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Groton Congregational Church

Groton Congregational was established in 1702. Its minister, Rev. Aaron Kinne, served as the chaplain for the American forces during the Battle of Fort Griswold, on September 6, 1781. Most adult male members of the church perished at the battle. The current building is the fourth meeting house, which was constructed in 1902 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The sanctuary is comprised of polished oak; Moller Pipe Organ; original chandeliers; and stained-glass windows, most notably The Avery Memorial Window.

Interested in visiting the site outside of service hours? Tours can be arranged by calling the church.

Address: 162 Monument Street, Groton, CT 06340

Distance from Thames River Landing Departure Location: 0.4 miles

Phone Number: 860-445-7409

Hours: 10AM Sunday Service

Harkness Memorial State Park

Much of the Park’s historic distinction is attributed to Eolia, the grand former summer home of philanthropists Edward and Mary Harkness, and its surrounding gardens and greenhouse. This Gatsby-era mansion is among the best remaining examples of the grand seaside estates that once occupied the Sound’s shoreline at the beginning of the twentieth century. The Park’s meticulously maintained grounds feature spectacular formal gardens, expansive lawns, and picnic areas, a rock filled sandy beach and panoramic views of the Sound.

Situated on Goshen Point, Harkness Memorial State Park is amongst the most spectacular sites on the East Coast, with lengthy coastline and panoramic sea views. The property boasts bucolic colonial-era fields, stone walls, and buildings associated with the ancestors of the Park’s donor, Mary Stillman Harkness. The park includes 237 acres of gardens, groves, beaches and tidal marshes, with some 60 buildings, 15 of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. From its vast lawns, Fishers Island, Great Gull, Little Gull, Plum Island and the North Fork of Long Island can be seen.

Eolia Tours: Friends of Harkness volunteer docents lead guided tours on weekends and holidays between Memorial Day and Labor Day on Saturdays & Sundays from 10am – 1:30pm. Sign up at the Mansion on the day of the tour. Donations for tours are welcome and most appreciated, but space is limited. Mansion & Garden Tours are also available by appointment through the Friends of Harkness.

Address: 275 Great Neck Rd, Waterford, CT 06385
Distance from City Pier Water Taxi Landing: 5 miles
Phone Number: 860-443-5725
Hours: Open Daily, 8am-Sunset | Fees apply Memorial Day through Labor Day
Admission: Free for In-State Registered Vehicles | $10-$15 for Out-of-State Vehicles

New London Harbor Light

New London Harbor ‘Pequot’ Light is the oldest and tallest lighthouse on Long Island Sound, and still an active aid to navigation. According to the USCG, one can see more lighthouses from up in the lantern room at Harbor Light than from anywhere else on earth. Established as a colonial lighthouse in 1761 under King George III, New London architect Abisha Woodward completed construction of the new (current) lighthouse in 1801. The tower is an 89-foot tapered octagonal tower with 19-inch-thick walls at the base. Originally left unpainted, it was whitewashed some time in the mid-19th century. New London Harbor Light, along with Race Rock Light Station (1878) at the opening of Long Island Sound to the Atlantic, and Ledge Light (1909) create a pathway of beacons leading from the Atlantic to the historic port of New London. All three lights are now owned by the New London Maritime Society.

Tours are available to visit inside Harbor lighthouse on weekends or by appointment year-round and can be booked through the New London Maritime Society.

Address: NL Maritime Society, 150 Bank St, New London, CT 06320
Phone number: (860) 447-2501
Hours: Tours operate on Saturday & Sunday by appointment only for up to five people. Book online today!

Hygienic Art

Hygienic Art is a landmark building housing a year-round gallery space & arts cooperative with an outdoor event stage.The building is an integral part of New London’s history. It was built on the foundations of colonial buildings that were destroyed in the burning of New London led by Benedict Arnold and British troops during the Revolutionary War in 1783. The current building was originally built as a whaling provisioning store and crews’ quarters in 1842 and became the Columbia Hotel in 1878.

In 1919 the Swanson Brothers started a restaurant in the building. In 1931 the restaurant became the Hygienic Restaurant and Delicatessen after the Sigros family, the Swanson brothers’ partners who purchased the business. The name is derived from the Greek mythological god, Hygia, the god of health and cleanliness. One can only assume that at a time of no health inspectors and crude refrigeration, the name Hygienic was used to advertise the purity of the food sold there. The Hygienic Restaurant became a popular 24-hour eatery with a catering kitchen and rooms on the upper floors. From the 1930’s through the 1960s it was very popular and was the place to go for late night dining and Sunday breakfasts. President Roosevelt, when at a train stop at New London station, asked about a good place to lunch and was brought through the alleyways to the Hygienic Restaurant. Al Capone was also said to have dined there.

In 1961 acclaimed Vogue Photographer Diane Arbus visited the Hygienic to shoot Jack Dracula, a tattoo artist and resident. The photo was published in Vogue and now is a part of her photographic legacy. In the early 1970’s as the wrecking ball took its toll on the residential and business community in downtown New London and de-urbanization was the trend, the Hygienic Restaurant attracted street people, sailors and denizens of the night. Sailors on shore leave were purported to have frequented the alleged brothel on the upper floors and in 1969 the cocktail lounge was listed in the National Directory of Gay Bars in America. In 1979, local fine artists who started a studio community in downtown New London began having yearly non-juried art exhibitions at the Hygienic Restaurant – modeled after the Salon des Independants movement in Paris – in an effort to bring fine art to the common man. The exhibition continued until the restaurant closed in 1986 and was bought by developers.

The Hygienic Art Show continued in other venues while the building lay vacant and was slated for demolition in 1996 to make a bank parking lot. Nine days away from demolition the volunteer artists who incorporated the non-profit, Hygienic Art, Inc. produced the yearly Hygienic Art Shows rallied a grassroots effort of community volunteers to save the building and purchased it in 1998. The building was completely gutted and rebuilt to serve the community with six affordable live-in studios for emerging artists and four public fine art galleries. Hygienic Art Galleries opened in January of 2000 for the 21st annual Hygienic Art show. The building and the vision of Hygienic Art now stands as a testament to community activism.

Hygienic Art also offers New England’s largest Mural Walking Tour! Explore downtown New London by foot and check out all 24 murals along the way.

Address: 79 Bank St, New London, CT
Distance from Water Taxi Landing: 0.2 miles
Phone number: (860) 443-8001
Hours: Thu – Sat: 12 – 7pm, Sun: 12 – 4pm
Admission: Free (unless ticketed events are taking place)

St. James Episcopal Church

St. James Episcopal Church stands on the corner of Huntington and Federal Streets in New London, CT. It was built in 1850 of red New Jersey freestone and the Gothic Revival edifice was designed by architect Richard Upjohn. This is the third building the congregation has called home. Many of the parishioners at the time it was built were citizens who enjoyed the benefits of the very successful whaling and ensuing manufacturing industries in 19th and 20th century New London. Because of several benefactors, St. James has six stained glass windows designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. This is the largest collection of Tiffany windows that can be seen in one building in all of New England. Today, multiple services are offered during the week both in person and virtually.

Address: 76 Federal St, New London, CT 06320
Distance from City Pier Water Taxi Landing: 0.5 Miles
Phone Number: 860-443-4989
Hours: Sunday church services are held weekly at 8AM and 10AM.

Historic Boat Tour Opening Weekend | June 13-14, 2026

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