The Fort

The Fort

Built from 1839 - 1852, the fortification is one of a group of 42 forts which were constructed for the defense of the coast of the United States, and to guard the harbors they protected. This group of forts became known as the "Third System" of Fortifications. Fort Trumbull is unique in the Third System because of the Egyptian Revival features incorporated in the architectural design. The Fort is a wonderful example of that era, a masterpiece in stonework and masonry. With walls 12 feet thick, the Fort was designed to withstand a punishing attack.

The Fort contains informative markers and displays, a touchable cannon and artillery crew display, and gun emplacements. The fort interior features 19th Century restored living quarters, a mock laboratory, and a 1950's era office furnished to resemble a research and development lab at the facility. The public also has access to the ramparts for a spectacular view of New London harbor and Long Island Sound.

The State of Connecticut recently invested $25 million to restore the Fort to its exact condition of a century ago. Step back in time to another era and see how our predecessors lived and worked.

Visitor Center

The Fort Trumbull Visitor Center contains state-of-the-art multimedia theaters, computer touch screen interactive exhibits, 3-D models, and extensive graphics and text panels. This one-of-a-kind center depicts over 225 years of military history and technological advances from the Revolutionary War to the Cold War. Some of the main themes of the Visitor Center are the September 6, 1781 attack by the British under the command of Benedict Arnold, the U-boat menace during World War II, and the anti-submarine efforts during the Cold War.

The Center has two floors and almost 4,500 square feet dedicated to tracking the history of the site and how the Fort’s activities related to events happening in New London, the United States, and the world.

The self-guided tour begins with a ten-minute surround-sound video history of the Fort. From there visitors can explore a span of 200 years through a sequence of interpretive panels covering the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Cold War and Fort Trumbull today.

Complimenting the interpretive panels are interactive exhibits and audio-visual displays. Visitors can witness the burning of New London through a Revolutionary War diorama with lights and sound and experience a day as a new recruit in the late 1800s, hear a narration of Mark Twain’s A Curious Experience, his short story set in Fort Trumbull, or launch a secret submarine mission during the Cold War.

The Park’s Visitor Center traces the 250-year history of the site from the mid-1700s to the current redevelopment. The fee to tour the Fort, Museum and Visitor Center is $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for children ages 6 to 17. Children under 6 are free. There is no fee to enter the Park grounds.