Where do I meet for the event?

The meeting point is the Lyman Allyn Art Museum at 625 Williams St, New London, CT 06320, USA; reception runs 6–7PM with the lecture 7–8PM.

Are tickets refundable?

Tickets are non-refundable; seating is limited so book in advance to secure your spot.

Is the venue accessible?

Yes — the Lyman Allyn Art Museum is wheelchair accessible; contact the museum for specific needs.

What is the maximum group size?

The program is limited to sixty attendees to keep the event intimate and conversational.

How much are tickets?

General admission is $20 and member admission is $15; member discounts apply to Thames River Heritage Park & Lyman Allyn Art Museum members.

Is there parking nearby?

Street parking and nearby lots are available; allow extra time for city parking, especially on event nights.

Juneteenth and the 250th: Marvin Espy Lecture & Reception at Lyman Allyn | Museum | History Tour

On the evening of February 25, join Thames River Heritage Park Foundation and the Lyman Allyn Art Museum for The African American Perspective of Celebrating the 250th, a focused lecture and museum reception at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London, Connecticut. Set along the city's maritime edge, this two-hour program examines the promises and limits of the Declaration of Independence through the lens of Juneteenth and contemporary African American art. The program centers on a lecture by artist Marvin Espy, whose cityscapes and vibrant abstracts respond to recent social change and civic life. Espy, who operates the Marvin Espy Gallery of Fine Art at 308 State St. in downtown New London, brings both personal experience and a visual vocabulary shaped by community memory. His recent exhibition Up From the Asphalt at the Lyman Allyn reflected on the events of 2020 and the murder of George Floyd, and his talk will expand on themes of freedom, representation, and the civic promise of 1776. Attendees begin with a reception in the museum galleries from 6–7PM, with light hors d'oeuvres, wine, and fruit-infused water included, followed by a lecture from 7–8PM. The meeting point is the Lyman Allyn Art Museum at 625 Williams St, New London, CT 06320, USA. The venue is wheelchair accessible and the evening is limited to a sixty-person audience, so advance tickets are recommended. General admission is $20 and member admission is $15; tickets are non-refundable. What makes this event distinct for New London is how it stitches contemporary practice to local place. The Lyman Allyn's galleries open onto views of the Thames River waterfront, and the city's State Street gallery corridor creates a dialogue between museum scale and street-level art. For visitors interested in following the conversation, a short walk to the Marvin Espy Gallery offers a chance to see the artist's work in its hometown context. Practical notes for visitors: arrive early to explore the galleries during the reception, allow time for street parking or nearby lots, and expect modest standing and walking inside the museum. The program is ideal for people who care about art, civic history, and community dialogue rather than strenuous outdoor activity—bring a camera for interior shots where allowed, and bring identification for ticket pickup if required. This evening is a compact, potent way to engage with Juneteenth, contemporary art, and local cultural infrastructure—an intimate public conversation hosted by Thames River Heritage Park Foundation and the Lyman Allyn Art Museum that connects national themes to New London's waterfront and streets. Tickets go on sale soon; seating is capped at sixty, reserve in advance through Thames River Heritage Park Foundation or Lyman Allyn Art Museum to guarantee entry and receive discounts online.

About Thames River Heritage Park

Thames River Heritage Park is a New London, Connecticut organization that preserves and interprets the history, culture, and natural resources of the Thames River estuary. The organization offers a curated series of guided 75-minute boat tours and talks that connect passengers with regional stories, including maritime history, Indigenous heritage, African American experiences, Gilded Age estates, Revolutionary War events, and local folklore. Tours feature collaborations with recognized local experts and institutions: UConn faculty, members of the Mohegan Tribe, Connecticut Sea Grant scientists, historians from the New London County Historical Society, and local authors. Many programs explicitly support area heritage sites and nonprofit partners through ticket revenue.

Departing from locations such as Fort Trumbull State Park, the tours navigate landmarks like Pine Island, Bushy Point, Bluff Point, and riverbanks that witnessed significant historical events. The schedule includes specialized programs — for example, guided conversations about emancipation and abolition; profiles of notable women of the Thames; natural-history excursions; a haunted-harbor ghost tour; and focused narratives on Benedict Arnold’s 1781 burning of New London. Most offerings emphasize education, community engagement, and place-based interpretation tailored to adults, families, and history enthusiasts.

Thames River Heritage Park emphasizes transparent partnerships, local scholarship, and stewardship of the river corridor. Tickets and public programs make regional history accessible while reinvesting in heritage organizations. Visitors can expect knowledgeable narration, close river access to shoreline sites, and an opportunity to support ongoing preservation and interpretation of New London’s maritime landscape. Seasonal schedules vary; check the foundation calendar for details and updates.