next Sunday, October 31, 6-9 pm
 
OpenMic at the Museum

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.
Wednesday, November 3
6:30 and 8 PM seatings

CUSTOM HOUSE SOIREES
On November 3, singer Lisa Marien and guitarist Bill 'Fox' Mills return to the Custom House for the 2nd in a series of 3 Soirées taking place on the 1st Wednesdays of the month this fall.

Our Soirées are the perfect way to top off an evening, with COVID-safe cabaret seating, Prosecco, cider, and lovely desserts. Try it. You'll love it!
Her voice soothes, excites, invites, and delights. Lisa Marien has this thing, this jazz vibe with beautiful phrasing and such great feel. It’s a cross between Sarah Vaughan and Anita Baker, but she is her own person and has her own sound. I’m sure you will agree, her voice will make your ears smile.
— Norman Johnson, recording artist and engineer
What's Up
at the
Custom House
October 24, 2021

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If you are a Charter Oak Federal Credit Union member and planning to donate this year- NOW- is the time to double your donation--only a few weeks left! Learn more. Match forms are available at the museum.

We were thrilled to find Suzy Boada, formerly of the Cake Lady, to create our artful and super delicious JIBBOOM cake. photo: Margaret Palmer
Custom House Maritime Museum & SHOP
OPEN: Wednesday - Sunday, 1-5
& Saturday mornings from 10 AM - 5 PM.
Museum visits are FREE for NL students & their families!
All of our docents are fully vaccinated! Everyone wears masks.
New London's recent coronavirus mask mandate has been extended for an additional month to Nov. 22, Mayor Michael Passero announced Friday. The reason for the extension is that New London County continues to be "classified as in the high risk of transmission category," Passero said. Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends continued indoor COVID-19 mask usage in such situations. (-- NL Patch)
We thank our Supporters & Sponsors
Anonymous, Christina Corcoran, Nick Korstad, The Maco 
Family Fund, Dominion Foundation, DOCKO, the State of Connecticut, CtHumanties, Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, Chelsea Groton Bank, the City of New London , IMLS, PPP, SVOG, & CDBG.
Sunday, November 7, 2-4:30 pm

NLMS President Christina Corcoran &
VP John Desjardins invite you to the
New London Maritime Society
38th ANNUAL MEETING
- it's on the ferry!

260 years ago, on 7th November 1761
Harbor Lighthouse was first lit
We're dedicating 2022 to preserving our three lighthouses!
Come for the meeting, then stay aboard for a memorable tour.

We meet on the Cecelia Ann, Cross Sound Ferry, 2 Ferry Street, New London, CT.
Join us aboard the ferry for brief 20-minute Annual Meeting prior to the trip -- from 2 to 2:20 PM! All NLMS members are welcome to attend the meeting (only) without charge.

After the meeting ticket-holders sit back and relax on a ferry ride out by our three lighthouses: New London Harbor Light, New London Ledge Light, and Race Rock. At each site, an authority on the specific lighthouse will explain current and future restoration projects. We'll then take a spin around Fishers Island, and be back at the NL dock by 4:30 PM. There will be delicious cake.

Special guests include Walter Sedovic & Jill H Gotthelf of Walter Sedovic Architects, who assessed and created a preservation plan for Race Rock Lighthouse in 2019. Our presentation of this plan was delayed by COVID-19. Also aboard will be Bruce Buckley, president of the Ledge Light Foundation, to report on developments at Ledge Lighthouse.

$15 for NLMS members, $20 all others, $5 children ages 7-18.
Register online 24/7: https://3lights.bpt.me
or call 860-447-2501. We follow all COVID-19 protocols. Everyone wears a mask.
We thank the Cross Sound Ferry for generously providing the boat.

All NLMS docents/volunteers & their families are welcome to attend the cruise without charge. Please sign up online and select the 'NLMS Volunteers & family' option.
Saturday & Sunday mornings, or by appointment

Visit inside New London Harbor Pequot Lighthouse
LIS's oldest & tallest lighthouse.
Registration is now online.

Take the tour. The views from the top are spectacular! We meet at the lighthouse, then climb 116 steps to the lantern room -- all the while learning about the 260-year history of Harbor Light, the oldest and the tallest lighthouse on Long Island Sound. A fourth-order Fresnel lens, installed in 1857, remains in the lantern today. photo, Christina Corcoran.
The visit takes around 45 minutes. Everyone must be vaccinated. We all use hand sanitizer and wear masks. Tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for NLMS members, & $25 for youth 7-to-18 years old.

Dates available online through November.
Custom lighthouse tours may be scheduled any time, call 203-444-2884.
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JIBBOOM met last Tuesday, in person and on zoom, with NLMS librarian Laurie Deredita speaking about the Merrimac journal project.

Happy to report that more than a dozen of our 85 citizen scriveners were there, too. The 1844 journal, a gift to NLMS from Edwina Badger just one year ago, remains on view at the Custom House for another week along with a transcription exercise for those of you who'd care to try.
We are once again running a little short on docents, as people leave for warmer winter climes. Bring a friend and do some good at the same time. It's fun, and a friendly way to welcome your neighbors and visitors to NL. We need a docents for Friday afternoons, 1-5 PM, and we could use another guide to Harbor Light!
Email Susan is you'd like to find out more.
One merit of the Custom House is that we sometimes offer you opportunities to be part of larger, unusual projects. One was the citizen transcription of the Merrimac journal. Another included annual field trips to Great Gull Island, where we counted tern nests & eggs and thereby made a small contribution to the work of Helen Hays and the Great Gull Island project.
Last week, this 50-year+ project was celebrated with a documentary, Full Circle, at The Kate.
NLMS trustee Matthew Male, above right, has been a major part of this project since the age of 15. His photo exhibition, My View from Great Gull Island: Photos from the Edge of the Sound, remains on view at the Custom House through November.
At the Kate on Monday night, Helen Hays received a standing ovation.
Keep an eye on the harbor 24/7 with our New London HarborCam.
We've had 2.3 million+ views since July, 2019!
Image from Oct 21, 2021 at 7:01 AM - What has changed? - Temp: 51F, RH: 100%, Dew Point: 51F, Sky: Scattered Clouds, Wind: 0mph N




  • Facebook the Custom House MUSEUM SHOP for gifts with an extra feel good factor -- when you shop with us your purchases support our exhibitions, & educational programs. We'll be reopening soon.



Our super delicious JIBBOOM cake by cake artist/baker Suzy Boada.


  • We're on Instagram! nlmaritime

photo, docent Regan Morse opens up on Thursday.
Below, from our video taping at Ledge Lighthouse with ESPN two weeks ago -- a drone image by @sandstoneaerialmedia

Have a Sparkling Day!

150 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320 | 860-447-2501

The Custom House Maritime Museum is open Wed.-Sun., 1-5 PM, Sat. from 10 AM. 860-447-25014