Sentinels on the Sound Lighthouse Tour Set for 7/1 - 7/3

Join us, July first through third, when New London hosts a city-wide weekend of lighthouse exhibitions, tours and special events.  And for the first time, ever, the public will be allowed to step inside all three lighthouses in New London Harbor: Avery Point, Ledge, and New London Harbor Lights.

Experience lighthouses by boat, by bike, in discussions, in art, through history, through science, and from the inside looking out. Special events include a Shoreline Lighthouse Bicycle Tour, Sentinels on the Sound discussions, a Lighthouse Cake Competition, Sea Shantyman John Roberts in concert, Art Exhibitions & more.

From the lantern of New London Harbor Light, one can see an amazing number of lighthouses--perhaps more than from any other spot on earth, according to the United States Coast Guard. Last fall, the New London Maritime Society assumed stewardship of New London Harbor Light, the oldest lighthouse on Long Island Sound and the 4th oldest lighthouse in North America. To mark the first summer of their stewardship and celebrate New London's rich lighthouse heritage, the New London Maritime Society presents a weekend of lighthouse activities, Sentinels on the Sound: New London's Lighthouse Heritage, to take place Friday through Sunday, July 1-3, 2011. Working with a number of New London-area lighthouse and other organizations , the weekend will include lighthouse tours, special exhibitions, and a Saturday symposium to be held at the Custom House Maritime Museum featuring New England lighthouse expert Jeremy D'Entremont.

The Ledge Light Foundation is a major partner in the Weekend's festivities. On Friday evening July 1, at 6:30 PM, Todd Gipstein, the Foundation's president, will sign copies of his new novel, Legacy of the Light, at the Custom House Maritime Museum. On Saturday and Sunday, Ledge Lighthouse. Ledge Lighthouse & its new Information Center can be visited through tours run by Project Oceanology, which will leave from New London's Custom House Pier. The lighthouse weekend & our new lighthouse exhibition are made possible by a generous grant from the Connecticut Humanities Council*.

The printed daily schedule is available at the Custom House Maritime Museum and throughout downtown New London, or download your schedule HERE.

In addition to New London Maritime Society and the Ledge Light Foundation, other partners include area lighthouses: Avery Point Foundation, Ledge Light Foundation, Noank Historical Society (Morgan Point), Mystic Seaport, Stonington Historical Society (Stonington Light); and Bike New London, Caruso Music, Expressiones Cultural Center, Fort Trumbull State Park, Friends of Fort Trumbull, Hygienic Art, Lyman Allyn Art Museum, New London Community Boating, the New London County Historical Society, New London Main Street, NLart, Ocean Beach Park, PINC!, Project Oceaneology, Provenance Center, Public Library of New London, Spirit Gallery, Studio 33, The Gallery at Firehouse Square, the US Coast Guard and the USCG Museum.

Sentinels on the Sound launches New London's exciting Waterfront Summer, with 2011 SailFest up next, July 8 thru 10.

Go to the Lighthouse Weekend Web page:
http://www.nlmaritimesociety.org/2011LighthouseWeekend.html
to see a complete updated listing of events.

Just announced: the little pinc lighthouse contest

PINC! wants you to create the next print for its next handbag and pillow designs!
To enter the contest, children ages 5-15 must draw a picture of one of the New London area's lighthouses on 8.5"x11" paper and submit it to Pinc! by Saturday, June 18.

Drawings may be submitted by email porkchopsinc@aol.com
posted on Facebook www.facebook.com/pincnewlondon or dropped off at Pinc! 52 State Street, New London, 860-701-0501. All entries must include child's name, age and contact info. Click HERE for more details.