Welcome back! Now in its 17th year, our school program 'Local-History & Landmarks' started Friday with a field trip to Fort Trumbull. Photo, above: NLMS educator Jody Barthel with two classes of Winthrop third graders.

What's Up at the

Custom House

October 4, 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.

This Week at the Custom House

Photo, above: Travelers from the cruise ship Glory.

We had quite a few visitors at the museum from Thursday's cruise ship -- travelers from places south and west -- as far west as Montana and San Francisco. They must have seen our outdoor poster case -- in September we featured the Amistad Incident and local abolitionist Dwight Janes; it was our Freedom Trail month display. The visitors all wanted to know more about the story.

Coincidentally, just the night before I was fortunate to see Dr. Marcus Rediker, the author of the graphic novel, The Black Schooner, at the New Haven Museum. We'll try to have Dr. Rediker back with us for a talk, if only on zoom. His explanation of how he and artist David Lester transformed the Amistad story into a dramatic illustrated narrative was illuminating.

This was also a week when old friends stopped by. Wonderful to see honorary trustee Morgan McGinley on Thursday and get his take on the national scene.

On Saturday Ted Webb, also an honorary trustee, invited me out on a Cross Sound Ferry lighthouse cruise; for 15 years Ted has been their lighthouse tour narrator. It couldn't have been a more beautiful afternoon. Next Saturday is the CFS's last lighthouse trip of the season.

One ill-timed, uninvited, and rather loud visitor last week was the Amtrak helicopter which hovered for hours directly above the Custom House. Coincidentally, it was the day we had a film crew inside the museum.

Film director Jules Rosskamp was here to interview two scholars who have studied slavery in the US, including in the maritime industry. He is developing a feature-length creative nonfiction film that examines public higher education as a historical structure shaped by land ownership. 

Photo, left: Jules at work.

So lucky!

Four USCGA cadets, from left, above: 2/c Lilly Webster, 2/c Darius Kirvelevicus, 2/c Dylan Russin, and 1/c Kara Matson showed up Saturday to help us tackle the bittersweet vine, Boston, and poison ivies twining their way through the back yard shrubbery.

--Susan

Saturdays, Sundays, & by appointment year-round -- a popular destination for more than two centuries. Photo, above: Joe Gareis.



Visit Inside NL Harbor

Pequot Lighthouse

Visit Long Island Sound's oldest and tallest lighthouse.

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 40 minutes. Sign up today. To book a custom tour,send us an email. Through December, New London & Groton residents may purchase $5 tickets, thanks to the grant from Veolia/New London Water Authority!

Map of the Lighthouses of the World

While the earliest lighthouses were little more than large bonfires on hilltops, their underlying principle has always been the same for thousands of years. These towering coastal sentinels have helped sailors from around the world navigate vast oceans, avoid dangerous shoals, and sometimes simply find their way home. However, it’s sometimes difficult to comprehend just how crucial the buildings remain for maritime crews—but one fascinating (and frequently hypnotic) online mapping project vividly illustrates humanity’s ongoing reliance on lighthouses.

Each light blinks or spins at the same speed as its real lighthouse. Aaron Becker

Mapped.earth is an all-things-geospatial website from digital analyst Aaron Becker monitoring winds, rainfall, UV index, and more. It also includes a Lighthouses of the World section showcasing nearly 76,000 glowing outposts found across the planet’s coastlines, islands, and offshore installations. Created with various open-source data collections from organizations like the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Becker’s tool easily lets anyone scan lighthouses at their leisure, or focus on one of 29 specific coastal regions around the world. [Although it appears NL Harbor Light is among the missing...]

The project also includes detailed lighthouse data including the beacon’s height, the light bulb’s color, its visibility distance, building height, and even the speed at which its inner light rotates. For example, the red beam shining from Michigan’s nearly 70-foot-tall Muskegon South Breakwater Lighthouse can be seen for eight nautical miles (about 8.2 standard miles) in Lake Michigan. But unlike many other lighthouses, Muskegon’s optical output doesn’t spin. Instead, the light flashes at six-second intervals.

The locations aren’t simply marked by a dot on the globe, either. Becker marks each lighthouse on his map with a color-accurate light animation that rotates or glows in time with its actual intervals. Speaking of time—be careful. It’s easy to lose yourself while surveying the iconic coastal staples.

[And if you liked last week's Spielhaus Projection...]

Shop SALE: 20 % off Scarves and umbrellas!

NLMS members get a 30% discount! Valid today through Sunday, October 18, 2026.

Tuesday, October 20, 1:30 pm

JIBBOOM CLUB #1

In October, John Wilbur will talk about the Coastal Picket Patrol of World War II. These were yachts that were taken into military service, crewed to a large degree by yachtsmen who were otherwise disqualified or unfit for active service in the armed forces. John is the author of An Unusual way to Fight a War: At Sea with the Offshore Patrol.



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.

Sunday, October 25, 6-9pm

Open Mic at the Museum

Come for the creativity, stay for the camaraderie.

Our monthly Open Mic, hosted by Kenny 'Doc' Frasier, is all about good vibes and real connection.



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. There are cookies, and new lighting! All ages, all abilities are welcome. $5.