Freedom: The Victories, Promises and Potentials of 1776 January 14 - April 29, 2026 Join the park this winter at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum for another installment of the annual Lecture Series! Every three weeks will offer a discourse regarding local history and the connection to the upcoming America 250 celebrations on July 4, 2026. We will look at the topic of freedom as it relates to revolution, through the lens of African American history, Indigenous history, women’s history, immigration and natural resources. Subjects as relevant today as they were 250 years ago. Your ticket purchase includes the one hour lecture and an opening reception with beverages and light bites. The museum's galleries will also be open for viewing leading up to the lecture. A great opportunity to see new exhibitions and gather with like-minded folks! Tickets can be purchased individually in advance or same day of the lecture. We look forward to seeing you there. Schedule Wednesdays, every three weeks Reception: 6-7PM | Lecture: 7-8PM Lyman Allyn Art Museum, New London, CT |
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The Revolution Along the Thames January 14, 2026 Lecture: Historian and author, Matthew Reardon, will discuss A Heroic but Doomed Defense: The Battle of New London, September 6, 1781 based on his book The Traitor's Homecoming: Benedict Arnold's Raid on New London, Connecticut, September 4-13, 1781. The discussion will cover certain aspects of Connecticut patriots verses Connecticut loyalists. Bio: Matthew Reardon is a native of northeastern Connecticut. He earned his BA in history and an MA in education from Sacred Heart University. His research interests mainly focus on Connecticut during the American Revolution and the Civil War. He has published several articles for the Journal of the American Revolution and served as executive director of the New England Civil War Museum & Research Center for over fifteen years. He currently works as a middle school teacher in Vernon, Connecticut, and serves as a command historian for the Connecticut Military Department. |
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Up and Down the River: A Mohegan History Film for America 250 February 4, 2026 Lecture: The plot of Up and Down the River follows the challenges faced by the Mohegan people, especially tribal women, living along the Massapequotuck (Thames River) as they navigate the Revolutionary era and beyond. This story also honors Samuel Ashbow Jr., the first Native American soldier to die fighting for our new nation in June 1775 at Bunker Hill. Bio: Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel is an enrolled citizen of the Mohegan Tribe. She is the grandniece and mentee of the late Mohegan Medicine Woman Gladys Tantaquidgeon. Melissa has served the Mohegan people since she was a teenager, starting as Tour Guide and Curator at Tantaquidgeon Museum, Federal Recognition Coordinator, Executive Director of the Department of Cultural and Community Programs Department, Medicine Woman, Tribal Historian, Creative Media Liaison, Vice Chair of the Tribal Council, and currently, Vice Chair of the Council of Elders. She is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter and playwright, with an MFA from Fairfield University, an MA in History from UCONN and a BSFS from Georgetown University. This film was co-written and directed by her daughter Madeline Sayet, an actor, playwright and professor at Arizona State University. |
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The African American Perspective of Celebrating the 250th February 25, 2026 Lecture: Understand the African American perspective of the promises and potential of the freedom offered in the Declaration of Independence, particularly through the lens of Juneteenth. Bio: Marvin Espy is a prominent figure in the art world from Cincinnati, Ohio, who has received significant recognition throughout his career. Espy has a degree in Visual Communications from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He had his first solo exhibition in 2013 and that same year received "Best of Show" honors at the Hart Witzen Showdown Event in Charlotte, North Carolina. His cityscapes and vibrant abstracts have been featured in prominent publications from Connecticut to Texas. His recent exhibition "Up From the Asphalt" at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum reflected poignantly on the events of 2020 and the murder of George Floyd. He operates the Marvin Espy Gallery of Fine Art at 308 State St. in downtown New London. |
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The Women's Suffrage Movement March 18, 2026 Lecture: Bev York will introduce and share the stories and words of six suffragists from Elizabeth Cady Stanton to Alice Paul. She will present the challenges and victories that women faced during the seventy-year movement to pass the 19th Amendment and gain the right to vote. Wearing different hats and using some primary sourced materials, York will showcase courageous women and their contributions to American democracy. Bio: Bev York is an eastern CT historian and an adjunct history and humanities instructor at CT State at Quinebaug Valley Community College. She has served as the director and educator of the Mill Museum in Willimantic, site administrator of the Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry and curator of The America Museum project. York is passionate about teaching American History by sharing primary sourced local and relevant stories. She utilizes role playing and interactive illustrated presentations to engage, educate, and entertain her audience. |
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A Community Conversation on Immigration April 8, 2026 Lecture: Community members are invited to a forum to learn more about immigration justice as it relates to the residents of Eastern Connecticut. Through a panel discussion with a recent immigrant, service providers and a legal expert, attendees will learn about the rights, struggles and successes of the region’s immigrants. It will be an opportunity to learn about the impact of ICE activity in Connecticut, services that are available to immigrants, and how to be an effective ally to immigrant communities. Panelists: Margaret Rodriguez is a Connecticut-based immigration attorney with JFS of Greenwich based out of the Norwich office. After law school, she was awarded the CT Bar Foundation’s Singer Fellowship for a project focused on addressing the low rates of representation in Immigration Courts. She also worked for two years as a Singer Fellow for IRIS. Sister Mary Jude Lazarus, Director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry, Catholic Diocese of Norwich. Tabitha Sookdeo, CEO of CT Students for a Dream, the state’s leading youth-led organization advocating for the rights of undocumented students and their families. Chris Vials, co-founder of The Neighbor Fund which is a nonprofit that supports the immigrant communities of Windham and Tolland counties, providing direct financial support to those facing detention and deportation. Julie Cagle, a retired Groton Public School teacher who is currently teaching in an ESOL class at the Norwich Regional Adult Education Program. She will moderate the discussion. |
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An Environmental History of Long Island Sound April 29, 2026 Lecture: Tom Andersen’s talk will break down how the attitude the Dutch and English brought to North America led to decades of devastating pollution. He will also touch upon how the opinions about the Long Island Sound have changed over 370 years and the efforts to stave off an environmental disaster, just in the nick of time. Bio: Tom Andersen is author of This Fine Piece of Water: An Environmental History of Long Island Sound (Yale University Press). A former newspaper reporter, he worked as director of communications for the Connecticut Audubon Society from 2012 until 2026. |
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Thames River Heritage Park Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization committed to connecting, preserving, supporting and promoting the history and heritage sites along the Thames River estuary today and for generations to come. |
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Thank you to our Sponsors and Grantors |
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