New London Maritime Society (NLMS) - CUSTOM HOUSE MARITIME MUSEUM 150 Bank Street, New London, Connecticut 06320 - phone: 860-447-2501 fax: 860-447-8086
The Custom House Maritime Museum - your local, independent, community museum - open year-round - telling the stories of New London's waterfront!
April through December, we are open Tuesday through Sunday, from 1 to 5pm; January through March, we are open Thursday through Sunday from 1 to 5 PM, or by appointment. Call: 860-447-2501 for information.
This year is our 30th Anniversary - Every day in every way we're getting better and better.
SENTINELS ON THE SOUND - Lighthouse Saturdays Ten Saturdays, July 6 through September 7, 2013. Click HERE to see the full schedule.
Visit New London Harbor Light, Ledge Light, & other area lighthouses by boat this summer. We will take reservations beginning May 1, 2013. Call 860-447-2501.
Meanwhile, you can visit New London Harbor Light by land, by appointment, any time.
Call 860-447-2501 to arrange your visit.
Regularly scheduled tours are every Wednesday at 1 and 3 PM; reservations are required.
Admission is $35 for adults, $15 children ages 8 through 13.
Just announced: Cartoonist Jon Buller will offer another series of his popular Cartooning for Kids classes, ages 8 & up, Four Tuesdays: July 2, 9, 16, & 23, from 3:40 to 4:30PM. Fee $75, materials included.
Call 860-447-2501 to register.
Read our new 2013 SPRING NEWSLETTER
May 21 - Tuesday, 1-4 PM
Jibboom Gam - They're every 3rd Tuesday.
Join Russ and Rob for good conversation, coffee, cribbage and treats. Donation is for refreshments,only.
This month's guest speaker is Capt. Jim Fleishell to talk about his time as USCG Captain of the Port of New York.
Every Wednesday, from 5 to 6 o'clock PM we're on TV.
Watch New London Maritime Society (NLMS) Custom House Maritime Matters, on New London Metrocast cable, channel 25, with host Dr. George Sprecace. This week's guest is is this year's National Maritime Day Ceremony speaker, Earl Maxfield, Jr. Mr. Maxfield worked on board Merchant Marine vessels as a 15-year-old in 1944. He was recently recognized as a veteran for his service during World War II.
EXHIBITIONS
AMISTAD: A True Story of Freedom
a new permanent exhibition at the site of the original Amistad events of 1839.
See New London Maritime Society's Amistad exhibition at United Nations headquarters, NYC, March 2010. CLICK >> HERE. Read the latest about Amistad America in The Day 1.23.12
International Day of Rememberance at the United Nations - March 25, 2012
Vintage Dive Helmets from two private collections.
Special exhibitions
On the Waterfront - Photographs by Tom Bombria.
On view through May 15, 2013.
The
museum's most important artifact may well be the building, itself. Built
in 1833 as New London's U.S Custom House and designed by architect Robert Mills,
it has been the museum's home since 1983. The historic Greek revival building is 180 years old.
Visit the Museum Shop today for nautical note cards, scarves, tea towels and rubber stamps, cookie cutters, special ribbons, new & vintage maritime books, toys, old-time gifts, and ornaments. We have Lighthouse Keepers caps, Old Town Mill corn meal for Johnny Cakes, balloon-powered toy boats, Mark Shasha books & prints; USCG video about the Eagle; whale bottle openers , cards, & coffee mug; and terrific photography. We're open from 1 to 5 PM Tuesday through Sunday!
Want to know what's up?
Sign up to receive our weekly email blasts!
Watch what we do
Volunteer at the Custom House!
Click right to see > Community / History Links
Keep up with >> USCG Tall Ship Eagle
What is the World Beach (Sculpture) Project?
For all the events going on Downtown, visit the District Community Calendar.
We co-sponsor our local Sea Scouts.
New London Maritime Society also is a proud sponsor of New London Local First.
Seafood WATCH - What seafood to buy now.
Visit New London's Field of Greens Farmers Market every Friday on Parade Plaza, from 10 AM to 1 PM.
Visit our sister Custom House in Newburyport, MA.
Summer 2012 issue of the Sea Grant Law and Policy Journal featuring articles from the the Legal Solutions to Coastal Climate Change Adaptation in Connecticut conference held at the University of Connecticut School of Law on February 10, 2012.
Remember: The Custom House is available for private rentals.
NB: Per the fire marshal, our maximum occupancy is 49 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
The New London Maritime Society/Custom House Maritime Museum is made possible by generous grants from The Chester Kitchings Family Foundation, the Connecticut Humanities Council, Dominion Foundation, the Bodenwein Public Benevolent Foundation, the Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, the Community Foundation of Eastern CT, Veolia / New London Water Authority & and by the work of dedicated volunteers, members & friends.
The Custom House Maritime Museum is a proud participant
in the Blue Star Museums program, which offers free
admission to active duty military personnel and their immediate
families during the full year.
Learn about > Maritime New London
In June, 2012, NLMS traveled to Boston and the lightship Nantucket.
New London Maritime Society is pleased to announce that New London's Harbor Light is the featured lighthouse for Connecticut in the 2013 United States Postal Service's New England Coastal Lighthouses series. That's us, far right, above!
150 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320 860-447-2501
Thanks to Katie Bradford, Custom Marine Canvas, and the crew at The Real McCoy RUM, we're going to get our new tent! The design is by Katie, the fabric donated by Safety Components, and our supporters turned out to raise the $ to stitch it up!
On the Waterfront: Photographs by Tom Bombria on view through May 15.
WHAT'S UP at the CUSTOM HOUSE
1766 colonial New London customs manifest - new to our collection!
Thank you to the 60 soon-to-be Connecticut College freshmen, who also helped us repaint the Custom House on Saturday afternoon, April 13, 2013.
Prof. Steve Jones holds forth at the RUM-Tasting.
May 7, 2013: Four NOAA cadets came back last weekend to do a project "from start to finish". -- And we said: great! They took on painting the Knot Room. Our NOAA cadets are, from left: BJ Bonner, Hollis Johnson, Jessee Senzer, & Felicia Drummond. Thank you, all! The room looks wonderful. Trustee Rob Pittaway rehung the Knot Boards.
Silhouette artist Deborah O'Connor was at the museum on Sunday, April 28.
May 21 - Tuesday, 1-4 PM
Jibboom Gam - They're every 3rd Tuesday.
Join Russ and Rob for good conversation, coffee, cribbage and treats. Donation for refreshments, only.
This month's guest speaker is Capt. Jim Fleishell, (left) to talk about his time as USCG Captain of the Port of New York.
Last week, Capt. Fleishell, the last & final Commanding Officer USCG MACKINAC, donated this portable boat compass to the Custom House Maritime Museum. The MACKIAC was a Navy Seaplane Tender, which the USCG assigned to New York City (Homeport Staten Island - St. George Base) for service as an Ocean Station Vessel. She served faithfully for 20 years and was decommissioned in December 1967.
In 1948, when the U.S. Coast Guard commissioned the MACKINAC (WAVP-371) (Call Sign NRDC) from Navy Reserve Fleet, this compass, (manufactured in 1942 under Navy BUSHIPS standards), was assigned as original boat equipment to Motor Lifeboat NR 1 (MAC 1), also as the Captain's Gig. Thank you, Jim!
We thank Tom Bombria for the gift of this photograph of New London Harbor Light.
Tom's exhibition, On the Waterfront, remains on view through Sunday, May 19, 2013.
