Historic Stonington

Historic Stonington Historic Stonington was founded in 1895. The Capt. Palmer House & the Lighthouse Museum are currently open daily from 10am to 4pm. The Richard W.

The Woolworth Library is open Monday 1pm to 5pm, Wednesday 9am to 5pm and Friday 1pm to 5pm. The mission of the Stonington Historical Society is to preserve, interpret, and celebrate the history of all of Stonington. Our Society is dedicated to illuminating the more than 350 years of history of the Town of Stonington, located in the southeastern corner of Connecticut. We offer here records of the

lives and fortunes of colonial settlers, blockade runners, ship captains, whale hunters, patriots, explorers, artists, and writers. We recall the struggles between Native Americans and Europeans, the repulse of British forces in 1775 and 1814, the exploration of distant oceans by Stonington seafarers. We see Stonington's era as a polyglot seaport, a community of English, Portuguese, Irish, Italians, Germans, and African Americans. There are glimpses too of later years, when Stonington became known as a city-dwellers' refuge from the twentieth century, where village life and community survived. We invite you to explore the resources of this site, and to see Stonington in person as well. When you come, take the time to visit our three historic sites:

The Old Lighthouse Museum, where you can climb into its light tower and look far out toward the Atlantic. Our National Historic Site, the Nathaniel B. Palmer House, home of the Stonington seafarer credited with discovering Antarctica. Woolworth Library, a growing archive of local records, manuscripts, and photographs, serving a national research audience. Please visit us at any or all of our sites. You will find a warm welcome. Wish to support our efforts? You can become a Member and/or make a donation! MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
Membership includes a subscription to Historical Footnotes and free admission to our museum sites and research library. Members are notified of coming programs and exhibitions and are entitled to a ten percent discount on our books and most gift shop items. Membership Applications are available at each of our sites and through our website: www.stoningtonhistory.org

HOW TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION
The Stonington Historical Society welcomes financial contributions to support its efforts to preserve and display the rich history of the Town. The organization enjoys the 501 (c) (3) status of a charitable institution. Please make checks payable to The Stonington Historical Society and mail them to:

The Stonington Historical Society
P.O. Box 103
Stonington, CT 06378

"Schoolhouse in upper Quaimbaug where children in that section and Wilcox Curve etc, went to school through the grades 1...
09/08/2026

"Schoolhouse in upper Quaimbaug where children in that section and Wilcox Curve etc, went to school through the grades 1850s to 1911. Now (1950) owned by the Rathbuns and made into a house." Gift of Janice and John McDermott

Please note, our fall hours will resume after Labor Day. Thank you all for an amazing summer! If you haven't taken a tou...
09/06/2026

Please note, our fall hours will resume after Labor Day. Thank you all for an amazing summer! If you haven't taken a tour of the Captain Nathaniel B. Palmer House or the Lighthouse Museum in a while, (or ever), this weekend is a great opportunity to take advantage of the incredible history right here in your own town!

Fall just got a lot more interesting. Join Historic Stonington this September and every membership level comes with two ...
09/05/2026

Fall just got a lot more interesting.

Join Historic Stonington this September and every membership level comes with two limited-time perks:

🎟️ GUEST PASS: Bring a friend free to any Historic Stonington site
🗝️ NEW MEMBER TOUR: A behind-the-scenes look at our archives

This is a one-time offer for our fall drive. Don't wait. Link in bio to join.

Advocacy Alert! The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is advancing a sweeping and damaging proposal to re...
09/04/2026

Advocacy Alert!
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is advancing a sweeping and damaging proposal to rewrite the regulations for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Since the enactment of NHPA 60 years ago, Section 106 has been the foundational requirement for federal agencies to “take into account” the effects of their actions on historic properties and places, enabling public participation and comment in the process, empowering state and local governments and Tribal communities to have a voice in the process, and often improving the project and enhancing the outcome.

These new regulations will lead to more delays and more litigation as federal agencies and applicants try to navigate compliance without the well-known and well-used consultation process. The preservation community and our partners across the country are mobilizing to fight this harmful proposal.

Click the link below to learn more about what you can do to help protect our historic places.



The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation is advancing changes to the Section 106 process of the National Historic Preservation Act. If adopted, these rules would eliminate public participation in federal preservation decisions and strip protection from significant landscapes.

Join us for an evening series of stargazing, navigation, and history on the grounds of the Lighthouse Museum. Associate ...
09/02/2026

Join us for an evening series of stargazing, navigation, and history on the grounds of the Lighthouse Museum. Associate Director of the Treworgy Planetarium, Brian Koehler, will explore how sailors like Stonington's own Captain Nathaniel B. Palmer navigated by the stars. Bring a blanket, pack some snacks and raise a glass under the stars.

$25 suggested donation per blanket - $20 for members. Space is limited and registration is strongly encouraged. The link to register is on our homepage, www.historicstonington.org.

"Cousins: First Day of School, Fall 1955." (Outside West Broad Street School)  Back Row: Ernest Norcia, Lydia DiCesare, ...
08/31/2026

"Cousins: First Day of School, Fall 1955." (Outside West Broad Street School) Back Row: Ernest Norcia, Lydia DiCesare, Carlene V***a. Middle Row: Stephen V***a, Deborah Norcia, John DiCesare. Front Row: Cynthia V***a, Antoinette Norcia, Samuel Norcia.

Ready or not, it's back to school! Class photograph of the graduating class of Stonington Grammar School, June 1921, tak...
08/29/2026

Ready or not, it's back to school!
Class photograph of the graduating class of Stonington Grammar School, June 1921, taken by Vera Hewitt. Front Row(L to R): Nicholeta Squadrito, Wilhelmina Derricks Meikle, Emily Robinson Cole, Elsie Morrison, Laura Mello, Alma Spears. Second Row: Clara Kerscheiper, Josephine Delagrange, Dorothea Hewitt Gould, Edward Beattie, Mary Clay, Mary Moniz, Genevieve Lynch. Back Row: Morton Brainard, David Robinson, John Marino, Thomas Anderson, Miss Blythe (?) 8th grade teacher and principal of the grammar school, Dorothy Stanton, Frank ?. The last two boys are unidentified.

Gift of Dorothea Hewitt Gould.

Photograph of the children of Charles O. and Wilhemena Ryon: Charles G. "Charlie," John W. "Jack," and Marion, c. 1932. ...
08/27/2026

Photograph of the children of Charles O. and Wilhemena Ryon: Charles G. "Charlie," John W. "Jack," and Marion, c. 1932. Gift of Anne Ryon.

This is a friendly reminder that tomorrow is National Dog Day! Be sure you give the dogs in your life a belly rub, lots ...
08/25/2026

This is a friendly reminder that tomorrow is National Dog Day! Be sure you give the dogs in your life a belly rub, lots of treats, and plenty of kisses - the local representatives tell us its mandatory!

This good boy is Toby, the Streeter family dog, photographed in 1916 at their home on North Main Street. Gift of Anita P. (Streeter) Smith.

Edited: St. Patrick Catholic Church, Mystic, 1910. From the Saint Patrick's website: "On October 30, 1870, St. Patrick C...
08/23/2026

Edited: St. Patrick Catholic Church, Mystic, 1910.

From the Saint Patrick's website: "On October 30, 1870, St. Patrick Church was dedicated by Bishop Francis McFarland, and Father Patrick Lawler. The dedication ceremony was largely attended by all denominations and nearly 2,000 people were present. At that time the Catholic population numbered 450 souls. The Stonington Mirror reported the dedication in its November 5, 1870 edition: 'On Sunday last, Right Reverend Francis P. McFarland dedicated St. Patrick Church at this place. At 9 o'clock Father James Reynolds, at the head of about 130 children and youth awaiting Confirmation, along with the laity and spectators, went out to meet the Bishop at the top of the hill on the Stonington side.' The trustees of the Westerly and Stonington churches came in a barouche and escorted them to the church. The Bishop and the priest passed down the east aisle, out around the church and returned to the chancel by the west aisle, reading in Latin the dedication service. The church was then pronounced dedicated to the worship of God under the name and patronage of St. Patrick. The Church that was dedicated in 1870 was an old Methodist Church. The building shown here, was built after 1905.

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40 Palmer Street
Stonington, CT
06378

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