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A Word from Thames River Heritage Park Director
Annual Appeal Letter
Dear Friend,
As I sit here looking out over the Thames River, I’m reminded why our work here at the Thames River Heritage Park Foundation matters so deeply. This is the same river that has carried our industries, shaped our towns, and inspired generations.
This year, I had the privilege of seeing our mission come alive in ways that reminded me of what community truly means. Here are a few stories that stayed with me:
A Song on the Water
On Make Music Day, a local musician joined our Hop On, Hop Off Harbor Cruises with his fiddle and ukulele. On board was a single mom with her two sons, both with special needs. She told me how calm the water is for them; they’ve been riding our water taxis for years. As the music played, her nonverbal son began to hum along in his own way, while his brother chatted with the musician about songs they both knew. It was a small moment, but one that said so much about connection, joy and why access matters.
A Glimpse into Our Beginnings
Jay Levin, who worked alongside the late State Representative Bill Cibes, recently shared this memory: “I sat next to Bill in the State House as he literally wrote the enabling legislation for the Thames River Heritage Park Foundation on a yellow legal pad. It was the final bill he introduced before becoming Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and later Chancellor of the State University System.” That handwritten bill began what has now become a thriving legacy of history, culture and community.
History Comes Alive for the Next Generation
This summer, Rotary Club members wanted local youth to experience stories of the Amistad, Venture Smith and Indigenous peoples. Working with our Docent Academy graduates, Tom Schuck and Nicole Thomas, they led more than sixty students on lighthouse and Black Heritage Trail tours. The kids were captivated, and maybe even inspired, to keep exploring their own local history.
Unearthing the Past
One visitor, Mark Z. of Florida, traced his ancestry back to Ye Antientist Burial Ground in New London. With our help, and through partners like Rediscovering History, he found the long-lost grave of his 5x great-grandmother, Sarah Denison Douglass, whose name was hidden beneath the earth. Together, they literally “dug up the past” and restored a piece of New London’s story.
Moments of Joy on the River
Then there are stories of celebration, a couple who got engaged under the full moon, now returning for every Full Moon Cruise, saying they’ll “always ask for the moon.” Another couple, Dustin and Liz, took one last moonlit cruise before welcoming their first child, creating memories they’ll share for years to come.
With your support, this year we:
- Carried thousands of passengers on our summer historic and pop-up tours and harbor cruises.
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Expanded our Virtual Park to 24 historic and cultural sites.
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Launched our Walk in the Park series, from ghost stories to Gilded Age tours and hikes at Mamacoke Island.
- Partnered with educators to bring local history to our youth into unconventional classrooms.
- Shared the river’s stories with people who might never have experienced them otherwise.
These moments don’t happen by chance; they happen because people like YOU believe that our shared history, culture and stories are worth preserving. That’s why I’m asking for your help today. Our goal is to raise $25,000 by December 31st to:
- maintain and improve our water taxi fleet.
- develop new educational programs for students and families.
- preserve the heritage that makes our river community so extraordinary.
- and a myriad of other types of programming as they come up throughout the year!
Here are some ways in which your gift can make a difference to the communities we serve:
- $150 can provide children with special needs with a scholarship for summer season passes or fund a walking tour on the New London Black History Trail for youth programs.
- $250 fuels a Hop On, Hop Off Harbor Cruise.
- $300 supports two scholarships for either our Adult or Junior Docent Academies.
- $325 sponsors a boat tour for a summer youth group.
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$500 sponsors, in part, either a student-led live performance of History Comes Alive or a collaborative coloring book for elementary students.
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$1,000 underwrites a lecture as part of our 2026 Lecture Series celebrating CT 250: Freedom: The Victories, Promises and Potentials of 1776 or can fund several walking tours during the Fall of 2026.
Every gift, large and small, helps keep the river’s stories flowing. If the Thames River, its history, or the community it connects has ever meant something to you, I hope you’ll consider supporting us before the year ends.
Donate Online: thamesriverheritagepark.org/donate/
Donate via Mail: make your check payable to Thames River Heritage Park Foundation
Address: Thames River Heritage Park Foundation, P.O. Box 851, New London, CT 06320
Thank you for believing in our work, for keeping our stories alive, and for being such an important part of this journey.
I wish you a healthy and happy holiday season and a Happy New Year!
With gratitude and excitement for what’s ahead,
June Henley
Director
Thames River Heritage Park Foundation
jhenley@thamesriverheritagepark.org
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