update

The 2017 CT Maritime Heritage Festival is fast approaching. Mark your calendars – Friday, September 8 – Sunday, September 10th. The Thames River Heritage Park will offer special fares and schedules for the hop on-hop off water taxi service on Saturday and Sunday during the Festival as follows:

Special Fares Saturday and Sunday only:

• $10 for adult all-day unlimited rides (reg. $15)

• $5 for all-day unlimited rides for children ages 4-12 and active military (reg. $10)

• Children 3 and under are free

Special Schedule Saturday and Sunday only:

• 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. there will be continuous express water taxi service between Fort Trumbull and City Pier in New London.

• 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. there will be continuous express water taxi service between Fort Trumbull and Fort Street Landing in Groton.

The Water Taxi will operate on a regular schedule Friday, the 8th and after 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Sunset tours will be available as scheduled.[clear_both]

Today was a big day for the Park. Our wayfinding and informational sign was installed at the Groton landing. It was a team effort, for sure. Volunteer Bill Posage did all the heavy lifting while Board President Marian Galbraith assisted and Interim Executive Director Amy Perry captured the event. The new sign has photos and descriptions of the sites on the Groton Bank as well as walking times, directional arrows and a map. Water Taxi riders will not be able to miss it.Be sure to take a look.

Volunteer Bill Posage works the post digger

Board President Marian Galbraith helps with the wheelbarrow

Bill Posage fills in around the post

Bill Posage and Marian Galbraith work on the final adjustments

Marian Galbraith and Interim Executive Director Amy Perry with the final results.

TRHPF Board President Marian Galbraith and Interim Executive Director Amy Perry had a great excuse for being at the Groton Landing in the middle of a sunny summer workday on Tuesday. Ann Wilkinson, SVP of Chelsea Groton Bank met them there for this photo op to present them with a check for $2,410 from the Chelsea Groton Bank Foundation. The funds were provided to support the coordination and design of this new website. They are standing in front of the Water Taxi “Groton” which served as a liberty boat to the USS Hunley, a submarine tender home ported in Charleston, South Carolina servicing the nuclear powered Polaris submarine fleet.

Visitors to historic Groton Bank this summer will find an exciting new addition to Fort Griswold.

This spring, the Friends of Fort Griswold saw the completion of a project to mark the outline of the original barracks that once stood inside the fort. A total of 332 feet of granite pieces were cut in six- and eight-foot lengths used to mark the outline of the barracks on the original site inside the fort. In addition, eight 400 pound stones were added to mark the location of chimneys.

The exact location and measurements were sketched by a British Officer following the grisly battle in 1781. Archaeologists from the State of Connecticut surveyed the fort using historical maps and newer aerial surveys to pinpoint the original footings for the outline.

To mark the completion of this project, the Friends of Fort Griswold will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at Fort Griswold later in the summer.

Locals and visitors of all ages rode the Water Taxis – taking in sites, crossing the River from Groton to indulge in a cornucopia of delectable and fattening morsels, taking a spin on the Ferris Wheel, and, of course, watching the spectacular fireworks display. Saturday and Sunday saw capacity ridership as well as sold out River Cruises for the Fireworks. It was a weekend for the Thames River Heritage Park to shine and we did just that! Thanks to our amazing crews who go above and beyond for all our guests.