Capture New London
We asked our community to capture New London as it exists now, undergoing major change. While the future of the city is bright, our current moment of transition is equally worthy of capture. These photos represent New London's structures, communities, and sights and why they matter to its inhabitants.
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If these photos inspire your own appreciation of New London, we encourage you to ​submit your own photos.
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Interior of the Mohican Hotel, Photo By Doreen Gayer
"New London's architectural legacy, particularly its collection of buildings designed by famous architects, sparked my passion when I moved here in 2019. The city, where the Thames meets the Mohican, offers a unique blend of history and charm. From the magnificent views from my apartment at The Mohican to the intricate details I discovered on my walks, I was compelled to capture the essence of these historic structures through my photography. I hope my images will encourage others to explore New London's architectural treasures and appreciate its enduring beauty."
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The Mohican Hotel has towered over New London's State Street since its creation in 1896. Originally built as the headquarters of Munsey's Magazine, established 1889. The building served this function for less than a year, when a strike shut down its functioning. In 1898 it would reopen as the Mohican Hotel. The grand hotel would exist for almost a hundred years, slowly fading in glory. In a meaningful, if economically motivated move, the Mohican Hotel offered rooming to non-white residents for a portion of its history. Starting in 1963, it would be listed in multiple editions of the Green Book ,a guide for black motorists on where they could expect to stay while traveling. In the 1990s the hotel shuttered its doors and was reconverted into affordable housing.
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Crocker House, Photo By Doreen Gayer
"New London's architectural legacy, particularly its collection of buildings designed by famous architects, sparked my passion when I moved here in 2019. The city, where the Thames meets the Mohican, offers a unique blend of history and charm. From the magnificent views from my apartment at The Mohican to the intricate details I discovered on my walks, I was compelled to capture the essence of these historic structures through my photography. I hope my images will encourage others to explore New London's architectural treasures and appreciate its enduring beauty."
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Within the Downtown Historic District, the Crocker House sits. Currently home to apartments, the Crocker House has a long legacy. Built in 1872, the Crocker House began as a luxury hotel, supported by A.N. Ramsdell, president of New London's Railroad. The structure exists in conversation with other grand hotels of the era, including the later Mohican hotel. Similarly, the hotel would be listed in the 1963 Green Book as a location where black motorists could expect to be welcome as guests. Five stories of red brick, the Crocker House continues to dominate the silhouette of New London's downtown.
Side View Details of the New London Post Office, Photo By Doreen Gayer
"New London's architectural legacy, particularly its collection of buildings designed by famous architects, sparked my passion when I moved here in 2019. The city, where the Thames meets the Mohican, offers a unique blend of history and charm. From the magnificent views from my apartment at The Mohican to the intricate details I discovered on my walks, I was compelled to capture the essence of these historic structures through my photography. I hope my images will encourage others to explore New London's architectural treasures and appreciate its enduring beauty."
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Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the New London Post Office is three stories of steel, concrete, and brick. Standing on its original site, Art Deco details are found both in and outside. This building was created under the Public Buildings Act of 1929, one of 136. The building itself was created in 1932, and in 1938 the Public Works Art Program funded the installation of interior murals by Thomas Sergeant Lafarge. Tied into the artistic and cultural legacy of the Great Depression, this structure is a prime example of quality art in the face of suffering.
Upper State Street, Photo By Doreen Gayer
"New London's architectural legacy, particularly its collection of buildings designed by famous architects, sparked my passion when I moved here in 2019. The city, where the Thames meets the Mohican, offers a unique blend of history and charm. From the magnificent views from my apartment at The Mohican to the intricate details I discovered on my walks, I was compelled to capture the essence of these historic structures through my photography. I hope my images will encourage others to explore New London's architectural treasures and appreciate its enduring beauty."
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Upper State Street in New London is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places as the Downtown New London Historic District. This historic district has been a centerpiece of the city's economy for hundreds of years. The ages of historic buildings on State Street range from the late 1700s to the early 1960s. A meaningfully large range of 1800s Domestic Revival Style buildings cover upper state street and the surrounding homes. State Street still bears the marks of New London's mid 1800s economic boom, where the whaling industry flooded the city with wealth. New buildings propped up as signifiers of that wealth, or as structures to facilitate its functioning. One can find modern political protests outside of the 1798 county courthouse, just as fiery political speeches have filled its halls since its construction.
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