New London Customhouse, Maritime museum in New London, Connecticut
The New London Customhouse is a three-story granite building on Bank Street with light stone corners and a columned porch entrance. Inside, a maritime research collection holds over 2,300 books, charts, maps, and prints for studying naval and shipping history.
Robert Mills, the architect of the Washington Monument, designed this federal facility in 1833 to oversee maritime trade and collect duties. The building served as a key post for managing harbor commerce throughout the 1800s.
The museum displays the maritime connections that shaped the city, through ship models and stories of regional lighthouses and historical events. Visitors can trace how the harbor influenced local life and trade.
The building sits right by the harbor and is walkable from the downtown area. Visitors should note that parking can be limited, but the location makes it easy to explore the historic waterfront on foot.
The entrance door uses wooden planks from the USS Constitution, one of the oldest warships still in existence from the United States Navy. This detail connects the building to an important chapter of American maritime heritage.
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