Walking Tour of Historic New London

Welcome to New London, Connecticut! We hope you will enjoy getting to know our little city and some of its history. This area was originally inhabited by the Mohegan and Pequot tribes. In 1645, John Winthrop Jr (son of the then Governor of Massachusetts) began clearing land and non-indigenous families began to settle here. The early settlers were mostly farmers and craftsmen, drawn to the area by its rich soil, plentiful forests, and access to the sea (the Thames River). The harbor quickly became the area’s most valuable natural resource encouraging the development of trading, ship building and whaling. We are now known as “The Whaling City” and our local athletes are the New London Whalers. During the Revolutionary War, New London school teacher Nathan Hale served as a spy for the army and the famous traitor, Benedict Arnold led an attack on New London that resulted in its being burned to the ground. Today, New London is a vibrant and diverse city of about 28,000 people. We have historical sites, art galleries, theaters, restaurants, churches, colleges, a beautiful beach and waterfront, an eclectic music scene, and wonderful locally owned shops. We hope you will take this opportunity to explore the city, partake of our exceptional food and drink, and maybe get a little exercise while you see the sites!