What's Up at the

Custom House

April 26, 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.

Remember: red text indicates a clickable hot link!

We had three days of 'Local-History & Landmarks' classes this week. All 12 NL third-grade classes are working towards a 250th celebration -- it will be May 1. Next Friday, 200+ third graders will sing good bye to the Eagle by performing four sea chantys. Photo, top: NLMS educator Jody Barthel and folk singer/musician Geoff Kaufman rehearsed Winthrop students at the Eagle off Fort Trumbull!

tonight! 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.

this Tuesday, April 28, 1:30 PM

JIBBOOM Club #1

Steamships of New London

This month JIBBOOM presents a program in anticipation of construction on the Gold Star Bridge. Before the bridge, the Thames was crossed by boat -- steamboat!

Join NLMS librarian Brian Rogers and NLMS friend and donor Rick Bloeser to learn about steamships in New London. Brian will draw upon his online steamship exhibition. Rick will tell the story of his recent donation to NLMS -- the Poseidon glass.



Jibboom is not a 'club', but a friendly gathering with speakers on maritime topics, discussion, and refreshments. Please come and bring a friend. This month, Jibboom will be on the 4th Tuesday of the month: April 28, at 1:30 PM.

FREE -- generously sponsored for another year by Rose & Joe Maco! 

NB: J. Christopher Kervick, Adjunct Faculty, Mitchell College, just finished an article about New London Sea Captain Nathaniel Keeney and his connection to Eugene O’Neill. It's an interesting bit of New London history --and the Jibboom Club gets a mention.

this Friday, May 1, 6pm

Greg Shea - Artist's Talk

Artist Greg Shea will be at the Custom House Friday, May 1 to discuss his current exhibition, Lasting Light: Contemporary Tintypes by Greg Shea, and to expound on the process he used to create these portraits. It's a fascinating talk for anyone with an interest in photography. Greg's exhibition is on view through May 2, 2025.

Greg's talk is FREE and open to the public.

See you this Friday, May 1, at 6!

this Saturday, May 2, 10am-5pm

Schedule Your Tintype Portrait with Greg Shea

Sign up NOW!

Sit for a portrait on your own, with family, or with someone special. Each tintype is handcrafted and entirely one of a kind—an unforgettable keepsake that, with proper care, can last for generations. Book your session today.



Greg Shea and his portable studio will be at the Custom House on May 2. Sessions are 20 minutes. Appointments are available from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The last two portrait days sold out, so we encourage you to reserve early.

Reserve your spot here: https://events.humanitix.com/your-tintype-portrait. 

A portion of proceeds will support the museum.

NEW Sunday, May 3, 3 PM

Bill Morse: The State Pier that was

Historian Bill Morse is back in town to present a well-illustrated talk on the evolution of the City's State Pier since WW II.

Bill is the author of Lost New London; we will have his book available for purchase & signing! Bill gave a popular series of talks in 2025 when his book Lost New London was published.

Suggested donation is $10. NLMS members $7. Youth to age 18 $5. Space is limited. Please sign up online to ensure your place.

Lost New London is a book that explores the history of New London, Connecticut, focusing on the buildings and neighborhoods lost to the Winthrop Urban Renewal Project in the 1960s. Morse, a New London native, uses an "if-these-walls-could-talk" approach, creating an imaginary walking tour through photos and stories of specific places like the Neptune Building, the Victory Theater, and various homes and businesses that were demolished. Published in October 2025, the book aims to be an entertaining and informative look back at the community's past, highlighting the stories of the people who lived there. 

This Week at the Custom House

Friends , others, & many events!

Good friend Matt Beaudoin & his fabulous shop Mystic Knotwork are moving -- decamping from downtown Mystic for a new location in Mystic Village.

Matt needs a large anchor, or something substantial & maritime, to bring attention to the new store.

If you've tired of that humongous whaling anchor on your front lawn, please give Matt a call! It's just what he needs.

Photo, above: The knot boards on view at the museum were made by Alton Beaudoin -- Matt's grandfather.

Kind of a shock -- right? > > >

Thanks to our lighthouse neighbors, and permits from DEEP and the City, these concrete wave directing devices were just built on the ledge bordering Harbor Light.

We will be watching closely to see if the waves are now deflected our way.

On a happier note, we have some fantastic programs coming up this week.

Tonight is Open Mic at the Museum, 6 to 9 PM. You know Open Mic: fun, friendly, & always something surprising! $5.

Tuesday is Jibboom at 1:30! Brian Rogers and Rick Bloeser recount stories of steamships in New London. FREE.

Friday at 6 is Greg Shea's talk on Tintypes. Greg initially gave this talk on an icy night in early February. It was such a fascinating subject, and attendance was low due to the weather, so we're offering it again. Please come downtown Friday after work. Catch the talk then go out to drink & dine downtown! FREE.

Saturday is your last opportunity to sign up for a portrait session with tintype artist Greg Shea. This is a rare opportunity. When Greg was here in February, when the exhibition opened, his appointments completely SOLD OUT. We still have several sessions still open next Saturday. Sign up now!

Saturday evening is the initial NL First Saturday. 'A series of downtown events on the first Saturday of the month will begin May 2 with New London in Bloom, pairing paintings by local artists with flower-arrangement interpretations by regional florists, garden clubs and well-known amateurs.' - The Day. We'll be open 'til 8 PM. FREE.

You also might want to immediately sign up for historian Bill Morse's talk.

Next Sunday at 3, Bill will give a talk framed on changes to the New London's State Pier since WWII. Seating is limited (especially limited as we still are awaiting final installation of our UV light-filtering blinds and the interior is still unsettled...).

What's up next? We've begun planning our off-shore lighthouse tours... Trips to Ledge Light commence in late May. Trips to Race Rock should start in June.

--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.

National Maritime Day, coming up on Friday, May 22, honors the maritime industry, seafarers, and the American Merchant Marine, several of whom are now stuck in the Strait of Hormuz. Photo, below: We set the museum's PortVision screen on the Strait of Hormuz. The dark blue triangles represent individual ships in real time on Saturday evening.

NB: Speaking of parking, after a long hiatus, there now is a City employee ticketing cars who overstay the 2-hour parking limit downtown. Photo, above: visitors on Saturday.