Have you visited the Custom House lately?

All-things-ocean Professor Liang Wu spent the afternoon with us last week while visiting in New London. He got the in-depth tour. And his opinion of the museum?: 'Small but Mighty!'

Photo, above: Liang Wu, Ph.D., (Department of Science & Technology Studies, Einaudi Center for International Studies, Southeast Asia Program, and Cornell Oceans, Cornell University, Ph.D., Department of Science & Technology Studies, Einaudi Center for International Studies, Southeast Asia Program, and Cornell Oceans, Cornell University), gave UCONN Avery Point's Coastal Perspectives Lecture last Tuesday: Opening the Black Box of Container Shipping: Technology, Environment, and Society of Global Sea Trade. We'll bring you a link to his talk, when it's available.

What's Up at the

Custom House

March 1, 2026

#StandUpForScience #Museums4Science

The Custom House Maritime Museum is open Thursday and Friday 1-5 PM,

Saturday from 10AM -5 PM, and Sunday from 1-5 PM.

Below: Seals and Society is on view at the Custom House through March 22.

This Week at the Custom House

Despite the snow, or maybe because of it, people were happy to finally get out and about last week. It got warm; we've been busy!

We were especially happy to see Claudia Kenyon, 2nd from left, here with her friends. She told them the story of her uncle Capt. Gumb's boat, the Gull Weed, a large model of which -- made by the captain -- is featured in our main gallery.

On Thursday, Linda Shields’ New London: Then & Now class from Mitchell stopped by for a visit. And on Saturday, naturalist and photographer Mark Lender gave an engaging illustrated talk about seals.

We ended the week on a high note with Linda Hinz's adult student piano recital, right.

Have you visited the museum lately?

Admittedly, things look a little odd. We're still awaiting installation of the new light-filtering shades, and in the meantime many objects have been temporarily moved away from the windows. The galleries may appear slightly rearranged—but all for a good reason.

We're using this disruption to reorganize. In addition to installing three new exhibitions, our New London lighthouses & landmarks' souvenir collection has moved into the Kid's Ahoy gallery. Local lighthouses have long been beloved souvenir subjects, and we have a slew of examples.

Over the past year, we've shown everything from hand-poke tattooing instruments to a collection of cat figurines. We'd love to exhibit your prized items at the Custom House. Send us an email and we'll put you on the schedule!

Subjects from Greg Shea's Valentines' Day tintype portraits continue to come back to pick up the finished photographs. Nearly everyone wants another portrait done, so we will be scheduling an additional day of portrait sessions in mid-April. When Karen Navarre, right, picked up hers and took a look, she remarked she could see her ancestors in her face--a reminder of the quiet power these images can hold.

Speaking of Liang Wu and the Coastal Perspectives Lecture series, at top, UCONN has a couple of excellent talks coming up in March.

• On Tuesday, March 10, 2026; 7:30 p.m, Jacob Steinberg, Director & Cinematographer CosmoVision Media Group, Inc., will present Ospreys in Crisis: Chesapeake Bay Lessons, Long Island Sound Stakes, and the Menhaden Connection.

• Two weeks later on Tuesday, March 24, 2026; 7:30 p.m. (offered in-person only, no online option) Margaret Rubega, Ph.D., Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, UConn, and Research Associate, American Museum of Natural History will discuss Tern Conservation and Research on Great Gull Island, A Jewel of Long Island Sound.

NLMS volunteers participated for several years in the annual Tern next & egg count on Great Gull -- memorable terrifying occasions reminiscent of Hitchcock's The Birds! I'll certainly be at Avery Point for that talk!

-- Susan

Even in February you may visit inside Harbor Lighthouse!

Saturdays, Sundays, & by appointment year-round

a popular destination for more than a century.



Visit Inside NL Harbor Pequot Light

Visit Long Island Sound's oldest and tallest lighthouse. Photo: Joe Gaeris.



Take a tour of Harbor Light to see the 4th order Fresnel lens (in use since 1857) 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.

 Sunday, March 29, 6-9pm



Open Mic at the Museum

Our monthly open mic is friendly & supportive. Hosted by Kenny 'Doc' Frasier, Open Mic welcomes music, poetry, prose, stand-up, or the opportunity to just state what's on your mind.

Open to all ages and abilities for fun & camaraderie. It's a friendly, supportive crowd! $5.

Now on view at the Custom House

Have you been in the Shop lately? We have great cards.

Photo, below. Visitors!