The program encourages those receiving food assistance (SNAP) benefits to visit the Museum for free. There is no limit to how many times a person can visit, and the free admission is good for up to four people per visit with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. 
We Stand With Black Lives Matter
New London Maritime Society stands with others for equity and justice, and in denouncing racism, intolerance, and exclusion. We will pursue cultural consciousness throughout our organization through substantive learning and transparent policies. We will dismantle any inequities within our policies, programs, and services; and we will commit time and resources to expand more diverse leadership within our board, staff, and advisory bodies.
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The Custom House Maritime Museum strives to be a place where the entire community can learn from our shared history in order to build a more just & compassionate future.

NLMS acknowledges that the land, Nameeg, meaning fishing place, is the territory of the Western Nehântick, Mohegan, and Pequot, who have stewarded this land for generations.
To quote Joseph Pierce: A land acknowledgment is not enough. The land exists regardless of settler acknowledgment, which can only ever be the first step toward meaningful action. Next steps involve building relationships with that land as if it were your kin. Because it is. 

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.
Marcus Milukas
Northeast Aerial Imaging 
Saturday., September 14
Take our  excursion to Fishers Island  to view the 2019 exhibitions 'Against the Tide: Prohibition on Land and at Sea, 1919-1933', and 'The English Springer Spaniel on Fishers Island', both curated by Pierce Rafferty, at the Henry L.Ferguson Museum. A light lunch will be provided.


We thank our Friends and Sponsors
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 - Robinson+Cole - State of CT - Veolia / NL Water Authority.

New London Maritime Society (NLMS) CUSTOM HOUSE MARITIME MUSEUM  l  150 Bank Street  l  New London, Connecticut  06320  l  860-447-2501  l   email
                                                U.S. Customs in New  
                                                London
                                                A history of the Customs 
                                                service and its influence on
                                                the Port of New London, 
                                                Connecticut                                                 
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                                                The museum's most 
                                                important artifact may well 
                                                be the building, itself. 
                                                Built in 1833 as New London's 
                                                U.S Custom House, designed 
                                                by architect Robert Mills. 
                                                NL's Custom House 
                                                opened in 1835. The
                                                building has been the 
                                                museum's home since 1983.
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Search our library collection online HERE

Custom House Maritime Museum is on Facebook
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NLMS is in the NEWS Read about us HERE
The Custom House Maritime Museum - your local, independent, community museum - open year-round - telling the stories of New London's waterfront!
About NL HarborcamCalendarRentalLighthousesLibraryNewsAmistadEducation

WHAT'S UP at the CUSTOM HOUSE ?
EVENTS
SUPPORT  US
Keep in Touch 
Sign up to receive our weekly email blasts!

Read our 2023 SUMMER Newsletter

Volunteer  at the Custom House - we need you!

New London Tides    New London Weather 

Seafood WATCH - What seafood to buy now.

FISHWATCH Database on sustainable seafood

Community / History Links

For all events going on in the region, visit the 
C.O.R.E. Community Calendar.   
Support NL Maritime Society!
Saving our local maritime heritage sites through education, advocacy, & preservation.
New London Maritime Society is a New London-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. You may make a donation online (above), or by mail.
 New London Maritime Society - open year-round
   your local, independent, community museum,
   telling the stories of New London's waterfront.

             150 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320

General admission $7. Children to age 18 - free! 
Free for NLMS members, New London students & their families (with local ID), USCG cadets, active-duty military & their families, visitors with SNAP EBT card. If you require accommodations due to a disability please email us to discuss your needs. The request should be provided with enough time to reasonably set up the accommodation.  


HOURS are Thursday through Sunday 1 to 5 PM 
& on Saturdays we open at 10 AM!

RECORDINGS 
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                               Dive exploration at Race Rock Light, August 2023, Andy                                       Champagne and Kennedy Marine. 

                               The History of Race Rock Lighthouse This video 
                               directed by Marisela La Grave and Pierce Rafferty 
                               chronicles the remarkable story of how a lighthouse came 
                               to be erected in the 1870s on a dangerous submerged 
                               ledge amidst some of the most unpredictable and swiftest 
                               moving tides on the East Coast.                              

                              Tannia Hotchkiss donates a model of the Amistad
​                               made by her father Wesley Akin Hotchkiss.

​                              Claudia Kenyon's Tales of the New London Waterfront. - 
                              Louis & the Gulf Weed. Claudia's family has been on the 
                              water for generations -- both in New London and the French West Indies -- one relative working for the TA Scott Company at the time of the infamous Deutchland submarine incident. The story of the Deutchland.

The US Lighthouse Service and Women Lighthouse Keepers, Illustrated Lecture with historian Mary Rasa. March 28.2021.

SHIPWRECKED, Coastal Disasters and the Making of The American Beach,with author Jamin Wells. January 31, 2021
AMISTAD: A True Story of Freedom -- a permanent exhibition at the site of the original Amistad events of 1839.​

Kids Ahoy! Tracing the Nautical Influence on Children's Clothing, Toys, and Entertainment ​
Vintage Dive Helmets 
​​from two private collections: Jay Kane and Ed Uditis
View Online Exhibitions
of New London Maritime History 
  local   friendly   authentic
Contact Us
Contact Us



​EXHIBITIONS​ now on view 
Our MUSEUM SHOP offers all kinds of unique gifts.  We have an extensive selection of books on maritime, local history, Freedom, and lighthouse topics. See what's NEW















Our gifts have an extra feel good factor: when you shop with us, your purchases support the museum exhibitions & educational programs. 
We're happy to report that the Museum has joined Museums for All to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits. 
Climb to the lantern in New London Harbor Lighthouse!


Email to schedule. 
We give tours year-round!
Meet at the lighthouse, then climb 116 steps to the lantern room -- all the while learning about the 261-year history of Harbor Light, one of the oldest lighthouses in the country, and the tallest on Long Island Sound. The views at the top are spectacular!​
Sunday, March 31, 6-9 PM






    
Open Mic at the Museum
​Open Mic meets 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! Free.
In the NEWS

The Day, March 19, 2024: A New London foghorn could be heard on London stage

The Day, March 3, 2024: One of a Kind

The Day, January 13, 2023: New London group competes for Old Saybrook’s Lynde Point Lighthouse 

Episode 172. Grating the Nutmeg podcast, September 2023: Connecticut Lighthouses: Lifesaving Beacons Along the Shore

The Day, September 3, 2023: To make it safe by day and night, by Carol Sommer, a history of Race Rock Light.

The Day, August 6, 2023: For a safe harbor, by Carol Sommer
a history of New London Harbor Light.

Watch a TV report by Jim Altman on our July 20 visit to Little Gull Island.

Please support NLMS. 

The New London Maritime Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, tax ID #06-1086688. Thanks.
New in the SHOP.
The NL HarborCam is our 24/7 eye on the waterfront.--  Take a look! 
Learn more about the NLMS 2023 ANNUAL APPEAL
Looking for a gift that is less about stuff and more about experiences? 
A membership to the New London Maritime Society could be just the ticket.

An annual membership to NLMS is a gift that will keep on giving all through 2024. Members receive discounted tickets to programs and 10% off purchases in the museum gift shop (we've got stuff, too!).

Explore the waterfront with NLMS, climb a 222-year-old beacon, try something new. Your membership helps NLMS purchase artifacts, run programs, and recover from the impact of the pandemic.  
Photo: at Little Gull 2023. Andy Champagne
In everything we do, we work to support our community.  
In 1983 NLMS was formed by citizens who who stopped an impending federal sale and kept NL's US Custom House intact & accessible.  That's still who we are. Join us!
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We believe in preserving our community's historic maritime structures. We believe in defending access to our local landmarks. We believe in free museum admission for New London students & their families!
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Today we run a local maritime history museum, provide a free education program in NL Public Schools, and preserve the custom house and three lighthouses. Become a member!
Coming soon --  Explore the region's lighthouses with the one who know them best. Every summer, NLMS presents new iterations of the Yankee Magazine award-winning 'Best Lighthouse Tour'.
 Visit here to discover the latest trips!
  • Harbor Lighthouse can be visited year round.
  • Trips to Ledge Lighthouse start in June.
  • Race Rock visits happen in August.

We hope to list additional excursions when we post our schedule in late May.
March 19, 1:30 PM


JIBBOOM Club #1

returns in March with author 
Peter J. Emanuel, Jr. for the 
launch of his first book, 
Course Change.

Join us at Jibboom Club #1 on Tuesday, March 19. Jibboom is not a club, but a friendly gathering with a speaker, treats, and good fellowship. The event is FREE to all - please come and bring a friend.
Congratulations to Christina & the St Patrick's Day float crew!
NL HarborCam - your 24/7 eye on the Harbo