News about Friends & Fort Trumbull State Park.  Send questions & news submittals to forttrumbullfriends@gmail.com 

Friends of Fort Trumbull, a Non-Profit Volunteer Organization, Plays a Pivotal Role in Fort Trumbull State Park Museum Upgrades

The Friends of Fort Trumbull  announce that the Fort Trumbull State Park Museum will have several new and updated exhibits as a result in part of the work done by the volunteers and by community support.  Among the new exhibits and those planned for 2024, they feature Fort Trumbull’s role in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, WW I, WW II and the Cold War.  

Among the donations secured by the Friends of Fort Trumbull for display at the museum are a mid-20th Century Coast Guard uniform and mannequin, a WW I Submarine Chaser model, the first and only known existing component of a WW I U-boat Detection Device and a WW I poster depicting the surrender of a U-boat at Armistice.  “While some state funds are provided to upgrade the museum, most of the artifacts acquired came from individual donations including money and volunteer efforts.” said Roy Manstan, author and Friends of Fort Trumbull history advisor.

“Dating back to the Revolutionary War, this region has been the backdrop of some of the most significant scenes in American History.  Today with the Naval Submarine Base New London, the U S Coast Guard Academy and the new Coast Guard Museum being built in New London, the museum at Fort Trumbull State Park is in a unique place to tell some of that history.” Manstan stated.  

Fort Trumbull has a two-century-and-a-half-long legacy of service from the American Revolution to World War II to the Cold War.  Along with serving as a federal military facility, the fort played a pivotal role in the country’s coastal defense system and as the original site of the U.S. Coast Guard.

 This Revolutionary War era fort is a five-sided, four-bastion coastal defense fort and is unique among American forts because it was built in the Egyptian Revival style, inspired by the Temple of Luxor.  It became the home of technology development that made The Submarine Capital of the World possible

The park grounds are open daily from 8 am to sunset while the Visitor Center Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm.  

To learn more about the Friends of Fort Trumbull and to find ways to volunteer, contact our President, Cliff Carter, G.C.Carter@IEEE.org

Visit our Friends of Fort Trumbull Facebook page for upcoming events.

New London Main Street

The TRHP Communications Sub-Committee Visits Fort Trumbull

When the Communications sub-committee met at the Fort Trumbull Visitors’ Center in New London, members were so impressed that they suggested it as one of the possible venues for a TRHP informational presentation for key supporters this fall or next spring. Indeed, anyone living in the are who hasn’t visited the fort really owes it to themselves to see the amazing structures, state-of-the-art museum, and vista of the Thames River that make up one of the TRHC’s main attractions.

The Friends of Fort Trumbull has a great website with lots of photos and information on the history of the fort and upcoming events.  Also make sure to visit DEEP’s official Fort Trumbull website. But after you’ve done that, by all means go over to the park itself (Walbach Street off Howard Street) and make a day of it.

Read more at https://www.thamesriverheritagepark.org/tag/new-london-main-street/

The Reconstruction Era

NOVEMBER 20, 2023

Fort Trumbull in New London Conn. Is Civil War Fortification

New London is a small city right in between Boston and New York. Just two hours from those two big cities, it  often gets driven through by tourists heading to the major metropolitan areas or to beach shore destinations like Newport or Cape Cod. New London and the towns surrounding it have half a dozen Civil War destinations that include Fort Griswold and Fort Trumbull. In November, 2023 I visited Fort Trumbull right in the city.

The fort that is still in existence is largely the fort that was built between 1839 and 1852 that stood there during the Civil War. This was the third fort built there and it is in accord with the Third System of defensive fortifications. The site had been defended during the Revolutionary War with a fort built in 1777 that was captured in 1781 by Benedict Arnold. New London was burned by the British. After the war, a Second System fort was placed on the site. Both the first and second forts no longer exist except for a block house constructed in 1794 of granite.

Read more at https://www.thamesriverheritagepark.org/tag/new-london-main-street/

United States Coast Guard News

PRESS RELEASE | Sept. 25, 2023

Eagle Ride-In Opportunity As Tall Ship Returns To New London Oct. 3

Coast Guard Academy

NEW LONDON, Conn. -- The U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle is returning to Connecticut on Tuesday, Oct. 3 after completing its annual mission to train the future leaders of the service.

Media representatives are invited to ride to Fort Trumbull and cover Eagle as it returns to its homeport. Those interested should RSVP to Coast Guard Academy Public Affairs at cga-public-affairs@uscga.edu by noon Thursday, Sept. 28. 

Participants will meet at Station New London, 100 Bowditch St., New London, Conn., at 7:00 a.m., ride out to Eagle on a Coast Guard small boat, and board the tall ship for the transit to New London.

In the event of a lapse of appropriations this event will be cancelled.

https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3537305/eagle-ride-in-opportunity-as-tall-ship-returns-to-new-london-oct-3/

NBC CT News - NEW LONDON

Published August 12, 2023 

Dozens participate in state's Saltwater Fishing Day in New London

DEEP hosted a fun fishing event for kids and families. It's part of program that encourages children to get outside and enjoy the outdoors.

At Fort Trumbull State Park, people spent their Saturday fishing on the pier and participating in the state's Saltwater Fishing Day.

One little girl says she's caught a few fish with her dad before and was determined to do it again.

"It's when you catch a fish because you get to take some home and eat it and you get to cook stuff," said Isabelle Santiago, of Quaker Hill.

A mother-daughter duo was also out in the sun, casting their fishing rods.  

"I think it's great. It's a really nice opportunity and I didn't really have anybody to teach me this kind of thing either. it's really nice to get to learn more about catching specific kinds of fish," said Shayna Ivanitskyy, of Bolton.

And there are quite a few fish along the Thames River.

"We're seeing some summer flounder, some winter flounder, we're seeing sea robins, some crabs being caught, a wide variety," said Justin Wiggins, a member of Connecticut's Aquatic Resources Education or CARE program. "That's one of the really cool things about fishing along Long Island Sound and the ocean. You could catch dozens and dozens of fish so it's a little bit excitement of the unknown."

Read more at https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/dozens-participate-in-states-saltwater-fishing-day-in-new-london/3084836/

New London ― The Cultural District Commission is offering a free shuttle service running half-hour loops Saturday, June 10th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Connecticut Open House Day events.

CT Open House Day is an annual all-day event with free or discounted admission to various tourist attractions across the state. The shuttle service in New London will run between the following locations:

Juneteenth Celebration at The Hempsted Houses, 11 Hempstead St.: A day of speakers, family activities, music, dance and community festivities commemorating Juneteenth at one of New England’s oldest dwellings. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fort Trumbull State Park: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be an interactive history lesson at the visitor center (free on this day, normally $6) or just walk the fort and its ramparts for stunning views of the Thames River.

New London County Historical Society at Shaw Mansion, 11 Blinman St.: Open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Founded in 1870, the society is the oldest historical organization in eastern Connecticut.

Custom House Maritime Museum, 150 Bank St.: Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free to hear stories of the waterfront.

Thames River Hop-on, Hop-off Harbor Cruise: Take a $5 harbor cruise via the water taxi to Fort Trumbull and Fort Griswold State Parks. To make a reservation, go to thamesriverheritagepark.org/boat-tours and enter promo code 2023CTOHD at checkout. Tickets may also be purchased on the boat.

Lyman Allyn Art Museum, 625 Williams St.: Free admission on CT Open House Day. Explore special exhibition Barkley L. Hendricks in New London or admire the special micro-photography images of bugs in Small Wonders: Insects in Focus.

April 23, 2023

For a stipend of $600 a year from a grateful state, New London Harbormaster Dave Crocker has more to watch over than ever before.

Crocker bounces his pickup over rough roadways that are dead ends for a truck but open out on the shores where the tides lap the Thames riverfront. On an hourlong tour he has a plethora of state, city and private commercial development to show, from the foot of Riverside Park to Fort Trumbull.

Whatever the river’s name may be when the current legislative session ends, it will still be undergoing its most transformative period since at least World War II. That’s in addition to the immense upswing in submarine design and construction on both riversides and the enhancement of shorefront facilities at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

- - - 

At the Fort Trumbull peninsula the city is planning a $40 million community center with help from state funds and has given a developer the go-ahead to plan more than 600 apartments.

Crocker, who was appointed harbormaster by former Gov. John Rowland, has been reappointed by every governor since. His family is the longtime operator of Crocker’s Boatyard in Shaw’s Cove. His knowledge of the Thames waterfront goes deep. He is also the harbormaster for the Niantic River, which is more typical of most Connecticut harbors -- heavily used by recreational boaters and commercial fishing boats, and periodically in need of dredging to keep the channels open.

Read more at The New London Day newspaper.

April 14, 2023

New London ― A few members of the New London Senior Center’s walking and exercise program gathered Friday at Fort Trumbull State Park. The women started with exercises and later took a walk around the park.

The program is held at Fort Trumbull Monday and Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. and Wednesday, indoors at the senior center from 9 to 10 a.m.

Read more at https://www.theday.com/local-news/20230414/seniors-keeping-fit/ 

The two main fishing licenses in Connecticut are "Inland Only" (freshwater) and "Marine Only" (saltwater). Connecticut also offers a license for all water types. These licenses must be procured for anyone over the age of 16 that is wanting to fish in the state.   Here at Fort Trumbull, you need the Marine license (saltwater).  Learn more at the Fishing page here.

 A significant piece of storied history finds its way back home to Fort Trumbull; read details HERE!

An interesting article in The Day on March 10th regarding Funding Issues it will be good to be aware of is detailed HERE!

For questions, please email forttrumbullfriends@gmail.com