Today is Friday, December 5, 2025 
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Together, we can make the heritage and culture of the Thames River region vivid and relevant to all by connecting people, communities, institutions, sites, and stories to the historic waterfront and natural landscape of the river. We hope you will join us this year with a gift to Thames River Heritage Park.
In just a few years, Thames River Heritage Park has expanded its program and marketing efforts by
- hosting over 15,000 visitors on Hop On, Hop Off Harbor Cruises connecting heritage sites on both sides of the Thames and historic boat tours;
- introducing over 300 youth and educators from the region to the heritage sites and stories about the Thames during boat and walking tours;
- presenting Stories of the Thames, a popular 6-part winter/spring lecture series and reception in partnership with Lyman Allyn Art Museum;
- promoting the Park’s heritage sites to bring tourists to New London and Groton area via various marketing campaigns;
- showcasing hundreds of programs and events along the Thames via digital newsletters to over 4000 subscribers;
- training new ambassadors annually through the Thames River Heritage Park’s highly acclaimed Docent Academy for volunteer service in the Park’s heritage sites.
Your gift of any amount, will be greatly appreciated and will make an immediate impact. Thank you for your contributions to and support for Thames River Heritage Park.
With your support, this year we:
- Carried thousands of passengers on our summer historic and pop-up tours and harbor cruises.
- Expanded our Virtual Park to 24 historic and cultural sites.
- Launched our Walk in the Park series, from ghost stories to Gilded Age tours and hikes at Mamacoke Island.
- Partnered with educators to bring local history to our youth into unconventional classrooms.
- Shared the river’s stories with people who might never have experienced them otherwise.
These moments don’t happen by chance; they happen because people like YOU believe that our shared history, culture and stories are worth preserving. That’s why I’m asking for your help today. Our goal is to raise $25,000 by December 31st to:
- maintain and improve our water taxi fleet.
- develop new educational programs for students and families.
- preserve the heritage that makes our river community so extraordinary.
- and a myriad of other types of programming as they come up throughout the year!
Here are some ways in which your gift can make a difference to the communities we serve:
- $150 can provide children with special needs with a scholarship for summer season passes or fund a walking tour on the New London Black History Trail for youth programs.
- $250 fuels a Hop On, Hop Off Harbor Cruise.
- $300 supports two scholarships for either our Adult or Junior Docent Academies.
- $325 sponsors a boat tour for a summer youth group.
- $500 sponsors, in part, either a student-led live performance of History Comes Alive or a collaborative coloring book for elementary students.
- $1,000 underwrites a lecture as part of our 2026 Lecture Series celebrating CT 250: Freedom: The Victories, Promises and Potentials of 1776 or can fund several walking tours during the Fall of 2026.
Every gift, large and small, helps keep the river’s stories flowing. If the Thames River, its history, or the community it connects has ever meant something to you, I hope you’ll consider supporting us before the year ends.
Donate Online or via Mail
Make your check payable to Thames River Heritage Park Foundation
Address: Thames River Heritage Park Foundation, P.O. Box 851, New London, CT 06320
Thank you for believing in our work, for keeping our stories alive, and for being such an important part of this journey. I wish you a healthy and happy holiday season and a Happy New Year!
With gratitude and excitement for what’s ahead,
June Henley | Director | [email protected]