dank days...
This week, the rain flooded us with visitors.
Above: Our friend Roger Ryley brought a group of Mitchell pre-students to learn about slavery in New London and the story of the Amistad.
Top right, Fisherman Mike Theiler was here with friends in town for a wedding.



The Custom House Maritime Museum
150 Bank Street, New London, CT, 06320 
Open Wednesday through Sunday, from 1 to 5 PM. 
Tuesday, October 15


Jibboom Club #1
Lighthouses on the River: The History of Maritime Commerce on the Connecticut River
An illustrated lecture by Dirk Langeveld
Tuesday, October 15. Doors open at 1, program starts at 1:30 PM.

Unlike many major rivers in the United States, the Connecticut River does not have a major city at its mouth. Numerous hazards, such as shallows and treacherous bends, have limited its modern day shipping activity to recreational boats, a couple of ferries, and occasional barge traffic. Yet the river was once home to a vibrant maritime industry, with shipbuilding companies sprouting up in every community between Old Saybrook and Hartford. Navigational aids were set up to help guide these vessels, including two small lighthouses established at Essex and Chester.
Dirk Langeveld will give a presentation on these rare inland beacons and the shipping industry they once supported.

Sponsored by the Maco Family Fund. FREE. Please come and bring a friend
Saturday, October 19, 5-8 PM

Exhibition Opening
Waterways & Beeches
photographic monoprints by Denny Moers
Saturday, October 19, 5-8 PM

The Custom House is partnering with the Hygienic to make downtown a little more lively this fall!
The Custom House & our downtown neighbors, such as Flavours of Life , Marquee Gallery, Studio 33, and The Right Path Organic Cafe will be staying open late three evenings to coordinate with upcoming Hygienic Gallery openings. It'll be fun.
These events are free and open to the public!

Our first date is this Saturday evening, October 19, from 5-8 PM .
~ Attend the OPENING for Waterways & Beeches.
~ Everything in the MUSEUM SHOP will be 20% off for this evening, only , NLMS members receive an additional 10%, for a total 30% discount!

Come downtown! Tour the galleries, visit the Custom House museum & SHOP and nearby stores. Have dinner, shop some more. Have a drink, then do it all again!
Plant a garden! We did. It's alongside the Custom House. The Japanese anemones, left, now blooming, were ordered last spring from Brent and Becky's Bulbs.

Brent and Becky's supports non-profits by donating 25% of one's purchase to groups like NLMS. Find out more HERE. Let them know your Bloomin' Bucks should support us!
What's Up at the Custom House - October 13, 2019
New London Maritime Society - local friendly a uthentic
Telling the stories of New London's waterfront & preserving four historic maritime sites
Despite the rain and winds, we had visitors this week from Pennsylvania and Kansas City who were determined to climb to the lantern of Pequot Light.

NL Harbor Pequot Light is still OPEN for tours .
Visit Pequot Light, LIS's oldest & tallest lighthouse.
Sign up online here or call for a custom tour : 860-447-2501 .
We offer tours Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, and anytime by request.
Christina is at the Custom House most Saturday afternoons. Call or stop by and she'll take you on a tour.   Children must be age 7 or older.
New London Maritime Society thanks our Friends & Sponsors 
John Steffian, Jr., The Maco Family Fund, Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, Veolia Water, City of New London & CDBG
Waterways & Beeches
now on view

Denny Moers is known for his highly imaginative, technically innovative monoprints created by controlling the action of light on chemical-sensitized photographic paper during the print developing process giving his black and white photographs an extraordinary range of tonalities and complex form.

Waterways & Beeches  will remain on view through December 20, 2019. As noted above, the opening is Sat. Oct. 19, 5-5 PM. 
The 3rd biennial
Long Island Sound Lighthouse Conference
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019
We plan to bring in the
Arm of the Sea Theater.
Keep up with what's up! 
Sign up  to receive this weekly email blast.
Save the date: New London Maritime Society 36th Annual Meeting - Sunday, November 10, 5 PM.


Be a part of our community!
We could use a little help...
We have a lot of projects going on and a couple of trustworthy volunteers have recently retired.
We need help with membership, maintenance, and project management.
Please call Susan at 203-444-2884 if this is something you can do.

Looks like fun - today, 3-7PM - Pumpkin Pandemonium - Spark Makerspace & Hygenic Art, in Hygenic Art Park!

October 16, 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm -  NL Landmarks is hosting a mayoral candidates' forum . Come hear what all three mayoral candidates have to say about historic preservation and economic development - at the Public Library of New London
NEW in the MUSEUM SHOP
Bitten:  The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons, by Kris Newby 
A riveting thriller reminiscent of  The Hot Zone , this true story dives into the mystery surrounding one of the most controversial and misdiagnosed conditions of our time—Lyme disease—and of Willy Burgdorfer, the man who discovered the microbe behind it, revealing his secret role in developing bug-borne biological weapons, and raising terrifying questions about the genesis of the epidemic of tick-borne diseases affecting millions of Americans today. $22 in the SHOP.
  • Keep watch on the harbor 24/7 with our NL HarborCam The HarborCam already has had 297,500 views since early July -- that's almost 20,000 more than last week!

  • Facebook New London Maritime Society to learn about issues related to our mission of preservation & conservation. 
  • Facebook Custom House Maritime Museum to read about events and exhibitions at the Custom House and throughout the world. 
  • Facebook the Custom House MUSEUM SHOP MUSEUM SHOP gifts have that extra feel good factor -- when you shop with us your purchases go towards supporting our museum, exhibitions, and educational programs.
Remember: The Custom House is available for   private rentals.   
Meetings, weddings, birthdays, GALAS, retreats.  Call 860.447.2501

Below, Grey days -- the Eagle at Ft Trumbull, as seen from the Custom House.
Please make a 100% tax deductible donation
New London Maritime Society
ANNUAL FUND   Donate Here
At the Maritime Museum, you will discover the enormous effect that the maritime world has on our daily lives. 
None of what we do at the Custom House would be possible without your support.
Matching Gifts Program
Charter Oak Credit Union will match all qualified* charitable donations YOU make to New London Maritime Society between now and Wednesday, November 27, 2019.

It’s simple – they give back because it is part of the foundation on which credit unions were built – people helping people – and they’re proud to offer their members the opportunity to maximize their charitable donations through a Matching Gifts Program . Forms are available at the museum's front desk.

Thank you for 36 years of support of New London Maritime Society! 

Below, from USMMA Alumni Association and Foundation, From the Bridge
150 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320 | 860-447-2501
The Custom House Maritime Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 5 PM, or by appointment | 860-447-2501