Photo, above: a close-up of the 4th-order Fresnel lens installed at Ledge Light in 1909 and now on view at the Custom House.

What's Up at the

Custom House

August 23, 2026

#StandUpForScience #Museums4Science

The Custom House Maritime Museum is open

Thursday and Friday 1-5 PM,

Sat. from 10AM-5 PM, and Sun. from 1-5 PM.

Friday, September 4, with 2 seatings: at 6 & 8 PM

Illusionist JOSH FARLEY-- as seen on Penn & Teller

An intimate cabaret, with wine & nibbles, mystery & illusion.

It's a fundraiser for the Custom House roof!

When was the last time you were truly in awe?

Get ready for a night of laughter, impossible illusions, and jaw-dropping magic with nationally touring magician and illusionist Josh Farley!

Josh is bringing his high-impact, interactive show to every state over 50 weeks—and this is Connecticut’s only chance to see him live this year. Fun, charming, puzzling, and surprisingly inspiring, Josh’s performance is the kind of experience you’ll be talking about long after the curtain falls.

A nationally touring magician known for captivating audiences of all sizes, Josh has been featured on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, headlined Celebrities of Magic, and performed with Masters of Illusion Live. From theaters and corporate events to college campuses across the country, he brings world-class entertainment directly to his audiences.

With more than 500 live performances each year and a 50-state national tour underway, Josh is one of the most active touring magicians in the United States.

Bring your friends. Bring your family. Bring your sense of wonder.

This is more than a magic show—it’s a night you’ll be talking about for weeks.

🎟️ Grab your tickets NOW and prepare to be amazed!

• The 6 o'clock seating will include wine, an assortment of drinks, cheese & crackers.
• The 8 o'clock seating will serve dessert treats, an assortment of drinks, and Prosecco.

Saturday, September 19, 11 AM

Sound & Rhythm workshop

Ages 11-14

Join South African producer and musician Sam Nizmela for a high-energy, one-hour rhythm adventure where ordinary household objects become extraordinary instruments. Armed with pots, pans, and plenty of imagination, participants will discover how rhythm can be found almost anywhere.

Let's get it started! Limited to ten participants, ages 11 to 14.

$5, sponsored by NLMS, Advance registration is required.

Sign up today at: https://events.humanitix.com/sound-and-rhythm

This Week at the Custom House

Photo, above: Thames Tow Boat Company's Marine Railway Plant. print, early 20th-c. NLMS collection.

Things hummed along per usual this week at the Custom House. We had a lively Jiboom program on Tuesday with CT Port Authority director Mike O'Connor, (shown right, at right, with Joe Maco). Mike had much to say about wind turbines, developments at the state pier, and the future of the Connecticut waterfront.

Among items mentioned were discussions to bring back a ferry across the Thames. Such a service would help EB workers commute to new Crystal Mall office spaces, especially while construction continues on the Gold Star Bridge. Currently, the CT Port Authority is also looking for creative ideas from the public -- anything that might help and encourage development and tourism on the waterfront.

Thursday and Friday's trips out to Ledge had to be canceled due to rain. Years ago, before the Heritage Park idea was revived, we gave harbor, history, lighthouse, sunset, & full-moon tours in New London harbor; they were very popular. Some might say: inspiring. Cross Sound Ferry took over & expanded on the lighthouse tours, and the water taxi took over many of the others. We remain, however, the only ones who can give tours inside our three lighthouses. If anything, the competition for water-based trips has boosted our business; most every tour we've offered this season has sold out.

Friday brought a visit from New London's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) committee, right; they came to see the new blinds paid for with a 2025 CDBG grant! The blinds have changed the atmosphere inside the building; it's more calm, self-contained -- perfect for a museum.

I want to thank Sarah Munroe at Studio 33 for so beautifully framing our print from the old Thames Towboat Company, at top, in time for Friday's CDBG committee visit. You may remember that we took advantage of the installation of the new UV-light filtering blinds -- which disrupted things inside the museum for months -- to take a fresh look at what we had on display. We've swapped some out some items for objects in the collection that never yet have been on view. This wonderful print is one such item. It now hangs adjacent to three half-hull models from the museum's Thames Tow Boat collection.

--Susan

• We could all use a little magic right now. I’d like to make a special push for our first Cabaret of the season— it’s something fun and a little unusual: magician Josh Farley. I hope you’ll join us for a memorable evening, which helps support the museum’s New Roof fund.
• We said goodby this week to our Elevate+ summer intern DeAndre Leslie. We send our best wishes to Dre for his studies at Western this semester, and for his football future!
• Charter Oak’s Matching Gift Program Is Back! Are you a member of Charter Oak Federal Credit Union? If so, your charitable donation to the New London Maritime Society could have twice the impact! From August 12 through November 19, 2026, or until matching funds are depleted, Charter Oak will match eligible donations to nonprofit and charitable organizations. To take advantage of this opportunity as a Charter Oak member, all you have to do is submit a gift matching form along with your donation. To learn more about your eligibility, the program's guidelines, and how to make the most of your donation, please visit Charter Oak's website at charteroak.org/community-giving/matching-gifts-program/.

New in the Shop: A Whaler's Dictionary, by poet Dan Beachy-Quick -- our SALE continues through the end of the month!

A researcher was in from Ohio yesterday to work in the Custom House's Frank L. McGuire Research Library with librarians Laurie Deredita and Brian Rogers.

NLMS has a terrific library--not just of books, but manuscripts, ships' logs, ephemera, post cards, special collections. Brian and Laurie also have produced a series of online exhibitions. If you'd like to visit, please send an email.

Saturdays, Sundays, & by appointment year-round

a popular destination for more than two centuries.



Visit Inside NL Harbor 

Pequot Light

Visit Long Island Sound's oldest and tallest lighthouse. Photo: Bob Tellier.

Take a tour inside Harbor Light to see the 4th order Fresnel lens in use at the light since 1857. Climb 116 steps into the lantern room and enjoy stunning views across Long Island Sound.

Tours accommodate up to five people and last about 40 minutes. Sign up today.

To book a custom tour, just send us an email.

New London & Groton residents may purchase $5 tickets, thanks to the grant from Veolia - the New London Water Authority!

Explore inside Ledge Lighthouse

The boat leaves from the City Pier in downtown New London, just behind (across the tracks) the NL railroad station. It's a 90-minute round trip including 60 minutes actually inside the lighthouse. Photo: Bob Tellier

Tours leave at the following times:

• Saturday, August 29, 11am
• Sunday, August 30, 12 noon
• Saturday, September 5, 4:30pm
• Sunday, September 6, 5pm
• Sunday September 13, 12 noon
• Saturday, September 19, 4pm

New London & Groton residents may purchase $5 tickets, thanks to a grant from Veolia - the New London Water Authority!

next Sunday, August 30, 6-9pm



Open Mic at the Museum

We love it! Come for the creativity, stay for the camaraderie.

Our monthly Open Mic is all about good vibes and real connection. Hosted by Kenny 'Doc' Frasier, it’s a welcoming space for music, poetry, prose, stand-up—or just saying what’s on your mind.

This is a laid-back, live show where anyone can show up and share a few minutes on the mic. Try out new material, build your confidence, or just soak in the energy—it’s all fair game. And there are cookies!

All ages, all abilities are welcome. $5.

Tuesday, September 15, 1:30 pm

JIBBOOM CLUB #1

For September we've invited back lighthouse aficionado Colette Driscoll Long. Colette spoke at JIBBOOM in July, but we had technical difficulties and there were no pictures! Colette has visited many, many lighthouses and recently became VP of NELL: New England Lighthouse Lovers. She will bring us news of NELL's upcoming events as well as show highlights from her lighthouse travels.

Jibboom is not a ‘club’, but a friendly gathering, with a maritime speaker & treats.



Please come and bring a friend. It’s free -- generously sponsored by Rose & Joe Maco.

On view through November 1, 2026

​

SANTOS

photography by Johanna Case-Hofmeister

The exhibition features twelve images from Santos, created between 2023 and 2024. Spanning the desolate volcanic coastline of the Baja California region along the Sea of Cortez and the city of Mexicali, the photographs depict subjects ranging from whale bones to a crashed airplane. Santos will remain on view at the Custom House through November 1, 2026. Photo: Blood Moon, 2024, Baja California. 

Photos, above: Visitors from Taiwan, left, and New London, right.

Tuesday marks the 187th anniversary of the Amistad arriving in New London. Photo, below: the Amistad exhibition at the Custom House.

Photo, below: last week on the NL HarborCam