The Historic Stonington Lighthouse Museum welcomes more than ten thousand visitors each year. Since early 2023, field trips to the Lighthouse Museum have quadrupled and our classroom outreach initiatives have tripled. Visitors come from around the world and include students of all ages, educators, local and state officials, as well as residents of Stonington and surrounding communities. They come to see the 1840 Lighthouse and climb its tower, to enjoy the open space and the panoramic views of Little Narragansett Bay, and they come to explore the exhibits that tell the stories of Historic Stonington.
The Welcome Center will enhance the property and guest experience with dynamic, accessible museum space, an inviting terrace with granite benches and off-street ADA-accessible parking. Significant grading amendments to one of the few remaining green spaces in Stonington Borough will greatly improve the venue for community concerts, holiday picnics, celebrations, and family programs.
As an iconic feature of our local cultural landscape and the anchor of a new cultural district, the Lighthouse is a primary destination for our community. The Historic Stonington Welcome Center at The Lighthouse Museum will offer us the opportunity to increase engagement and create an accessible, informational resource for educators, visitors, and our community partners such as the La Grua Center, the Stonington Free Library, the Stonington Community Center, the James Merrill House, and others.
