Photo, Visitors last week at Harbor Light. |
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We want to show off our love of the light.
--Lloyd Beachy
So many people have commented that the lighthouse should be cleaned -- well, now is our chance. We're at $2,500 but need to reach $4,500 to do the job.
With by-mail and online donations, we are more than half-way there...
Photo, Patrick Bibeau, who just graduated from UCONN in Landscape Architecture, is putting in the plants at Harbor Light.
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Saturdays at 11 & 11:45
Visit Inside New London Harbor Lighthouse!
We give tours year-round!
Meet at the lighthouse, then climb 116 steps to the lantern room -- all the while learning the 262-year history of Harbor Light, one of the oldest lights in the country, and the tallest on Long Island Sound. The 1865 4th-order fresnel lens remains in the lantern room. Views at the top are spectacular!
Tours takes 45 minutes. Everyone uses hand sanitizer and we all wear masks. Book a tour for up-to five people: click for May dates or June-Sept dates, or email to schedule a tour during the week.
Photo, top, Christina Corcoran. Photo above, Grasses planted! They will reach their full height in about three years. Patrick Bibeau.
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photo above, 55 years ago these two men served on this sub, The Robert E Lee, in this Ellery Thompson painting. Regan Morse
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What's Up at the
Custom House
May 15, 2022
The Custom House Maritime Museum & Shop are open 1-5 PM, Wednesday - Sunday, and Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM.
Join us!
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We thank our sponsors - Bodenwein Foundation - Chelsea Groton Foundation - Community Foundation of Eastern CT - CT Humanities - Eleven+ - Frank Loomis Palmer Fund - Robinson+Cole - State of CT - SVOG U.S. Small Business Administration.
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Saturday May 21, 10 AM 0 1 PM
Join us for the annual SECONN Swap Meet on Saturday May 21st!
This year the event will be held in the back courtyard at the Custom House Maritime Museum in New London. This is a great opportunity to increase your personal dive gear inventory without breaking the bank! Dive gear that has been lightly (or heavily) used still has a tremendous amount of potential to be reinvigorated for new dive adventures.
This event will start at 10am and run until about 1pm, swing by and see if you can grab any parts that you have been missing from your gear set up! Heads up, things move fast so if you want first picks be sure to show up early.
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May 22 is National Maritime Day.
This day reflects the gratitude that Americans have for the maritime industry and the benefits it brings to the country. The commemoration also recognizes ships and seafarers who have held a special place in the nation's history.
A ceremony will be held Sunday at noon, May 22, at Fort Trumbull. The speaker this year will be ship pilot & NLMS trustee Joe Maco.
Luncheon follows at Capt. Scott's!
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Tuesday, May 24, 1:30 PM
JIBBOOM CLUB #1
Historian Eric Jay Dolin presents his new book, Rebels at Sea, on May 24. The event is by donation and space will be limited. Doors open at 1 o'clock; the program starts at 1:30.
Rebels At Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution
The best-selling author of Black Flags, Blue Waters reclaims the daring freelance sailors who proved essential to the winning of the Revolutionary War. The heroic story of the founding of the U.S. Navy during the Revolution has been told before, yet missing from most maritime histories of America’s first war is the ragtag fleet of private vessels, from 20-foot whaleboats to 40-cannon men-of-war, that truly revealed the new nation’s character―above all, its ambition and entrepreneurial ethos. In Rebels at Sea, best-selling historian Eric Jay Dolin corrects that significant omission, and contends that privateers, though often seen as profiteers at best and pirates at worst, were in fact critical to the Revolution’s outcome. Armed with cannons, swivel guns, muskets, and pikes―as well as government documents granting them the right to seize enemy ships―thousands of privateers tormented the British on the broad Atlantic and in bays and harbors on both sides of the ocean. Abounding with tales of daring maneuvers and deadly encounters, Rebels at Sea presents the American Revolution as we have rarely seen it before.
Rebels at Sea is now available in the Museum Shop.
The Jibboom Club is not a ‘club’, but a friendly gathering of people interested in all aspects of the waterfront. Sponsored by the Maco Family Fund, meetings are free. We've got cookies & coffee, and good conversation. Please come and bring a friend.
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Yet another delay for our Lighthouse Inn event. We stopped by the Inn Friday and were told that we will have a new date by next week.
As you know, there was a fire at the Inn two weeks ago.The damage was greater than realized at first. Only the bar is safe; the rest of the building cannot be entered by the public. But the team is meeting with insurance adjusters and working to reopen as soon as they can.
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Photo, Ledge Lighthouse in the fog Saturday morning. Christina Corcoran. Photo above, Last week, Bruce Buckley of the Ledge Light Foundation brought USCG Station New London out to visit Ledge Lighthouse.
There is some unfortunate news at Ledge: a major crack appeared across the south facade just above the top window lintel. Mason Thaler Hefel will take a look next week to see what can be done.
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Sunday, May 29
OpenMic at the Museum
OpenMic meets 6-9 PM on the last Sunday of the month. OpenMic is a chance to meet other creatives, share ideas, have a few laughs, and gain confidence by putting yourself out there.
Performers of all kinds are welcome.
Bring your bongos, read a poem, or sit back & enjoy.
Admission by donation. Photo, Christina Corcoran
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Have fun, find gifts, & support the NL Maritime Society.
We've just put out a selection of vintage items -- including Rockwell Kent's Moby Dick plates and Hempstead coin silver flatware.
The summer tablecloths, placemats, & napkins are out, too!
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While the library is under tarps (water damage to the plaster), librarian Laurie Deredita flew off to the Azores. |
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In fact, the new camera arrived last week. But it has been too windy up on the roof to install it.
We plan to have the HarborCam running some time this week!
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We have wanted a C.D.Boss & Son, New London, biscuit crate for the museum collection for many years.
C.D. Boss manufactured biscuits and crackers at the height of New London's whaling days and this hardtack surely were taken aboard whalers for consumption by the crews. So we were very pleased when Ralph Wadleigh donated this box to NLMS, which he drove here from Cape Cod last Thursday. Thank you!
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Librarian Brian Rogers just added a new chapter to the 2020 online exhibit about Ellery Thompson.
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View Online Exhibitions of New London Maritime History from the Custom House Maritime Museum's Frank L. McGuire Library.
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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.
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Photo, We've reorganized the SHOP. Who knows what you'll discover.
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We're on Instagram! nlmaritime
Photo below: A Navy family visited the museum last week.
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Have a Sparkling Day!
The Custom House Maritime Museum is open Wed.-Sun., 1-5 PM, Sat. from 10 AM- 5PM.
150 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320 | 860-447-2501
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