I really loved my visit to this beach! The sand is nice, the bathroom is surprisingly nice, and the…read morewater was nice to swim in. As someone who does not have a summer pass, I was able to find parking a few minutes away and take a short walk to the beach. My only warning would be that there is not good cellphone service on the beach!

Beautiful local beach here in town. Off season is when it's best. Quiet and lots of room to enjoy…read morethe incredible views you will observe here. Unfortunately summer is a different story. Memorial Day through Labor Day brings the invasion of the summer people. One of the best places in town to enjoy a sunrise.

We got the fish and chips special it was a nice tasty meal. I won't say this food was really good…read morebut the atmosphere and beach approach for food was worthwhile. It's your standard beach grill food so not gonna show off this place for food but the view is excellent. Be warned for June and rest of summer you will need a beach pass to enter for Madison area. If not you will be charged entrance fees

Give GiGi a raise! She greeted us at the entrance gate with a smile and so much helpful…read moreinformation. An absolute sweetheart...she knows what she's doing! Keep her around for as long as you can & maybe give her a bump on her paycheck! She is a true asset. Thanks for an amazing day!!

Courage Sacrifice Honor Determination…read more1959 1975 (Monument inscription) While looking for some background material on this monument, I found an excellent NY Times article from 1985, the year this monument was dedicated.. The small town of Wallingford sent 676 men and women to Vietnam. Twelve soldiers died there. Some of Wallingford's returning veterans wanted to build a Vietnam Memorial to honor the service of their colleagues. There was opposition from some folks of an "older generation of veterans" who didn't think the Vietnam vets deserved a monument. The article quoted a belief of some that "Losers don't deserve a monument". So the vets decided to pursue and fund the monument on their own. They raised $80,000 from T-shirt sales, car washes, garage sales, dinners and raffles. Local artists donated their services to help the monument become a reality. The design is striking- an eleven foot tall tilted V-shaped wedge of black granite. The artist who designed the monument said that the tilted angle represents "an inconclusive end to an undeclared war". The sides of the Wedge bear the names of hundreds of Wallingford's Vietnam vets. Some of the names are shadowed in a gold leaf to represent those Killed in Action. The V-shaped inscription reads: During the 16 years the war continued American Soldiers Sailors, Airmen and Marines fought with heroism and determination under some of the most difficult circumstances ever encountered by American armed forces. Tragically, upon their return home they received virtually no recognition for their service and sacrifice because of the raging controversy over United States policy in conducting the war. 300,000 were wounded in action 75,000 were permanently disabled 58,118 were killed in combat Later, thousands more would die as a result of gunshot wounds and the dioxin code named "agent orange" As of this date, November 11th, 1985, ten years after the fall of the Saigon government and twelve years after the removal of American ground forces from Vietnam, 2,489 brave Americans remain missing in action or held prisoners of war. They Are Not Forgotten

New London was a tough place to live - attracting "men of hardihood and valor". Thousands of them…read moreflocked here to join the whaling industry rocketing New London's growth as it became "one of the largest whaling ports in the country". Located on a strip of grass at Town Hall is this 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It has the same inscription on both sides. The marker is in fair condition with damage on both sides in the form of fading, spotting and peeling of the blue background. The full inscription reads: New London New London was founded in 1646 by John Winthrop, the younger, who chose this shore-ringed "plantation" for its excellent harbor. This land, with its great natural assets, attracted men of hardihood and valor and became one of the largest whaling ports in the country in the mid-19th century. As this industry waned, manufacturing flourished, bringing an influx of foreign labor which contributed immeasurably to the enrichment of community life. The history of New London may be said to be concentrated in its seal, adopted when the city was incorporated in 1784... a full-rigged ship with all sails set and the motto "Mare Liberum," meaning "Freedom of the Seas." Erected 1976 by The City of New London and the Connecticut Historical Commission. 161 CT towns done, 9 to go

The marker tells us that Middlefield was settled "around" 1700 by two Samuels and a Benjamin. When…read morewas the town chartered? How about two-hundred and seventy years later, in 1971! It also tells us via a gigantic list what was manufactured here over the years. How about lumber, snuff, black powder, knives, pistols, cotton products, grist, buttons, nails, iron wire, paper, and clothes wringers. That's quite an eclectic list! Now be honest, did you know what grist is? I didn't so I looked it up. It's a processed grain that is ground into meal or flour. This is a one-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It is fastened to an exterior wall near the main entrance of Middlefield Town Hall at 393 Jackson Hill Road. The marker was dedicated in 1981 and is in excellent condition

We passed close to the New London Ledge Lighthouse on the New London to Orient Point. Close enough…read moreto take pictures and enjoy the view. It looks nothing like any other lighthouse I've seen. This is a red brick and granite building in the French Second Empire style. The cast-iron lantern rises from the center of the building's mansard roof. New London Ledge Lighthouse was built in 1909 on the southwest ledge at the entrance to the New London Harbor. The United States Coast Guard took over in 1939 upon its merger with the Lighthouse Service and the light was automated in 1987. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. New London Ledge is locally famous for the ghost of an early keeper named Ernie who allegedly haunts the lighthouse. The Coast Guard crew on duty at the lighthouse reported unexplained knockings taking place at night, as well as doors opening and closing repeatedly, the television turning on and off by itself sporadically, and the unexplained removal of sheets from beds. We couldn't see Ernie at 6:45 this morning. Maybe he sleeps in? [Review 15302 overall, 804 of 2021, number 50 in Connecticut.]

Poor Ernie haunts a…read morevery cool place New London Ledge Lighthouse was completed in 1909 and is the newest light in Ct. It's one of the most recognizable lights in the whole country because it looks more like a elegant home than a lighthouse. More than one sea dog, inching through the fog and seeing the light for the first time must have thought he was going up someone's driveway. Yep, this light is unique and I have heard the architecture described as Georgian, Neo-Gothic and French Empire style. It originally had a 4th order Fresnel Lens that is now removed. Of course New London Ledge is home to one of the most famous ghost stories in New England. A man named Ernie, who was once keeper of the lighthouse way back in the 30's had his wife run off with the Block Island Ferry captain. Poor Ernie become so depressed that he jumped off the top of the light into the cold, dark waters never to be seen again. From what I can tell that part of the story is true. However, every since then strange noises and doors banging have been heard. Occasionally thought the dense fog a forlorn figure can be seen walking around the now unmanned light. I have been out here a zillion times but have unfortunately never seen Ernie. This area can be a spooky and dangerous place however. Frequent fog and the fact that the light lies in an area of strong intersecting currents makes these waters unpredictable to say the least. It's only a mile off shore so it's an easy kayak trip but I have been out there when the weather has gone from calm and pleasant to insane and deadly in a matter of minutes. This is part of the "race" where Long Island Sound drains back into the Atlanic Ocean. Sort of putting your finger on the end of a hose. Old sailors had an expression: Dare Not Tread Beyond These Gates For Fear your Boat The Race Will Take. But the race did take many, many boats. Including me on several occasions. No, I've never seen a ghost out here but almost became one several times.

What do Henry Ford's use of assembly line production, Samuel Colt's popularization of…read moreinterchangeable parts, and Philadelphia's Betsy Ross Bridge have in common? The answer is Hamden, CT. This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It has the same inscription on both sides, and is located in the heart of Hamden in a small grassy area at the busy intersection of Dixwell Avenue and Whitney Avenue. It's in excellent condition with a bright blue background and crisp white lettering. The marker is dated 1973, so I wonder if it was replaced somewhere along the way? The inscription reads: Hamden Incorporated in 1786, this town was originally part of New Haven and was named for John Hampden, noted English statesman. In 1798, at the foot of Lake Whitney, Eli Whitney pioneered in the use of interchangeable parts in the manufacture of arms for the United States Government and created the American concept of assembly line production. The first truss bridge in the United States, constructed after the patented design of Ithiel Town, eminent architect, was erected in Whitneyville in 1823. The Farmington Canal, 1825 - 1848, traversed the entire length of Hamden and evidence of it still exists in the Mount Carmel area. Erected by The Hamden Historical Society, Inc. and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1973

"Make Us Free" I…read morelearned about the Amistad story from Steven Spielberg's 1997 movie. In 1839, a Spanish slave ship called La Amistad was carrying African slaves to Cuba. Under the leadership of Joseph Cinque (the central figure of the Amistad story), there was a prison break on the ship and two of the Spanish crew were killed. The ship ended up in New Haven, CT where a Supreme Court trial took place to decide the destiny of the slaves. Were they Spanish property? Were they free men? Were they criminals? What exactly were they? You will find this powerful memorial in front of the New Haven City Hall. It's a striking three sided sculpture with a trio of sculpted panels depicting Sengbe Pieh, also known as Joseph Cinque. Each panel shows him at different stages in his life -as a free African, as a defendant in the Supreme Court trial, and as a free man ready to return to Africa. The gorgeous sculptures of Cinque are 9 feet tall, resting on a 2 foot granite base. The three-sided base contains a large inscription that tells the story. The full inscription reads: Make Us Free This monument is a memorial to the 1839 Amistad Revolt and its leader, Sengbe Pieh, also known as Joseph Cinque. Sengbe Pieh was one of the millions of Africans kidnapped from their homes and transported in bondage to the Americas. Sold into slavery in Cuba, he and forty-eight other men, and four children were bound aboard the schooner La Amistad. During a storm, Sengbe Pieh successfully freed himself and his fellows. The Africans seized the ship, but their offers to steer La Amistad homeward were thwarted. After futile weeks at sea, they were captured off Long Island by the U.S.S. Washington. On this site, the Amistad Africans were jailed awaiting trial for piracy and murder. To aid their struggle for freedom, the Amistad Committee formed, counting in its number ministers Simeon Jocelyn, Joshua Leavitt, and James Pennington; merchant Lewis Tappan; professor Josiah Gibbs; and lawyer Roger Baldwin. The Africans were tried twice prior to their ultimate triumph before the United States Supreme Court, where former President John Quincy Adams courageously defended them. Sengbe Pieh and his fellows were declared Free Persons. The Africans sought to return home. To raise funds for their voyage and to further the anti-slavery cause, they engaged in a series of speaking tours. In 1841, after a sojourn that profoundly influenced the abolitionist movement, they set sail, free at last. To commemorate the heroism of the Amistad Africans and those who shared in their quest for freedom, the 1989 Amistad Committee commissioned his sculpture by Ed Hamilton and dedicated it on September 26, 1992. Erected 1992 by the 1989 Amistad Committee One of the best movie courtroom scenes I have ever seen has the great Anthony Hopkins as an elderly John Quincy Adams arguing for the freedom of the slaves before the US Supreme Court. If this doesn't give you goose bumps, go check to see if you are breathing. Check this out.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZFr4VLPW9Q

The Amistad memorial has been on my list for some time. It commemorates the fight to establish the…read morefreedom of those slaves who took control of the slave ship The Amistad. After two trials, it was announced that they were in fact Freemen and allowed to return to their homes in Africa. It is a cornerstone in the abolitionist movement, and crucial case to abolishment of slavery in the USA.