Time Capsule: New London
View FullscreenTime Capsule: NEW LONDON
How do we understand the identity of a city? In this digital exhibition, the spirit of New London is explored through a group of sites that connect its past to its present and imagined future. These sites shape the city’s distinctive built fabric and reflect its diverse communities. One of the first cities in colonial New England, New London was founded in 1646 on land previously settled by the Pequot American Indian tribe. Its unique deep-water harbor made this coastal city an important port and naval base throughout its history. It has borne the special complexion of a port town: a mix of cultures, races, and faiths; seasonal cuisine rich with the yield of the sea; fortunes that have ebbed and flowed with the sea too. The coast is a central theme explored in this exhibit. Others include recreation, economy, community, governance, and the military.
This web-based resource was created in conjunction with a student-curated exhibition Time Capsule: New London, held at the Linda Lear Center for Archives and Special Collections at Connecticut College from May 9 to August 15, 2019. Research for the project was conducted by students in two Architectural Studies seminars at Connecticut College in 2018-2019. Students chose culturally significant sites in New London and documented them through historical and contemporary artifacts. The project was inspired by a 1912 time capsule recently discovered in a cornerstone of New London’s Municipal Building (City Hall). In June 2019, the students submitted to the New London City Council a proposal for a future time capsule based on their research into the city’s past and present.
The website also features original contributions by students in Connecticut College Art and Computer Science courses, who created photographic images and ambient sound recordings of New London inspired by the selected city sites. Many thanks to the institutions and individuals who have permitted the reproduction of the images credited in the 'Source' line of individual entries.
Each dot on the map represents an object representative of the site. The colors represent specific themes identified by the students as well as the sounds and photographs taken by other classes. Click on a dot to learn about the sites.
Economy |
Military |
Coast |
Community |
Governance |
Religion |
Recreation |
Sounds |
Photography |
Thanks and Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Tom Bombria, Community & Economic Development Project Coordinator, City of New London, for his championship of the project.
This site curated by students in Architectural Studies 471 (Professor Anna Vallye): Jacob Brill-Weil, Eva Brydson, Marian Hancock-Cerutti, Caitlin Teare, and Jennifer Wilson. With original contributions by students in Art 300 (Professor TJ Proechel): Jackie Hiner, Isabella Pols, Matthew Sambor, Tyler Smith, Megan Webber, Maya Weis; and Computer Science 312 (Professor Ozgur Izmirli): Emily Cowan, Patrick Davis, Taigo Nakazawa, Abhijeet Pradhan, Julia Rossiter, Kunal Sheth, Anil Timbil, Camden Wagner, and Jaleel Watler.
Initial research conducted by students in Architectural Studies 470 (Professor Anna Vallye):
Nadia Bednarczuk, Antionette Burgess, Linnea Coffin, Jamila Ezbidi, Megan Feragne, Sachi Fukaya, Shannon Kennedy, Brittany Krasner, Quinlan Low, Grace McGee, Rose Montera, Cal Nadeau, Olga Nikolaeva, Fiona Ocain, Lisamarie Rojas, and Erin Smith.
Technical coordination by Rose Oliveira, with special assistance by Eve O’Brien.