Tonight - Sunday July 25, 7-9 PM

OPEN MIC
The popular Open Mic series resumes tonight, Sunday, July 25!

Anyone is welcome to perform. Joe Gilbert and Christina Corcoran will be co-hosting outside in the courtyard, from 7 to 9 PM.

Writes Joe Gilbert: Join us in an effort to help save the Museum and raise your voice in song. I'm hosting in the Courtyard; come early and take a tour ! Sign up at 6:00 and Music at 7:00. Asking for Donations from the public and any performers ( Not Required ) that wish to help. Lets have a party !

Open Mics are held on the 4th Sunday of the month. In case of rain, we'll move indoors.
Mondays - two trips
August 2 & 30
Excursion to Fishers Island to see this years Annual Exhibition, 'Fishers Island, Naturally', and two special exhibitions
We're going twice -- on August 2 and 30 -- taking the Fishers Island Ferry, seeing the shows, stopping for lunch, then toodling around the island.
Limited to 9 guests per trip. Sign up at: https://fi2021.bpt.me

This year’s Annual Exhibition, 'Fishers Island, Naturally' celebrates the natural history of Fishers Island, primarily through the lens of contemporary photography, with a focus on both habitats and the diverse species that utilize and/or occupy them. Photo: Todd McCormack.
Also on view at the Ferguson Museum This is one of four artworks by Duke Riley made from salvaged plastic and rubber debris found on Fishers Island’s beaches. The bottles and shoe sole are treated to create a surface that mimics bone, providing a ground for Riley’s scrimshaw-style ink drawings of historical scenes and portraits of island contemporaries.
The works will be on exhibition at the Henry L. Ferguson Museum through Labor Day Weekend and are available for sale. A portion of each sale will jointly benefit the Ferguson Museum and Lighthouse Works (on Fishers Island).
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Duke Riley (b. 1972) received his BFA from Rhode Island School of Design and his MFA from Pratt Institute. Riley is fascinated by maritime history and events around urban waterways. His signature style interweaves historical and contemporary events with elements of fiction and myth to create allegorical histories.
--It's of Race Rock, of course!
What's Up at the Custom House
July 25, 2021

Become a member - sign up online!

If you're a member, your SUMMER newsletter is in the mail!
New London Maritime Society thanks our Friends & 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.

The Custom House Maritime Museum & SHOP
OPEN Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 5 PM.
All of our docents are fully vaccinated! Everyone wears masks.
Monday August 16, 4:30 PM

Boat Tour & Visit Inside the Beacon
Explore one of the region's favorite lighthouses. Land by boat at New London Ledge Light and tour inside the lighthouse -- all the way up to the lantern. On the way out, see and learn the stories of several of our other area lighthouses. We return as the sun sets.

This may be New London Maritime Society's only tour to Ledge this summer, and it is the first since 2019 -- so don't miss it! We're taking the Black Hawk out of Niantic.
Tickets are limited.

Tickets for the 3+-hour excursion are $75, $65 for NLMS members, & $50 for ages 7-18.

photo from July 23, 2021: Andy Champagne
Saturday & Sunday mornings, or by appointment

Visit inside New London Harbor Pequot Lighthouse
Registration is now online.
Take the tour. The views at 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 lighthouse 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.
Wednesday, August 44

Aymeric Dupré la Tour's
A Gastronomic Feast of Musical Morsels
at August's Custom House Soiree
Sample delightful Musical Morsels at our next Soiree, when 'Eat in the Street' features the theme: Farm to Table. The last three Soirees have sold out, so reserve your ticket today!

Sit back an enjoy a mini-concert at the Custom House in a COVID-safe environment, all the while sipping wine & coffee, and sampling delicious treats. There will be two 60-minute seatings, scheduled at 6 & 7:30 PM. The 7:30 concert ends just in time for you to catch the fireworks at 9! Tickets are $35 each and strictly limited.

Musical Morsels will feature a work by home-grown talents: New London's Charles Frink and Wesleyan's Neeley Bruce. Other tasty tidbits - from Mozart to Offenbach to Brubeck - fill in a full-course feast.Wine, coffee & desserts accompany the performance. $35. $30 NLMS members.c. 1563-1591

See the full program and purchase tickets https://chsoiree.bpt.me/
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Save the Date
Friday, September 3 -- New London Maritime Society Fundraiser -- Wine Tasting & Silent Auction
You won't want to miss this!
It's going to be held someplace special... where you haven't been for more than a dozen years.
Thanks to everyone who pitched in for last Tuesday's Jibboom Club.

John Henshaw, executive director of the CT Port Authority, will be our speaker when the JIBBOOM CLUB#1 meets again on Tuesday, August 17.
William Landry visited the museum last week to see the fantastic lighthouse models created by his brother, Bob.
With summer vacations & illness, we are a little short on docents at the Custom House. Come on - give it a try, maybe pairing with a friend? It's a pleasant way to spend 4 hours a week while learning about NL's maritime heritage and greeting visitors to our town! Email Susan or call 860-447-2501.
Heading Here
Republic-American's reporter 'Community Karen' visited Harbor Lighthouse last week. Watch her report:
Heading Here
Dewey, Sharon, & Bill Plunkett gave the museum and courtyard a through overhaul Saturday, in advance of Open Mic.

New in the SHOP
Inspired by the natural and technological worlds, each model is individually laser-cut out of baltic birch plywood. Simple assembly required.
Balaenoptera Muscukus, Blue Whale, 33" long model
0.125" Laser cut baltic birch plywood with Linen binder's thread
Screen printed. water based wood stain $49
Physeter Macrocephalus, Sperm Whale 22" long model
0.125" Laser cut baltic birch plywood with Linen binder's thread
Screen printed. water based wood stain $45

  • Keep an eye on the harbor 24/7 with the New London HarborCam. 1.9 million viewers already do! Image from July 21, 2021. The Eagle returned (on the Fort Trumbull pier).



  • Facebook Custom House Maritime Museum to read about our events, museum matters, & exhibitions throughout the world. Photo: Briney Bank Border 7.3.21

  • 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.
Below, The Eagle returned to New London last Tuesday in the Oregon smoke.
photo: Philip Medbery.
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 | 860-447-25014