Thames River Heritage Park hosts lecture series in partnership with the Lyman Allyn Art Museum

Thames River Heritage Park 2024 winter lecture series, “Stories from the Park: Island Affairs of the Thames,” will be held at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London.

Probing the historical impact and influence of the connections with islands near and far to the Thames River, the five-part series will explore the “power of place” from a social, cultural, political, economic and ecological perspectives along with its impact and influence on life on the Thames — historically and up to the present time through stories, song and prose.

The lectures are scheduled on the first Wednesday of the month from January through May at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum and begin with a reception of light hors d’oeuvres and wine at 6 p.m., immediately followed by a lecture at 7 p.m.

Lecture details are as follows: Jan. 3: “Mariners, Whalers and Traders — Island Connections to the Thames: Troubadour.” Geoff Kaufmann shares stories of mariners, whalers and traders in prose and song.

Feb. 7: “Kinship, Trade and Culture — Eastern Long Island and the Thames.” Historian Patricia Schaefer presents Eastern Long Island and Southeastern Connecticut’s strong kinship, trade and cultural ties in the 18th century.

March 6: “Connecticut’s Sweet Tooth — New London, the Sugar Trade and Slavery in the West Indies.” Professor Matt Warshauer shares stories about the Thames River region when it was the most important port of trade in all of British North America.

April 3: “Bound for Desolation — New London ‘Whalers’ and Isles of the Southern Ocean.” Local historian Deborah Donovan shares stories about New London “whalers.”

May 1: “Whaling, Religion and Royalty — New London and Lahaina.” Steve Manuel, New London County Historical Society executive director, tells stories about New London’s Elias Perkins II, a partner in the Perkins and Smith whaling firm.

The series pass costs $45 for members of Thames River Heritage Park Foundation or Lyman Allyn Art Museum, or $65 for non-members. Tickets are also being sold individually for each lecture. The cost is $15 for members of Thames River Heritage Park Foundation or Lyman Allyn Art Museum, or $20 for the general public.

Seating is limited. Advance registration is required. Visit www.thamesriverheritagepark.org.