We deeply appreciate your support for the Custom House Maritime Museum.
Your attendance at our programs and generous donations allow us to carry on our mission: to preserve New London's U.S. Custom House & New London Harbor Light, and to promote and interpret the maritime history of the port of New London and the surrounding region.
Thanks to you, we've had a terrific year:
· Our Thursday and new Tuesday programs have brought in area tug boat workers, oyster farmers, the former captain of a lightship, paint conservators, and city leaders to speak about their work. Special exhibitions this year focused on The Awesome Oyster, the evolution of New London's Parade, Alton Beaudoin: Master of Knots, 100 Years of New London Tugs, and Pirates.
· Our elegant Frank L. McGuire Maritime Research Library has been reorganized and reinvigorated with important donations from Robert Stewart and Danial Wolverton among others, and our library collection is now searchable online through iconn.org.
· The museum's Lowel Level, formerly used for storage, now has a fully-equipped collections storage room, a ship-model hall, a refurbushed Jibboom Club room, and a new food-prep area. This new 'kitchen' allows us to rent the museum for catered events!
· Construction has begun on a handicap-access ramp to the rear of the Custom House entering at the lower level. This construction was paid for by both federal stimulus dollars and a City of New London grant.
· And we now are stewards of New London Harbor Light.
It is an especially exciting time to support your downtown community museum. We are here for you, year-round, connecting the past to the future by telling the stories of New London's waterfront.
It has been a priveledge to share these developments with you in 2009. Please make a tax-deductable donation now and help us continue to educate people about our shoreline. Mail your donation by check, payable to New London Maritime Society.
The New London Maritime Society/Custom House Maritime Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible as defined by law. For more information please call Susan at 860-447-2501, email nlmaritimedirector@gmail.com, or write to:
The Annual Fund
New London Maritime Society
150 Bank Street
New London, Connecticut 06405
Many thanks, and best wishes for the new year!
~ New London Maritime Society Board of Trustees
