It's Easter Sunday & we're closed today!

Last week, William Clark of Waterford donated an 1822 bible printed in Hartford. Photo, above: An illustration from Wm. Clark's bible.



What's Up at the

Custom House

April 5, 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.

>>>> RESCHEDULED <<<<

Artist's Talk by Greg Shea 

& Tintype Portrait Sessions

Sign up NOW!

Artist Talk -- Friday, May 1, 6 PM

Portrait Sessions -- Saturday, May 2, 10 AM-5 PM

Friday, May 1, 6pm

Artist's Talk

Artist Greg Shea will be at the Custom House Friday, May 1 to discuss his new exhibition, Lasting Light: Contemporary Tintypes by Greg Shea, and to expound on the process he used to create these portraits.

Saturday, May 2, 10am-5pm

Tintype Portraits by Greg Shea

Book your session today

Appointments available from 10 AM to 4:30 PM.

The previous two days of portrait sessions sold out!

Have a portrait made of yourself, your family, your partner, or just the two of you together—an unforgettable memento. Each tintype is entirely handmade and one of a kind, and with proper care can last for hundreds of years.



Greg and his portable photo studio will be at the Custom House on May 2 from 10 am to 5 pm. If you would like to schedule a 20-minute session, please sign up at https://events.humanitix.com/your-tintype-portrait. Costumes optional. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the museum.

This Week at the Custom House

We've got some changes to announce.

• First off, we're closed today, Sunday, April 5, for the holiday.

• We have moved Greg Shea's Talk to Fri. May 1 and his Tintype Portrait Sessions to Sat. May 2 coincide with the new NL First Saturday events!

What are NL First Saturdays?

The New London arts community has created a new series of events: First Saturdays. Galleries in the downtown will host openings and special events on the first Saturday of every month generally between 4 and 8 PM! The series commences Saturday May 2.

Our 2nd round of Local-History & Landmarks field trips ends this coming week, with just three more days of classes. The program, now in its 17th year, run by educator Jody Barthel, and sponsored by the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, teaches all 260 New London public school third graders about New London's history by visiting historic sites throughout the City. These visits take place across the school year.

The first field trips last fall went to Fort Trumbull and should also have visited aboard the USCG Eagle (but there was a government shut-down). This current series of trips brings students to both the Custom House Maritime Museum and also to the Shaw Mansion. What's next? We'd planned to visit the Old Mill, but we found out last week that the City has closed down the mill for the time being... The good news is we also are resurrecting the 3rd-grade Sea Shanty Chorus. The group will be performing at events in New London later this spring to celebrate the country's 250th. Cheers! --S

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 Gareis.

Take a tour of 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.

Sunday, April 12, 4 PM

The Henry Ferguson Museum invites you for a VIRTUAL ONLY illustrated talk by Don Baugh, President and Founder of Upstream Alliance, and Ronnie Vesnaver, Director of Regional Programs and Partnerships, to learn about the innovative solar-electric vessel, Firefly. It will be the first U.S. Coast Guard-approved passenger vessel powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries — marking a major step forward for carbon-neutral transportation on the water. Get the inside scoop on the construction of Firefly and the impactful programs it will provide. Photo, above: Firefly

Firefly is a 49-foot, fully electric, aluminum catamaran being custom built by Lyman-Morse boatbuilding in Maine. Designed to be quiet, smooth, and totally emissions-free – to get people out on the water in a clean and sustainable way. With solar panels on the roof and a wide, stable platform, it’s ideal for hands-on learning, group trips, and connecting with nature — while showcasing what the future of boating can look like. Join ZOOM Webinar

Last Sunday's Open Mic at the Museum was terrific! Photo, above: Our friends from Mitchell College were there!

Sunday, April 26, 6-9pm



Open Mic at the Museum

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—come for the creativity, stay for the camaraderie. $5.

How do you feel about the New London Maritime Society?

You've one more week to let us know.

Have you taken our survey yet?

Please click HERE, or scan the QR code at right. With just 12 questions, it should take between 5 to 10 minutes to respond to them all.

Photo, below: GROTON, Conn. (March 26, 2026) – The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Albany (SSN 753) undocks from the floating dry dock, Auxiliary Repair Dry Dock (RDM 4), on Wednesday, March 26, 2065 at Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn. Albany has undergone repairs, structural inspections, and replacements of mechanical and electrical systems. As America’s leader in attack submarine maintenance, repair, and modernization, PNSY delivers the decisive edge required to master an era of evolving threats. It stands at the forefront of America's commitment to peace through strength, delivering combat-ready submarines that are lethal, resilient, and prepared to win. (U.S. Navy photo by Neil Boorjian)