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Nathan Hale Schoolhouse

The Connecticut patriot Nathan Hale, taught in this one-room schoolhouse from 1774 to 1775, just a few short years after graduating from Yale at the age of eighteen. In 1775, Hale enlisted to fight in the American Revolutionary War. He was the only soldier to volunteer to spy on the British, retrieving valuable information to George Washington. Before he was hanged by the British in New York on September 22, 1776, he famously uttered “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

Address: 19 Atlantic Street, New London
Distance from City Pier Water Taxi Landing: 0.1 Miles
Phone Number: 860-334-2858
Hours: 11:00AM – 4:00PM; Wednesday – Sunday from June 3rd – September 4th. 11:00AM – 4:00PM; Saturday – Sunday from September 4th – September 30th.
Admission: Free

Hempsted Houses

The 1678 Joshua Hempsted House in New London is one of New England’s oldest and most well documented dwellings. Adjacent to the Joshua Hempsted House is a rare stone house built in 1759 for Nathaniel Hempsted by Acadian exiles. Both structures survived the 1781 burning of New London and stand today as testaments of 17th and 18th-century daily life. Joshua Hempsted the second was born in 1678 in the house that bears his name. From 1711 until his death in 1758, Joshua kept a diary, which today is one of the best sources about life in colonial New London. Joshua’s diary provides hundreds of pages of valuable information, as well as his insight about early New London people and activities, including the life of enslaved resident Adam Jackson. The stone Nathaniel Hempsted House was constructed by Joshua’s grandson Nathaniel Hempsted. He was a merchant and one of three rope makers in maritime New London. The Hempsted Houses engage the public in understanding the historical roots, development and current-day implications of issues related to equality and freedom, with a special focus on slavery, and empower people to make a difference.

Address: 11 Hempstead Street, New London, CT 06320
Distance from City Pier Water Taxi Landing: 0.6 Miles
Phone Number: (860) 443-7949
Hours: 2022 – Open for tours May 14 through October, 2nd & 4th Saturday from 1 – 4 pm.
Admission – Advance Reservation Required
$12 – Adults | $10 – Seniors (65+), AAA members, TRHP Members, Students with ID & Teachers | $5 – Children ages 6-18 | FREE – Children ages 0-5, New London Residents, and CTL Members
$30 – Family Price (2 adults & children)
Group Tours: To book group tours call (860) 443-7949 or email [email protected]

Garde Arts Center

Operating in the heart of downtown New London, the Garde Arts Center is a non-profit professional performing arts center and home to one of the few remaining historic movie palaces in Connecticut. The Garde Theatre was built in 1926 during the golden era of the motion pictures and vaudeville. The restored Moroccan interior, along with the expanded lobbies and function spaces, provide an impressive atmosphere for audiences to enjoy a wide variety of cinematic and theatrical performances.

The Garde is nationally recognized for its unique architecture and multi-faceted programming serving Southeastern Connecticut. In addition to the Garde Theatre, the Garde owns a complex of three adjoining buildings including the 110-seat intimate Oasis Room, the Garde Gallery, the Mercer Building, and the Meridian Building, comprising an “arts block” of creative enterprises.

Address: 325 State St New London, CT 06320
Distance from City Pier Water Taxi Landing: 0.4 Miles
Phone Number: (860) 444-7373 Ext. 1
Box Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10am-5pm & one hour before show times

Fort Trumbull State Park

WATER TAXI PICK UP SPOT

Since the Colonial era, Fort Trumbull has served as the site of various military forts, schools and research facilities for the United States Army, Coast Guard and Navy. The original structure was built to protect the New London Harbor from British attack and later served as part of the country’s coastal defense system. The masonry fort that stands today was constructed between 1839 and 1852.

Fort Trumbull is unique due to the Egyptian Revival features incorporated into its design. Visitors can take in the incredible views of New London Harbor from the Fort’s ramparts and explore the interior which features a 19th Century restored living quarters, a mock laboratory, and a 1950’s era office furnished to resemble a research and development lab at the facility.

The world class Visitor Center contains state of the art multimedia theaters, computer touch screen interactive exhibits, 3-D models, and extensive graphics and text panels. This one of a kind center depicts over 225 years of military history and technological advances from the Revolutionary War to the Cold War. Some of the main themes of the Visitor Center are the September 6, 1781 attack by the British under the command of Benedict Arnold, the U-boat menace during World War II, and the anti-submarine efforts during the Cold War.

This site also offers spectacular fishing opportunities. Its one-of-a-kind fishing pier boasts access to the major game fish of Long Island Sound. Saltwater anglers will find a unique combination of sport fish including striped bass, bluefish, weakfish and tautog as they feed on the variety of bait fish found at the mouth of the Thames River. In addition to 24-hour access, the pier offers bright lighting and individual pole holders for angler comfort; year-round restrooms and fresh running water.

Address: 90 Walbach Street, New London, CT 06320
Phone Number: (860) 444-7591
Hours: The Visitor Center and fort are open Wednesday – Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm through Labor Day. The Center is closed between Labor Day and Memorial Day Weekend. The park is open year round.
Admission: Visitor’s Center and Fort Trumbull tours are $6 for ages 13 and over, $2 for ages 6-12 and free for children 5 and under.

Monte Cristo Cottage

The Monte Cristo Cottage was the boyhood summer home of Eugene O’Neill, America’s only Nobel-Prize winning playwright. Constructed in the 1840’s, the cottage is named in honor of Eugene O’Neill’s father, the actor James O’Neill and his most popular role as Edmond Dantes in The Count of Monte Cristo. Registered as a National Historic Landmark in 1971, the Cottage is the setting for two of O’Neill’s most notable works, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, and Ah, Wilderness!. Currently the Cottage operates as a museum featuring a permanent exhibition on the life and works of Eugene O’Neill and an extensive collection of artifacts and memorabilia.

Address: 325 Pequot Ave. New London, CT 06320
Distance from Fort Trumbull Water Taxi Landing: 1 Mile
Phone number: (860) 443-5378 x288
Hours: May – August, Thursday – Sunday from 12-4pm
Admission: $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Admission is free for Eugene O’Neill Theater Center Members.
Call in advance of your visit. Group tours available by appointment. A minimum of 48 hours advance notice is required

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