New London Harbor Lighthouse

The New London Harbor Light is a lighthouse that was erected around the middle of the 18th century. New London was founded in 1646 and is located at the mouth of the Thames River. Many of the town's residents were involved in seafaring industries including whaling. By the mid-19th century, New London was the country's third leading whale port. The lighthouse served as a beacon, welcoming and guiding those entering the town's port. The money to build this 64-foot stone lighthouse was raised by selling lottery tickets. The light in the original lighthouse was a wooden lantern. The land on which the lighthouse is located was purchased from Nathanial Shaw, Jr., who benefited from the inheritance of his wife, whose family had lived on the property since the original settlement of New London. The lighthouse was the fourth in North America and the first on Long Island Sound. After surviving the American Revolution without any damage, President Washington authorized quarterly money to supply the lighthouse with oil. The original lighthouse was replaced in 1801 after complaints that it was difficult to distinguish the original from houses in the area. The New London Maritime Society became owner of the lighthouse in 2005 and they offer a library, archives and museum exhibits that help educate the public about the rich maritime history of New London.