Day 30: Our Last Day in Niantic

Today was our last day in Connecticut. We made the most of it!
Our first stop was the Nautilus. At first we thought the submarine and museum were closed, but it was the base that was on lock down. For what reason, we do not know.

Lon lighting up the different parts of the submarine.  Learning about how they put so much into such a small space

Driving a sub is different than driving a river boat!

Periscope up!

The Nautilus itself.

We did get the audio sticks, but Lon did not really want to hear as much as they were telling. He just wanted a brief outline. Mommy and Daddy helped with that.

Going to the lower levels on the sub.

Back inside the museum, they had a replica of the Turtle! Lon was able to tell all about it. He was so proud of himself.

Outside, they had a replica of a Japanese mini sub. Lon learned about these earlier this year. He remembered it, and told us how the Japanese used the mini subs to attack Pearl Harbor.
History Bit on the Nautilus!
Construction of NAUTILUS was made possible by the successful development of a nuclear propulsion plant by a group of scientists and engineers at the Naval Reactors Branch of the Atomic Energy Commission, under the leadership of Captain Hyman G. Rickover, USN.
In July of 1951, Congress authorized construction of the world's first nuclear powered submarine. On December 12th of that year, the Navy Department announced that she would be the sixth ship of the fleet to bear the name NAUTILUS. Her keel was laid by President Harry S. Truman at the Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Connecticut on June 14, 1952.
After nearly 18 months of construction, NAUTILUS was launched on January 21, 1954 with First Lady Mamie Eisenhower breaking the traditional bottle of champagne across NAUTILUS' bow as she slid down the ways into the Thames River. Eight months later, on September 30, 1954, NAUTILUS became the first commissioned nuclear powered ship in the United States Navy.
On the morning of January 17, 1955, at 11 am EST, NAUTILUS' first Commanding Officer, Commander Eugene P. Wilkinson, ordered all lines cast off and signaled the memorable and historic message, "Underway On Nuclear Power." Over the next several years, NAUTILUS shattered all submerged speed and distance records.
On July 23, 1958, NAUTILUS departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii under top secret orders to conduct "Operation Sunshine", the first crossing of the North Pole by a ship. At 11:15 pm on August 3, 1958, NAUTILUS' second Commanding Officer, Commander William R. Anderson, announced to his crew, "For the world, our country, and the Navy - the North Pole." With 116 men aboard, NAUTILUS had accomplished the "impossible", reaching the geographic North Pole - 90 degrees North.
In May 1959, NAUTILUS entered Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine for her first complete overhaul - the first of any nuclear powered ship - and the replacement of her second fuel core. Upon completion of her overhaul in August 1960, NAUTILUS departed for a period of refresher training, then deployed to the Mediterranean Sea to become the first nuclear powered submarine assigned to the U.S. Sixth Fleet.
Over the next six years, NAUTILUS participated in several fleet exercises while steaming over 200,000 miles. In the spring of 1966, she again entered the record books when she logged her 300,000th mile underway. During the following 12 years, NAUTILUS was involved in a variety of developmental testing programs while continuing to serve alongside many of the more modern nuclear powered submarines she had preceded.
In the spring of 1979, NAUTILUS set out from Groton, Connecticut on her final voyage. She reached Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California on May 26, 1979 - her last day underway. She was decommissioned on March 3, 1980 after a career spanning 25 years and over half a million miles steamed.
In recognition of her pioneering role in the practical use of nuclear power, NAUTILUS was designated a National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of the Interior on May 20, 1982. Following an extensive historic ship conversion at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, NAUTILUS was towed to Groton, Connecticut arriving on July 6, 1985.
On April 11, 1986, eighty-six years to the day after the birth of the Submarine Force, Historic Ship NAUTILUS, joined by the Submarine Force Museum, opened to the public as the first and finest exhibit of its kind in the world, providing an exciting, visible link between yesterday's Submarine Force and the Submarine Force of tomorrow.

Our next stop was Fort Griswold.  We are still in Groton. 

This is the tower, it was built in 1830, dedicated to the men who had defended Fort Griswold.  In 1881, the top was enclosed, making it a total of 134 feet high! 

Our first stop was the museum.  They had a diorama! Oh the joy!  Lon spent alot of time looking at the battle. 

The battle uniforms

These are not originals. They did have some, in glass cases protected from the humidity

Looking at some of the artifacts, this was a small display on whaling, an important industry to New London in the 1800s.  Not anymore. 

They also had some china with a picture of Abigail Hinman, the same picture we saw in the Lyman Allyn museum.  Lon spotted the tiny cup with her picture! 

Lon looks so tiny compared to the tower!

The front door of the tower.  Okay, the only door of the tower!

There are 166 steep steps going up and up in a circle.  They are chiseled granite

Mark and Lon and I climbed them. All of them. And of course we  came back down. 

The view of New London from the top. 

I looked down and saw the Mystic Whaler. She is docked unlike when Lon and I first saw her sailing up the river. 

Lon at the top. We forgot to take his photo up there! We remembered about 1/8th of the way back down, so Mommy and Lon went back up and snapped a photo.  It would have been sad to miss that!  On the way up, Mommy dropped her pretty red camera. But it only went down about 5 stairs, and it survived with only a couple of tiny scratches! This was my miracle of the day! 

Going over to the fort. 

Lon looking at the ruins of the fort

You can walk through the tunnel. It is low, even I had to duck

History bit:

PRIVATEERS

"During the Revolutionary War, New London harbor on the Thames River was home port for many privately owned armed ships that preyed upon British supply vessels and merchant ships. The privateers were licensed by the State of Connecticut according to the rules established by Congress. Each year they increased in number and captured more British shipping. Their exploits peaked with the taking of the Hannah by the Minerva in the summer of 1781. Seizure of the Hannah's rich cargo, which included personal supplies for the British officers, stationed in New York City, helped prompt the events that soon followed.
New London's bulging warehouses brought great wealth to adventurous ship owners and merchants, but they were a potential target for enemy reprisal. From the earliest days of the war, state officials had seen the need for harbor fortifications, but construction proceeded slowly. By 1781 the largest structure on the New London side, Fort Trumbull, was still unfinished and vulnerable to attack from land.
FORT GRISWOLD
East of the river on Groton Heights, a completed work, Fort Griswold, commanded the harbor and the surrounding countryside. It was somewhat square with projecting fortifications on two corners and a projection on the east side. A deep trench surrounded the fort on three sides. The lower walls were faced with stone and were topped with a barrier of cedar pickets projecting outward. Above this was an earthen wall with openings (embrasures) for cannon. A tunnel-like passageway (sally port) led to a covered ditch, which ended at a battery for cannon southwest of the fort. A V-shaped earthen mound protected the gate at the north end. Barracks for 300 men paralleled the innermost wall and the magazine was set into the southwest bastion near the flagpole. The fort was in good condition and the magazine was full in 1781.
THE BURNING OF NEW LONDON
Late that summer, the British generals were anxious to distract Washington who was then marching south. They decided to create a diversion by attacking an important northern supply center, New London, and, with the same stroke, destroy the "Rebel pirate ships". The command of the expedition fell to Benedict Arnold who had deserted the American cause the year before, and who, being a native of nearby Norwich, knew the harbor area well.
At sunrise on September 6, 1781, the people of the town were awakened with the news that a large force of British Regulars had landed on both sides of the river's mouth and were coming upon them fast. They could do nothing but flee. A number of rigged ships in the harbor caught a favorable breeze and escaped upstream, but the rest were trapped. The 800 men led by Arnold into New London met only scattered resistance as they set about the task of destroying the "immense" stockpile of goods and naval stores kept there. Buildings, wharfs and ships were soon in flames. One hundred and forty-three buildings, nearly all the town, were consumed.
THE BATTLE OF GROTON HEIGHTS
Tangled woods and swamps slowed the British force of 800 that landed on the east side of the Thames River. A battalion of New Jersey loyalists responsible for moving the artillery could not keep pace with the Regulars who came within striking distance of Fort Griswold at 10 a.m. Meanwhile, the fort had been garrisoned with about 150 colonial militia and local men under the command of Colonel William Ledyard. Colonel Ledyard and his officers, expecting reinforcements momentarily, elected to defend the post against the superior force. Colonel Eyre, the British commander, sent forward a flag demanding surrender. Ledyard refused. The demand was made again and Eyre threatened that if he were forced to storm the fort, no quarter would be given to its defenders. The response was the same.
The British force immediately spread their ranks and advanced on Fort Griswold. As they neared the ditch, they were met with an artillery barrage that killed and wounded many, but the seasoned and disciplined troops continued their charge. Some tried to gain the southwest bastion but they were repulsed and Colonel Eyre was badly wounded. Under heavy musket fire, another group dislodged some pickets and by hand to hand combat reached a cannon and turned it against the garrison. Another party led by Major Montgomery charged with fixed bayonets. They were met with long spears and the major was killed. A few of the Regulars managed to reach the gate and open it and the enemy force marched in, in formation. Seeing this, Colonel Ledyard ordered his me to stop fighting, but some action continued on both sides.
American and British accounts of the subsequent events are at odds. The American version holds that after Ledyard gave up his sword in surrender he was immediately killed with it and that a massacre ensued. Before the "massacre" it is claimed that less than ten Americans had been killed, but when it was over, more than eighty of the garrison lay dead and mutilated and more than half of the remainder were severely wounded. The British version makes no mention of the massacre or the manner of Ledyard's death. The entire battle had lasted only 40 minutes.
AFTERMATH
Major Montgomery was buried in the fort's parade ground. The other British dead were placed in unmarked graves and their wounded were carried down the steep hill to the river. The American wounded were placed on a heavy artillery cart, which as it was being moved down the hill broke away and smashed into a tree causing terrible suffering. The bleeding wounded men were then carried to the nearby Avery house. Prisoners who were able to walk were placed aboard ship. As evening approached, the British troops embarked leaving a detachment behind to lay a powder train from the full magazine to the barracks and then burn the barracks. This attempt to destroy the fort failed when a patriot put the fire out. Arnold reported his losses for the expedition at 51 dead and 142 wounded. Many of his wounded men and prisoners soon died aboard the ship.
LATER WARS
Fort Griswold was the scene of military defense preparations in at least four other wars. The water battery was rebuilt and rearmed several times but the fort itself retains its original form.

Just a quick note about both of these fun things to do in Connecticut, they are free! The Nautilus and submariner museum is no charge. The fort grounds, museum and tower are also no charge.  The only money that was spent at either place was the money I spent on Lon's smashed pennies at the Nautilus! 

It was noon and we were getting a little hungry. We called ahead to Illianos, since it was going to be our last time getting that yummy east coast pizza!  Lon loves it too.

A little more beach time was the order of the afternoon!  Lon got into the water! The beach was a bit more crowded than last time, but it was not too packed. It was 85. A good temperature to get into the water!

Running with his ice cream.  The ice cream truck parks at the beach and does a brisk business! 

I sat in the sun and finished up a book, Grammalyn was doing that too. Mark swam and Lon played.

playing. 

Lon found a group of kids building something in the sand by the parking lot. He was welcomed in and joined them. It was nice to see him playing with other kids.  

We got a call that Godmother and Uncle Pete had arrived in town! We went over to see them. Sadly, we did not get a photo with them. Not sure what we were thinking, or perhaps not thinking,

yes, Lon is about to be dunked into the water feature.  So he thinks, Daddy did not dunk him

Waiting for dessert at Charlie's Place (formerly called the Niantic Diner)  Everyone had a good meal. Lon was getting a little cranky, I took him aside to talk to him about it. He did not know why he was getting cranky, but he was. He was sorry he was cranky, and if he could figure out why he was he would stop it.  Poor guy, somedays are like that. Alot of fun followed by some crankiness. 

Lon wanted me to get his photo with the River. He was in better spirits as we drove around looking at houses and pretty places before we went back to the house. 

The osprey's nest.   Then it was time to get home and get the car cleaned up and ready to pack. 

We are heading west in the morning, and wifi permitting, I will continue to blog every day of our epic adventure