rock Lighthouse posts news concerning Race Rock Light and international lighthouse tourism & preservation efforts.
Facebook page
Lighthouse Inn, New London keeps up with developments at that City landmark. We also post events of local interest.
Go to facebook
Long Island Sound Lighthouses Gateway, our newest page, to learn more about lighthouse happenings in the region, including the several Connecticut lights now up for sale.
Facebook pageSentinels on the Sound presents our Summer 2016 events program along with other NL summer activities. This is where we post all notices of current activities.
Above, yeah, we've got mermaids. New in the MUSEUM SHOP.
Facebook Custom House MUSEUM SHOP to see what's new. The MUSEUM SHOP is open Wednesday through Sunday, between 1 and 5 PM, or by appointment. You don't need a museum ticket to get in.
In honor of National Lighthouse Day, through April 13, any item in the MUSEUM SHOP that features a lighthouse may be purchased with a 20% discount (+10%, if you are a current NLMS member.) This includes our beautiful calendar of silk-screen prints by Alan Claude, and such books as
A Short Bright Flash, and
Brilliant Beacons. Say
'lighthouse' at checkout.
Remember, Copies of
An Island Cabin are available for $10 at the Custom House and Noank Historical Society, and also can be mailed for an additional $6 postage. Call 860-447-2501.
below: Happy National Lighthouse Day, Boston Light!.
Have a sparkling day!
New London Maritime Society | 150 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320 | 860-447-2501
