Help fund a Preservation Plan for New London Ledge Lighthouse.

Photo, above: Architect Walter Sedovic at Ledge last week.

today Sunday, February 19, 3 PM

a Presidents Day / Black History Month event


Book Talk: Robert Forbes on Thos. Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia


Today, Sunday, February 19, we welcome historian Prof. Robert Forbes for an in-person book signing to discuss his introduction, scholarship, and editorship of Thomas Jefferson's seminal work, Notes on the State of Virginia.


Forbes locates the origin of United States' racial dynamic in Jefferson's notes on race, specifically, in how Jefferson, against the popular notions of his contemporaries, reverses the victimization of the slave to the slave master. This rhetorical move revolutionized how intellectuals of his day conceptualized white supremacy.

Steve Hambey will conduct the interview. Admission by donation.

We have Prof. Forbes's book for sale in the Shop.


Robert Pierce Forbes has been an academic and public historian for almost three decades, specializing in the intersection of politics, slavery, and race. He is the author of The Missouri Compromise and its Aftermath: Slavery and the Meaning of America (2007) His annotated edition of Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia, the first in over 200 years to be based on the author’s manuscript, was published by Yale University Press.

What's Up at the Custom House


February 19, 2023



Photo,above: The Frederick Douglass exhibition arrived Thursday.


We now open at 1 PM on Wednesdays.

Wed., 1-5 PM, Thurs. 1 to 5 PM, Fri., 1 to 5 PM, Sat. 1 0 AM to 5 PM Sunday 1-5.


Become a member sign up online.

Please contribute to our ANNUAL FUND.



We thank all our sponsors - ARPA - Bodenwein Foundation - Astor Place - 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 - New London Cultural District - Robinson+Cole - State of CT - SVOG U.S. Small Business Administration - Veolia / NL Water Authority.

Frederick Douglass: Advocate for Equality

a traveling exhibition at the Custom House, now on view.


We are pleased to host this exhibition created by the Gilder Lehrman Institute, and advised by David Blight. 



We have Prof. Blight's FD biography in the Shop.


Did you know: Joseph Douglass, grandson of Frederick Douglass, was the world’s first famous black American violinist? -- we thank Ann Marie Perry for the link.

VIDEO: Frederick Douglass' descendants deliver his 'Fourth of July' speech

Saturdays & Sundays at 11:45 or by appointment.



Visit Inside New London Harbor Lighthouse!  

We give tours year-round!


Tours take 40 minutes. Book a tour for up-to five people: click to sign up online, or email to schedule a tour during the week. Tickets are $35, $30 for NLMS members, $25 youth through age 18. Sign up today!

Photo, above: Visitors to Harbor Light on Saturday. Christina Corcoran.

Sunday, February 26, 4 PM

a Black History Month event


Documenting VENTURE SMITH Project


Join us on zoom when Chandler Saint discusses a new exhibition (now on view at New Haven City Hall), as well as his recent work in Africa and the UK. Zoom links will be provided next week.

Read Venture Smith's autobiography.

February 26, 6-9 PM


Open Mic at the Museum



Open Mic meets from 6-9 PM on the last Sunday of the month at the beautiful Custom House Maritime Museum.

Co-hosted by Kenny "Doc" Frazier and Christina Corcoran, our monthly open mic welcomes music, poetry, prose, stand-up or just say what is on your mind. Open to all ages and abilities for fun and camaraderie! Don't be shy. There were 22 performers in January, about half of whom performed here for the first time!

Photo: Musicians jam at January's Open Mic at the Museum.

Tuesday, 21 March, 1:30 PM


JIBBOOM CLUB #1

Who doesn't love oysters?! At our season's first Jibboom: Jonathan Waters & Emilie Waters Harris, of Thimble Island Shellfish Inc, Stony Creek, CT will present a talk on the past, present, and future of oystering in Connecticut.


Jibboom Club #1 meets the third Tuesday of the month with a speaker, good fellowship, and coffee. It's fun, please come and bring a friend.



Sponsored by the Maco Family Fund.

Photo, above: Jonathan Waters & Emilie Waters Harris

Keep Up with What's Up

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This week at the Custom House...

We've been dealing with the ins-&-outs -- the pluses-&-minuses (yes, minuses) -- of the grant process all week at the custom house.


Then there was the traveling exhibition that was late, then lost, then two copies of the show arrived on the same day! Happy to say by Friday all our trials were nearly over: the grant issues quelled, the exhibition in place, the ship righted. After one long week we are finally back on track!


And just in time, as the next newsletter is due... One thing is for sure: winter is over. Our crew made it out to Ledge Light on Thursday for the first time in 2023. Walter Sedovic, Christina Corcoran, and Bruce Buckley, photo, above, are developing the new Ledge preservation plan. On Saturday Christina took the first tour in many moons up into Harbor Light; it was a spectacular day! Programming is hottening up. We've passed 3.7 million views on the NL HarborCam. Look for details about these programs and more in the newsletter, which should be in the mail by the end of the week.

-- Susan Tamulevich

Black History Month

on the

Connecticut Freedom Trail

See BILL T. JONES|ARNIE ZANE COMPANY at the Fairfield University Regina Quick Center For The Arts Saturday, Feb. 25th for a Black History Month Finale.  Bill T. Jones is a choreographer, MacArthur Genius Fellow, two-time Tony Award-winner who has been called 'one of the most notable, recognized modern-dance choreographers of our time', New York Times. A presentation of WPKN.

For every ticket purchased, two free tickets will be provided for Bridgeport Public School students who participate in FAME Academy. Info and tickets HERE

We're online & on facebook!





  • View Online Exhibitions of New London Maritime History from the Custom House Maritime Museum's Frank L. McGuire Library.



  • Facebook the Custom House SHOP for gifts with an extra feel good factor -- when you shop with us your purchases support our exhibitions, & educational programs. Photo, above: docents Regan Morse and Bill Tuttle man the Shop on Thursdays. Photo below, the museum gift shop.








  • We're on Instagram! @nlmaritime.

Photo, below: New London Harbor Light on last week's foggy night. Manuel Lizaralde.

Have a Sparkling Presidents Day!

nlmaritimesociety.org


The CUSTOM HOUSE MARITIME MUSEUM is open 10 AM to 5 PM Wed., 1 to 5 PM Thurs. & Fri., 10 AM to 5 PM Sat., & 1 to 5 PM Sunday. .

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