Stonington, Connecticut

Site of the 1781 massacre where British forces under Benedict Arnold killed surrendering American defenders after storming the fort.

Stand here and imagine the roar of cannons and the desperate struggle for freedom! Fort Griswold witnessed one of the most brutal events in Connecticut's Revolutionary War history. On 1781, British forces, led by…

They say a lonely lighthouse keeper still roams New London Ledge Light. Built in 1909, this unique lighthouse marks the entrance to New London Harbor. Legend tells of a keeper, some say named Ernie, despondent over lost…

Look out your window! You're approaching the New London Harbor Light, the oldest and tallest lighthouse in all of Connecticut and Long Island Sound. This beacon has been guiding ships for over 250 years, making it the…

Explore this massive granite fort overlooking the Thames River, a silent witness to centuries of American history. Built to defend against naval attacks, Fort Trumbull saw its first action during the Revolutionary War.…

Picture this: ocean-going freighters meeting the iron horse right here. Back in 1876, the Central Vermont Railroad built this pier to connect its rail lines with ships sailing the Atlantic. It became a crucial transfer…

Imagine finding a place where people lived thousands of years ago. That's what the Tomaquag Rock Shelters are all about. In the late 1950s, a man named Nathan Kaye discovered these shelters under two granite outcrops…

The world's first nuclear-powered submarine was launched from Groton in 1954 and completed the first submerged transit of the North Pole in 1958.

Get ready to dive into history, because right here is where the world changed underwater. The USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, was commissioned right here in 1954. This wasn't just another sub;…

New London's Custom House, built in 1833, anchored the city's role as one of America's three busiest whaling ports.

Imagine New London as the whaling capital of the world. This house belonged to Acors Barns, a man who helped build that empire. Built in 1837, this is where Acors Barns lived. He wasn't just any whaler; his company…

Step inside one of Connecticut's oldest houses, built around 1678, and witness centuries of history unfold. This isn't just a house; it’s a time capsule. This remarkable structure was built by Joshua Hempsted around…

Ever wonder what secrets a grand old house can hold? Well, get ready to uncover some right here at the Shaw Mansion. This isn't just any old house; it was once the nerve center of Connecticut's naval operations during…

Look at these magnificent homes, a frozen moment of New London's booming whaling industry! These four Greek Revival beauties, known as Whale Oil Row, were built between 1835 and 1845 for developer Ezra Chappel. Imagine…

Pull over and check out this house – it’s a pre-fab marvel of modern design! It's the Winslow Ames House, a rare example of International Style architecture, built way back in 1933. Winslow Ames, an art history…

Ever heard of a place that launched a thousand plays? That's the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. Back in 1964, George C. White founded this non-profit theater company in Waterford, Connecticut. The goal? To nurture new…

You're near a place that revolutionized how we treat childhood illnesses. The Seaside, right here in Waterford, was the very first institution in the United States designed to use sunlight, or heliotropic treatment, for…

Walk the sacred ground of Uncas, a powerful Mohegan leader, at the site of the principal Mohegan settlement. This is Fort Shantok. Between 1636 and 1682, this land served as the main settlement for the Mohegan people.…

This seemingly quiet corner of Rhode Island holds a story of resilience and loss. For nearly two centuries, this area served as the reservation lands of the Narragansett people. In 1709, the Narragansett were confined…

Pull over for a second; the ground beneath you whispers tales of a forgotten world. This is where the Norwich State Hospital once stood, a sprawling complex that housed thousands of patients for nearly a century. Opened…

Stop and pay your respects at this ancient burial ground, a place where the echoes of Rhode Island's Native American history still resonate. For centuries, this small plot of land has served as the final resting place…

Pull over for a minute; you're looking at a piece of Connecticut history that's almost vanished. The Long Society Meetinghouse is one of the few colonial 'broad side' meeting houses still standing. Back in the early…

Birthplace of Benedict Arnold, whose name became synonymous with treason after he attempted to surrender West Point to the British in 1780.

Hey, check out that wedge-shaped building ahead! It's Norwich's very own Flat Iron Building, officially called the Carroll Building, and it's been a landmark here since 1887. It was built at the intersection of Main and…

Ever wonder what early industrial life was like in Connecticut? You're driving right into it! This historic mill village, powered by a scenic waterfall, is a living snapshot of the past. It’s a remarkable example of how…

Imagine life in Rhode Island over 300 years ago – you're driving past a piece of it right now. This is the Samuel Clarke Farm, anchored by a house built around 1691, making it one of the oldest surviving homes in the…

Site of the devastating December 1675 attack on a Narragansett winter camp during King Philip's War, one of the bloodiest conflicts per capita in American history.

Pull over for a minute and imagine secret meetings, hushed voices, and the birth of a nation, all happening right here. The Leffingwell Inn, built around 1675, became a crucial meeting place during the American…

Imagine learning your ABCs in a building that's over 200 years old! That's the story of the East District School. Built in 1798, this simple schoolhouse in Norwich, Connecticut, educated generations of children. But it…

Ever wondered what life was like when Connecticut was just starting out? Right here, you’re approaching one of America's oldest wooden houses, built around 1660! Imagine stepping back almost four centuries.

Imagine the weight of a nation's birth resting on your shoulders – that's what Samuel Huntington carried within these walls. Built in 1783, this house was the home of Samuel Huntington, a man who signed the Declaration…

Feel the ocean breeze—this very spot has been saving ships from disaster for over two centuries! George Washington himself authorized the construction of the Montauk Point Lighthouse back in 1792. It was completed in…

Imagine standing guard here, knowing the fate of Long Island Sound might rest on your shoulders. That was life at Fort Terry. Established in 1897, this coastal fortification on Plum Island was built to protect the vital…

This historic lighthouse has guided ships safely around Block Island since 1867. The Block Island North Light was built in 1867 to replace earlier, less effective warning systems. Its location on Sandy Point marked a…

That hulking structure you see looming in the distance? It's a relic of a time when the world held its breath, waiting for nuclear war. This is what remains of the AN/FPS-35 radar, a critical piece of America's Cold War…

That little lighthouse over there, Plum Island Light, has been a silent sentinel guiding ships through the Long Island Sound for over a century. The original granite lighthouse was built in 1869. It stood tall, a beacon…