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A Heritage Trail of 30 bronze plaques, which can be found in the sidewalks, celebrates New London’s historically significant buildings from Colonial times through the beginning of the 20th century.
new london main street: Built in the Richardsonian Romanesque Revival style in 1885 for Jonathan N. Harris, whose fortune was in patent medicine. The building once housed 31 offices, 8 apartments and a department store.
new london main street: Built in 1865 in the Italian style. Redesigned in 1913 in the Beaux-Arts style by James Sweeney. Inside, a wall mural shows New London as it looked in 1781 before Benedict Arnold set fire to the city.
new london main street: Lyric Hall, designed in 1897 by local architect James Sweeney, housed a theater and was then used as a dance hall. Its Neo-classical design is seen in the windows, ornamentation, and brickwork.
new london main street: Designed in 1897 by architect William B. Tuthill, who designed Carnegie Hall. Originally built to house the publishing firm for the New York Herald. After two years the Mohican was turned into a hotel
new london main street: Greek revival styled homes built between 1835-45 for 4 prominent whaling captains and merchants. The first owners of were a whaling and sealing captain, a physician, a whaling agent and a store owner.
new london main street: NL architect Dudley St. Clair Donnelly designed the building in 1914 in the Art Deco style for Morton B. Plant, a railroad and steamship magnate. Look for the intricate tile work and iron castings.
new london main street: Built in 1905 in the Italian Palazzo architectural style for the Thames Club, a private men’s club. The original building, built in 1888, was destroyed in 1904 in a fire. The club now admits women.
new london main street: This Greek Revival building was constructed in 1922 to house the Bank of Commerce which was relocated from Crocker House. The Bank of Commerce was established in NL in 1852.
new london main street: Built in 1873 as NL’s first modern hotel. The Crocker House became famous for its association with local celebrity and playwright Eugene O’Neill, who frequented the hotel’s bar.
new london main street: This building was originally Timothy Greene’s print shop, which published one of the colony’s earliest newspapers. This is the oldest remaining building left on State St built in 1771.
new london main street: This was originally the site of L. Lewis Co., a crockery and glassware store. Local architect James Sweeney, designer of 243 and 181 State Street, had his office here.
new london main street: Built in 1868 for Morris W. Bacon, manager of the Pequot & Ocean Transit Steamship Co. The building, which housed a billiard room, is a derivation of Italian Mannerist and Renaissance Revival styles.
new london main street: Designed by George Warren Cole in the Richardsonian Romanesque Revival style for Cronin, a plumbing contractor. The building is known for its textured brickwork and decorative arches.
new london main street: Built in the neoclassical style for Joseph Lawrence, head of prominent New London whaling family, as a hall for lectures and exhibits. The original Lawrence Hall, built in 1856, was destroyed by fire.
new london main street: The oldest hotel site in New London. Hotels were situated here from the 1700s, including the Steamboat Hotel and a famous hostelry in the stagecoach days for people traveling from NL to NYC.
new london main street: Colonial home of Sea Captain Charles Bulkeley, who sailed with John Paul Jones. In 1880s Charles Klink’s meat market opened here with icehouse in rear. The house was restored in the 1980s.
new london main street: Originally the A. Rudd Feed & Grain Co., the elevator built to carry bulk feed was well suited for the building’s next use—a furniture store, which thrived here for many years.
new london main street: Built in the colonial style as the home of Jonathan Starr, lumberyard operator. Starr’s lumber yard was directly across the street from his home. It later housed a drugstore for over 80 years.
new london main street: Built as the F.L. Allen Firehouse in the Greek Revival style with Palladian windows and pedimented gable. Served as a firehouse until 1932. By 1943 it was too small for new fire trucks.
new london main street: Built in 1833 in the Federal Greek Revival Style with granite quarried from ledge behind the building. It was originally the home and whaling office of Benjamin Brown, who produced soap and candles.
new london main street: Office and lumberyard of Jonathan Starr, who lived across the street at 181 Bank Street. Both coffins and groceries were sold here, at separate times.
new london main street: Robert Mills, architect of the Washington Monument, designed the building. It is the oldest, continuously operating custom house in the US. The Amistad landed HERE, not New Haven, Mr. Spielberg!
new london main street: Built in the Greek Revival style as the home of Franklin Smith, partner in the Perkins & Smith whaling firm. Its Greek Revival features include pedimented dormers, pilasters, and eyebrow windows.
new london main street: Designed by prominent local builder John Bishop. Home of the Darrow & Comstock Ships Chandlery until 1920, supplying whalers, yachts and steamers. The DAY paper started in an office upstairs in 1881.
new london main street: Built in 1848 to house whaling merchant Joseph Lawrence’s firm. Third floor lost in 1938 hurricane. It was home to Jibboom Club, a sailor’s social club, until it closed its doors in 1959.
new london main street: For 110 years, this Federal Greek revival style building housed the Whaling Bank, founded by the Lawrence family, and its successor, the National Whaling Bank. Today, it houses Muddy Waters.
new london main street: Figureheads in cornice reflect New London’s maritime tradition. Originally housed in New England Cigar and Tobacco Company. The original building on this site burned.
new london main street: Built in 1844 as a warehouse and ships chandlery for the whaling firm of Perkins & Smith. In 1889, it became the Winthrop Hotel, named to recognize the city’s founder, John Winthrop, Jr.
new london main street: Designed in 1885 (and completed in 1888) by H. H. Richardson, initiator of Romanesque revival in America and architect of Trinity Church. Today, it is served by both Amtrak and CT Shore Line East.