Help us Replace the Railing at Race Rock Light.

Our first donors are Maurice & Sandra King. Photos, above, from left: Maurice King III; Race Rock; Maurice's grandfather, who was a lighthouse keeper at Race Rock & Orient Point Lights.

What's Up at the Custom House?

June 1, 2025

#StandUpForScience #Museums4Science

The Custom House is Open Thurs.- Fri. 1-5 PM,

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

We must raise $25,000 to install a new railing at Race Rock. Will you help us?

Photos,below, from left: current condition of Race Rock railing, the original design.

New London Maritime Society (NLMS) received a $100,000 grant from the Ludwick Family Foundation to help with the restoration of Race Rock Lighthouse. We asked the US Coast Guard what they most needed repaired at the lighthouse. They said: the railing. Rusted and broken, the iron railing at the lighthouse is unsafe.

With Ludwick Family funding, Stonington Steel is remaking the original design of the railing. In fact, it's being built onshore right now. The grant covers the design work and construction of the railing. It will be installed at Race Rock in August.

Before that, we must raise an additional $25,000 to cover installation expenses out at the lighthouse. Please donate. Please help us Replace the Railing at Race Rock Light.

This week at the Custom House

Someone asked Saturday why we have a piano at the Custom House. Here's the answer: photo, above.

Saturday evening we hosted Linda Hinz Studio's piano recital. Last Sunday was Open Mic at the Museum.

On June 14 we partner with CT Lyric Opera.

June 21 is Make Music Day -- all day.

Music is a big part of all we do at the museum. Watch for more concerts to be announced across the summer.

We're bringing out our whaling journal as part of the Black Heritage Walking Tour -- one of two free events this Saturday, June 7, held in conjunction with the New London Cultural District’s First Saturday.

At 10 AM, a guided tour of the New London Black Heritage Trail will feature sites related to the Prudence Crandall Female Boarding School in Canterbury, CT. You might remember that during the COVID break, we launched a citizen scriviner project to transcribe a whaling journal. The unknown author of our journal was eventually identified as Frederick Olney, the hero in the Prudence Crandall fire incident and husband to one of the Harris sisters. We will have the journal on view for the tour. A second event takes place at 2 PM -- a book talk at the Public Library of New London featuring author Jennifer Rycenga. Jennifer will be introduced by Tom Schuch, who will share some brief remarks about local history related to the book. To register for either program, email tom82baur@gmail.com.

In two weeks, on Saturday, June 14, at 7 PM, AMISTAD, the Opera by Anthony Davis & performed by CT Lyric Opera, will be presented out-of-doors on the Custom House Pier. A panel discussion will follow at the Custom House.

 --Susan

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.

We offer Harbor Light tours every Saturday & Sunday at noon. Climb 116 steps up into the lighthouse lantern. The views are spectacular!​ Tours for up-to five people take approximately 40 minutes. Sign up today.

To book a custom tour, send us an email.

Tuesday June 17, 1:30 PM



JIBBOOM Club #1

See you on June 17 when Stonington historian Harry Martin is our Jibboom guest.

Harry's book, Nathaniel B. Palmer-19 th Century Master Mariner, was recently published by the Stonington Historical Society. Stonngton's Captain Palmer 'discovered' Antarctica at age 21 in 1820, and later developed the first American clipper,The Houqa, which he sailed to Canton, China in 1843. Nathaniel's wife Eliza, his sisters, and other Stonington ladies figure prominently in his life story.

Jibboom is not a 'club', but a friendly gathering. Please come and bring a friend. It's free -- generously sponsored by the Maco Family Fund!

Visit the Museum Shop!

Make Music Day is June 21.



We've got instruments for kids!

Ukuleles, kalimbas, harmonicas, rain sticks, & bongos.

Sunday, June 29, 6-9 pm



Open Mic at the Museum

Co-hosted by Kenny 'Doc' Frazier and Christina Corcoran, our monthly open mic welcomes music, poetry, prose, stand-up, or just state what is on your mind. Show up at 5:45 and get on the list! Open to all ages and abilities for fun & camaraderie. It's a friendly crowd! Admission is by donation.



The Open Mic at the Museum Facebook page streams Open Mic live and posts many of the individual performances from past sessions. Sponsored by Kozmik Music Services. 

The NL HarborCam is your 24/7 eye on the harbor, with 7.3M views since July 2019! Photo, above: the cruise ship last week at the Custom House Pier.

We post video, events, and articles of note on Bluesky. @customhouse.bsky.social

Photo, below: Race Rock railing.