A collection of heritage sites which capture the history and culture of life along the Thames River.
Thames River Heritage Park is a collection of almost 20 national and historic sites along two shores of the Thames River linked by a water taxi that tell the stories that shaped our nation. Thames River Heritage Park Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission and purpose is to promote, support, and sustain the Thames River Heritage Park, a collection of heritage sites linked by water which capture the history and culture of life along the Thames River.
01/03/2025
January marks the return of movie screenings at Garde Arts Center, family art programs with Lyman Allyn Art Museum, multiple exhibit openings at Hygienic Art, an adult cooking class through Bill Memorial Library and more!
Follow the link to receive TRHP bi-weekly newsletter right to your inbox.
Email from Thames River Heritage Park Foundation January Events in Thames River Heritage Park VIEW AS WEBPAGE 2025 TRHP Academy Annual Program for Future Volunteers New London & Groton, Connecticut Ca
12/31/2024
Thames River Heritage Park and the U.S. Navy Submarine Force Museum, Home of Historic Ship Nautilus SSN 571 look to the spring 2025 for the opening of TRHP's new dock located next to the Nautilus. Local residents along with visitors from Southwestern CT and the shoreline and NYC and Boston arriving my train, ferry or car can now take our Hop-on Hop-off Harbor Cruise/Water Taxi service and enjoy a relaxing cruise up river to the museums. Read all about it in The Day.
A new dock will enable people to visit the historic submarine Nautilus via water taxi.
12/25/2024
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays! May the end of your year be filled with comfort and joy.
12/18/2024
Still have some holiday gifts to acquire? Do not fret! Give the gift of summer and support the park.
- 25% off Harbor Cruise Season Pass with promo code MERRYDAYS
- Buy $100 in Gift Cards and receive FREE 4-pack of tickets for Sunset Cruise or Happy Hour
- Memberships start as low as $35
A collection of heritage sites which capture the history and culture of life along the Thames River.
12/13/2024
Round out your year with any of these amazing events hosted by TRHP heritage sites!
Experience Lessons & Carols at the Pequot Chapel, revel in the holiday spirit with movies and The Nutcracker at Garde Arts Center, check out Open Mic Night at the NLMS Custom House Maritime Museum, learn about the Jolabokaflod tradition with Bill Memorial Library and much MORE!
Email from Thames River Heritage Park Foundation The last two weeks of December in Thames River Heritage Park VIEW AS WEBPAGE Santa Shopping Stroll Saturday, December 14th | 11AM-6PM Downtown New Lond
12/03/2024
Today marks the most generous day of the year, GivingTuesday!
This global movement encourages folks to make an impact within their community and beyond.
With your support, the park will continue to provide and expand programs that promote tourism and keep the history and heritage of the Thames River alive today and for generations to come.
The holidays are here and the park has local markets, Santa sightings and celebrations for you to discover in the latest newsletter.
Subscribe within to get it right to your inbox!
Email from Thames River Heritage Park Foundation The first two weeks of December in Thames River Heritage Park VIEW AS WEBPAGE Add Thames River Heritage Park to your holiday shopping list! Get a 25% d
11/28/2024
Wishing you and your loved ones a happy, healthy and blessed Thanksgiving!
Grateful for the community at large who continues to contribute the the parks mission to capture the history and culture of life along the Thames River.
11/22/2024
Last week, Thames River Heritage Park was able to reflect on the 2024 season and acknowledge the incredible volunteers and team members that keep this nonprofit organization afloat.
The Submarine Force Museum continues to provide an amazing atmosphere for this event!
11/18/2024
The annual holiday exhibit, Art=Gift is on display with items for sale through December 21st. The collection includes handcrafted and affordable art by local artists.
Shop small this season at Hygienic Art!
OPENING TONIGHT! Art = Gift. 6-9pm
Affordable art for the holiday shopper. All original fine art priced under $100! Support artists this season and give a one of a kind gift.
Exhibition and sale runs though December 21.
11/14/2024
The park has got you covered on all the local events!
Lyman Allyn Art Museum kicks off the weekend with Art After Dark THIS Friday, the Mystic River Brass Ensemble play for Bill Memorial Library, The Wizards of Winter take the stage at Garde Arts Center, New London's Christmas Tree Lighting & Small Business Saturday wrap up the month and many more exciting activities for all ages.
Explore New London Visit Eastern CT
Email from Thames River Heritage Park Foundation The last two weeks of November in Thames River Heritage Park VIEW AS WEBPAGE Art After Dark Lyman Allyn Art Museum, New London Friday, November 15th |
11/11/2024
In honor of Veteran’s Day, the park would like to thank all military veterans and those who still serve today. Your service is immeasurable and never overlooked in southeastern CT.
11/09/2024
Did you know that Garde Arts Center is more than just a mecca for entertainment? Their adjacent spaces are being occupied this week by local entities. Learn how you can support both!
Garde Gallery: showcasing The Life and Art of St. Francis House collection & fundraiser from November 8th-11th | http://www.stfrancishousenl.org/
The Meridian Building: hosting the SECT Free Kids Holiday Gift Swap from November 9th-16th | SECTSwap.com
Address
1 Waterfront Park, P. O. Box 851 New London, CT 06320
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Thames River Heritage Park posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Videos
One River. A Thousand Stories.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year as the park reflects on a wonderful 2024 season.
One River. One Weekend of Fun!
The park is thrilled to collaborate with the CT Maritime Heritage Festival to provide FREE hop on, hop off Harbor Cruises on Saturday & Sunday.
Sept 7th - Sept 8th | 10AM-5PM
Experience the CT Maritime Heritage Festival by land or sea! The nautical-themed weekend brings out the best of New London. This year will take place at both Fort Trumbull State Park & Downtown New London on September 7th-8th.
Cruise the Thames River over Labor Day Weekend!
Saturday & Sunday | Hop On, Hop Off Harbor Cruises, 4 Historic Boat Tours and one final Sunset Cruise on the Sound. Grab your summer crew for one last hurrah!
Welcome to Fort Trumbull State Park!
Located in New London, CT, and home to one of three Hop On, Hop Off Harbor Cruise launch sites.
Park grounds are open all year round, but summer brings guided tours of the fort and a world-renowned Visitor Center Museum (Memorial Day-Labor Day). The fort has a legacy of service from the American Revolution, to World War II and was the original site of the U.S. Coast Guard.
- Fishing Pier
- Walking Paths
- Restrooms
- Gift Shop
Pack a picnic and some chairs to enjoy the expansive green space & views of New London and Groton.
See what the hype is all about and hop aboard one of two narrated historic boat tours happening this Saturday, June 29th! Guests are allowed to bring their own snacks and beverages to elevate their experience.
11:40AM & 1:05PM | Two tours, two topics…One thousand stories!
All proceeds benefit TRHP Heritage Site The Hempsted Houses. Grab your tickets to reserve your spot today: https://conta.cc/3VAET9m
#DiscoverTheThames #NLCT #GrotonCT #VisitEasternCT #VisitCT #TRHP #ThamesRiverHeritagePark #CTVibe #CTLife #CoastalConnecticut #ConnecticutShoreline #OnlyinConnecticut #NewEnglandLiving #MysticCT #HistoricBoatTours #MysticWoodenBoatShow #MaritimeHistory #SummerInCT Visit Eastern CT
Partnering with Lyman Allyn Art Museum to host the Stories from the Park Lecture Series has been a highlight of the winter season.
Last call for tomorrow evenings lecture with professor of history, Matt Warshauer. Reception begins at 6pm and lecture follows at 7pm.
Only a few seats left! https://bit.ly/SFTP240306
#DiscoverTheThames #NLct #GrotonCT #VisitEasternCT #TRHP #ThamesRiverHeritagePark #CTvibe #ctlife #NLCT #coastalconnecticut #connecticutshoreline #onlyinconnecticut #newenglandliving #Mystic #LectureSeries #LymanAllynMuseum #LocalHistory
Travel back in time with scholarly and engaging teachers along with intellectually curious companions and discover the rich history and heritage of the Thames. This 10-week immersive program starts February 28th. Enrollment is limited. Learn more and register today: https://bit.ly/DocentAcademy
George Kauffman’s songs and stories about faraway islands connected to the Thames and the regions’ maritime history kicked off the 2024 Stories from the Park lecture series. An enthusiastic crowd sang along adding to the spirit of the evening.
Two weeks from today, Patricia Schaefer will guide the audience through the nuances of the relationship between Eastern Long Island and Southeastern Connecticut throughout the 18th century to present day. Get your tickets, which include the reception and lecture today and save with the early-bird discount!
Wishing you and your families a joyous and blessed Christmas and holiday season!
Video courtesy of ReelE Media.
@followers State Representative Anthony Nolan The Salvation Army - New London, CT Explore New London Downtown New London Association City of New London, Connecticut
#visiteasternct #visitct #NLCT #discoverthethames #TheSalvationArmy #BGC #onlyinconnecticut #mystic #downtownnewlondon #Christmas #shorelinect #CTvibe #grotonct
Welcome to the Thames River Heritage Park – a new kind of state park. One without boundaries. The Thames River Heritage Park is a collection of almost 20 national and historic sites along the shores of the Thames River – linked by a water taxi – that tell the stories that shaped our nation over the past 400 years.
The park draws together historical and contemporary sites, communities and institutions on both sides of the river where visitors may experience the region’s many heritage attractions. Four anchors—Fort Trumbull State Park, Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park, the Submarine Force Museum, and soon the National Coast Guard Museum—provide visitor services. The anchors and many smaller park sites are tied together by a water taxi system that allows visitors to experience the Thames River itself as the heart of the region.
The Park is a unique collaboration between three municipalities working together to create a rich and diverse visitor experience across their cities and towns and across the river.
The City of New London
The City of Groton
The Town of Groton
Our mission is to develop, preserve, coordinate, and promote a collaborative heritage experience on both sides of the Thames River.
In the Park you’ll be transported to the spot where in 1781 traitor Benedict Arnold’s men stormed Fort Griswold in Groton, a massacre commemorated with the nation’s first obelisk, built before Bunker Hill.
Cross the River to the Custom House Maritime Museum in New London where you’ll learn about the 1839 mutiny of African captives aboard the schooner La Amistad, a story immortalized in a Steven Spielberg movie.
Or visit the 1678 Hempsted Houses to see where a widowed father of nine children managed to find time to chronicle daily life in a diary that is now used worldwide as a primary source on Colonial America.
There are so many stories to tell you’ll want to visit again and again.
Visit all the sites or choose a few favorites. Start at any site or taxi landing.
Tour at your leisure.
Stop for lunch, shopping or visit our galleries.
For your convenience download our free mobile app. Go to your app store and download izi.travel. Then enter “Thames River Heritage Park” to find our tour. The tour starts in New London’s Historic Waterfront District. If you start at Fort Trumbull State Park just skip to that site. If you start in Groton just skip ahead to the Historic Groton Bank to start your tour.
The Thames River Heritage Park is the only heritage park in CT. Officially opened in 2016 it was actually more than 50 years in the making. Read the Park Plan to appreciate how it went from a dream to a reality. The plan was prepared by the Yale Urban Design Workshop; the principle authors were Andrei Harwell and Alan J. Plattus. Initial funding for the Thames River Heritage Park project came from the Avery-Copp House.
