Where were we? Race Rock Lighthouse! Photo, above: Pierce Rafferty.

What's Up at the

Custom House

August 30, 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.

tonight - 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.

this 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 8 o'clock seating will serve dessert treats, an assortment of drinks, and Prosecco.

• The 6 o'clock seating will include wine, an assortment of drinks, cheese & crackers. The 6 o'clock seating is SOLD OUT.



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: Dr. Georgette Lovette Grier-Key, the Executive Director of Eastville Community Historical Society, brought visitors to see our Amistad exhibition on Tuesday, August 25 -- the 187th anniversary of the Amistad entering NL harbor.

It was a spectacular week.

We got out to Race Rock -- always dicey -- but thanks to Andy Champagne and Capt. David Henry last week 49 people visited inside that lighthouse. Andy said, 'That's probably more than have visited the lighthouse over the past ten years.' Maybe so... We have a new system -- using a landing craft to ferry people over from Fishers Island; and it worked! It also did not hurt that we had absolutely beautiful weather.

On Saturday, noon, we had tours taking place concurrently at all three of our lighthouses! On Wednesday, thanks to David, Andy, Bob Tellier, and Matt Edwards, above from left, , to Pierce Rafferty at Silver Eel Cove, and to Bob, Ford Garrett and Harry Smith on Saturday for giving tours to Race Rock; to Joe Gareis who brought people into Harbor Light; and to me for doing Saturday's Ledge Lighthouse tour! It takes a village.

We've got to get some maintenance done, both at Race and Ledge. Please send me an email of you'd like to help on another lighthouse workday.

With people heading south and other obligations, we need a few more docents at the Custom House. Please let me know if you would like to help. Send an email! --Susan

today Sunday, August 30th, 4 PM

The Blue Humanities:

Reimagining America’s Maritime History

Illustrated Talk by Christopher L. Pastore

Sunday, Aug. 30th, 4 PM

In-person at the Henry Ferguson Museum and virtual via Zoom

Photo, above: Winslow Homer, Boys in a Dory, 1873, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Join the Ferguson Museum by ZOOM for an Illustrated Talk by Christopher L. Pastore, who will give a fast-paced tour through America’s maritime history and explore how and why sea stories have changed over time.

During the early twentieth century maritime topics drew considerable interest, but by the second half the ocean’s past had fallen from favor. More recently, historians, geographers, and literary scholars have breathed new life into salty subjects, filling shelves with books organized around the idea of the 'blue humanities'. Intended for fishermen, sailors, and beach combers alike, this lecture explores why the field has faced this ebb and flood—and provides a winter reading list in the process.

Christopher L. Pastore is Associate Professor of History at the University at Albany, State University of New York. He is the author of Temple to the Wind: The Story of America’s Greatest Naval Architect and His Masterpiece, Reliance (Lyons Press, 2005) and Between Land and Sea: The Atlantic Coast and the Transformation of New England (Harvard University Press, 2014). He is currently writing an environmental history of the Atlantic world with working title of A Thousand Slimy Things: A Natural History of the Sea from the Bottom Up.



For more info and zoom link if you are unable to attend in-person, please visit the Ferguson Museum website: https://fergusonmuseum.org/events/

What do you think? Are they the same scene? Is this Fort Trumbull post Benedict Arnold, pre-1839?

The watercolor, at left above, is in the NLMS collection. It is thought to be the only representation of the second system blockhouse at Fort Trumbull that kept British ships away during the War of 1812. This very scene could have been painted looking out the Custom House window. The watercolor, at right above, was sold at auction last week. It was listed as an undated view of Fort McClary, Kittery, Maine. What do you think? Please email your thoughts.

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, above: Visitors in Harbor Light this weekend. Joe Gareis.

Photo, right: Kevin Sowdon visited on Saturday. His great grandmother Elizabeth Burke Dupre was born at Harbor Light. Elizabeth's father was Assistant Lighthouse Keeper Joseph D.Burke.

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!

Harbor 'Pequot' Light 1839; Ledge Light 1986.

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.

Upcoming tours:

• 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!

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. 

New in the Shop. From the Custom House to the Gold Star Bridge -- the New London waterfront just two weeks ago. $5

The SALE in the SHOP ends today, August 30. We're open 1 to 5 PM!

Photo, below: at Race Rock Lighthouse.