Today is Friday, December 27, 2024 
April in the Park – Wyland Returns, Earth & Sky: Nature Meditations, Mandy Patinkin in Concert and more … there’s so much to enjoy at Thames River Heritage Park’s heritage sites and institutional partners.
groton
Ledge Lighthouse
At the mouth of the Thames River stands Ledge Lighthouse. This incredible structure was built in the Second Empire/Colonial Revival style in 1909 to address an increase in boat traffic. Its elegant three-story brick and granite design was heavily influenced by two prominent landowners in Waterford and Groton, Edward Harkness and Morton Plant, who wanted the lighthouse to be constructed in the style of their homes. Cross Sound Ferry’s Classic Cruise includes Ledge Light on its tour.
Address: Maritime Society, 150 Bank St, New London, CT 06320
Phone number: (860) 447-2501
Hours: Contact the Maritime Society for tours
Historic Groton Bank
WATER TAXI PICK UP SPOT
The Groton Bank is a historic village on the east bank of the Thames River. Today the neighborhood is comprised of a few hundred houses, three churches, a library, two museums, a Revolutionary War fort and business structures dating primarily from Colonial times to a century ago. Groton Bank and Fort Griswold are adjacent Historic Districts listed on the US Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places.
In 1655 the ferry operator Cary Latham became the first permanent English settler on the east bank of the Thames River when it was part of the Pequot Colony, which later became the city of New London. After Groton became a separate town in 1705, the east bank of the river became known as Groton Bank and grew to become a major village in the town. In centuries following, the Groton Bank transformed into an international leader in the shipbuilding industry and was the site of the only major Revolutionary War battle in Connecticut. During the War of 1812, Fort Griswold served as the key defender of the Thames Harbor. It was also home to well-known captains of the whaling era and the residence of many prominent citizens including a member of Congress. In 1881 a portion of the Groton Bank took on the name “Groton Heights” in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Revolutionary War Battle fought here on September 6, 1781.
Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park
The Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park rests on a vantage point above the Thames River, containing the remains of a Revolutionary War fort and a 135-foot obelisk monument to pay tribute to those who died defending it. The park is the site of the 1781 Battle of Groton Heights where British troops, under the command of the infamous traitor Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, attacked the fort which resulted in a massacre of American soldiers.
Fort Griswold was named after then Deputy Governor Matthew Griswold. In tandem with Fort Trumbull on the opposite side of the harbor, Fort Griswold served to defend the port of New London, a supply center for the new Continental Army and a friendly port for Connecticut- sanctioned privateers who preyed on British ships.
The Groton Monument was built between 1826 and 1830, and is the oldest monument of its type in the country. Built of granite quarried locally, the Monument stands 135 feet tall with 166 steps. A marble plaque shows the names of those who died defending the fort.
The property also includes the Monument House Museum, which was built in 1830. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) began meeting there in 1894, and members began donating artifacts from the battle and other periods of Groton’s history. The Revolutionary War exhibit houses Colonel William Ledyard’s sword, a painting depicting the battle, and a model of the Fort as it looked on September 6, 1781. An observation platform and interpretive signs were added to the fort in 2018 to give visitors a better understanding of the fort’s features and to better protect the earthworks.
Address: Monument St. & Park Ave. Groton, CT 06340
Distance from Groton Water Taxi Landing: 0.5 Miles
Phone Number: (860) 445-1729
Hours: The Museum and Monument are open Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The park grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Admission: Free
Ebenezer Avery House
Following the loss of American troops at the Battle of Groton Heights on September 6, 1781, the wounded soldiers were loaded into a wagon to be transported down the hill and onto the British ships. The men guiding the prisoners to the Thames River quickly lost control and were forced to release the wagon. It collided with a large tree, further injuring the already disabled soldiers. They were taken into the Ebenezer Avery House which stands today on the grounds of the Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park. Today, the Ebenezer Avery House is open to the public as a museum. It was restored and furnished by The Avery Memorial Association with the antiques of the revolutionary period.
Address: 57 Fort St, Groton, CT 06340
Distance from Groton Water Taxi Landing: 0.1 Miles
Phone number: (860) 446-9257
Hours: Noon – 4:00pm, Sat-Sun Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day (or by appointment)
Admission: Free, suggested donation
