Our Juneteenth Celebration commemorates the end of slavery in the United States after the Civil War. Partnering with the New London NAACP and OIC New London, the Hempsted Houses are home to this yearly community event highlighting the African American history of the Hempsted Houses and the surrounding New London neighborhood. Join us as we engage in activities encouraging conversations about emancipation, cultural awareness, and civic responsibility.

Registration appreciated, but walk-ups always welcome! 

This program is part of the Hempsted Houses’ Juneteenth Festival. See the full list of events here.

Supported in part by: The Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, the Chelsea Groton Foundation, Inc, and Connecticut Explored, Inc.  

In partnership with: New London NAACP, OIC, and the New London County Historical Society

This program takes place outdoors. In case of cancellation due to severe weather, registrants will be notified at the email address on file. If you have any questions, contact Site Administrator Lynette Fisher at hempsted@ctlandmarks.org. 

CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.

Pastor Michael Cagle leads participants in community for a spiritual and lively non-denominational church service followed by performances by The Jim Hunter Jazz Group and the New London Public Schools Bands.

Registration not required.

This program is part of the Hempsted Houses’ Juneteenth Festival. See the full list of events here.

Supported in part by: The Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, the Chelsea Groton Foundation, Inc, and Connecticut Explored, Inc.  

In partnership with: New London NAACP, OIC, and the New London County Historical Society

This program takes place outdoors. If you have any questions, contact Site Administrator Lynette Fisher at hempsted@ctlandmarks.org. 

CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.

Celebrate Juneteenth with music and dance performances, living history presentations, and children’s activities and crafts. Connecticut Landmarks and partners will highlight the African American history of the Hempsted Houses and the surrounding neighborhood with the City of New London.

Schedule of the day’s activities:

10:45 am – Drumming led by Kenny “Doc” Frazier
11:15 am – Presentation of Colors – NLHS ROTC
11:30 am – Welcome – Curtis Goodwin
12:00 noon – NLHS Voices United
12:30 pm – Keynote Speaker – Lonnie Braxton
1:30 pm – Joan Jackson – Tammy Denease
2:00 pm – Book Reading – Carrie McWilliams
3:00 pm – Poetry Reading – Arnell Peck

Registration appreciated, but walk-ups always welcome! 

This program is part of the Hempsted Houses’ Juneteenth Festival. See the full list of events here.

Supported in part by: The Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, the Chelsea Groton Foundation, Inc, and Connecticut Explored, Inc.  

In partnership with: New London NAACP, OIC, and the New London County Historical Society

This program takes place outdoors. In case of cancellation due to severe weather, registrants will be notified at the email address on file. If you have any questions, contact Site Administrator Lynette Fisher at hempsted@ctlandmarks.org. 

CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.

UPDATE: Thank you for your interest in attending the Shaw Mansion Sleepover from June 7-June 8, 2024. Registration is now closed as we have reached capacity for this event. Those who filled out the event inquiry form will be contacted via the email address provided. Please visit slavedwellingproject.org to learn more about Joseph McGill’s work and discover other Slave Dwelling Project events.

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet Joseph McGill on Sunday, June 9 at the Phelps-Hatheway House in Suffield, where he will be signing copies of his most recent book, Sleeping with the Ancestors. The book will be available for purchase in the gift shop. Learn more about that event here.

Join Joseph McGill of the Slave Dwelling Project as well as staff from the Hempsted Houses and the Shaw Mansion as we continue the conversation around the truthful narrative of American history and the legacies of slavery.

The Shaw Mansion was built in 1756 for captain Nathaniel Shaw and was home to ten enslaved people. On his deathbed, Nathaniel Shaw Jr. emancipated all ten enslaved people in 1781. During the conversation, participants will learn about the lives of Caesar Shaw, Celia Shaw, James Tilley, and Prince who were four of the ten enslaved people on the property.

This program is part of the Hempsted Houses’ Juneteenth Festival. See the full list of events here.

Supported in part by: The Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, the Chelsea Groton Foundation, Inc, and Connecticut Explored, Inc.  

In partnership with: New London NAACP, OIC, and the New London County Historical Society

If you have any questions, contact Site Administrator Lynette Fisher at hempsted@ctlandmarks.org. 

Photo credits: Shaw Mansion – New London County Historical Society (nlchs.org)

CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.

Gather around the campfire for a community conversation on the grounds of the Hempsted Houses to commemorate historic and present-day struggles toward freedom and hear more about the work of Joseph McGill of the Slave Dwelling Project and Tammy Denease of Hidden Women Productions.

Registration appreciated, but walk-ups always welcome! 

This program is part of the Hempsted Houses’ Juneteenth Festival. See the full list of events here.

Supported in part by: The Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, the Chelsea Groton Foundation, Inc, and Connecticut Explored, Inc.  

In partnership with: New London NAACP, OIC,  and the New London County Historical Society

This program takes place outdoors. In case of cancellation due to severe weather, registrants will be notified at the email address on file. If you have any questions, contact Site Administrator Lynette Fisher at hempsted@ctlandmarks.org. 

CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.

Reflect in community with neighbors under the tent on our historic property

Registration not required.

This program is part of the Hempsted Houses’ Juneteenth Festival. See the full list of events here.

Supported in part by: New London NAACP, OIC, the Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, and the Chelsea Groton Foundation, Inc.  

This program takes place outdoors. If you have any questions, contact Site Administrator Lynette Fisher at hempsted@ctlandmarks.org. 

CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.

Join Connecticut Landmarks for a Juneteenth celebration with the City of New London, highlighting the African American history of the Hempsted Houses and the surrounding New London neighborhood, with partners.

The celebration will feature music, dance, performances, a Witness Stone installation, and a dash of history, with activities and crafts for children. Speakers include Joseph McGill of the Slave Dwelling Project, Tammy Denease of the Connecticut Freedom Trail, and artist Jazzmen Lee-Johnson.

Registration appreciated, but walk-ups always welcome! 

This program is part of the Hempsted Houses’ Juneteenth Festival. See the full list of events here.

Supported in part by: New London NAACP, OIC, the Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, and the Chelsea Groton Foundation, Inc.  

This program takes place outdoors. In case of cancellation due to severe weather, registrants will be notified at the email address on file. If you have any questions, contact Site Administrator Lynette Fisher at hempsted@ctlandmarks.org. 

CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.

Gather around the campfire for a community conversation on the grounds of the Hempsted Houses to commemorate historic and present-day struggles toward freedom and hear more about the work of Joseph McGill of the Slave Dwelling Project. Artist Jazzmen Lee-Johnson will share her site-responsive work in progress for Adam’s Garret.

Registration appreciated, but walk-ups always welcome! 

This program is part of the Hempsted Houses’ Juneteenth Festival. See the full list of events here.

This program takes place outdoors. In case of cancellation due to severe weather, registrants will be notified at the email address on file. If you have any questions, contact Site Administrator Lynette Fisher at hempsted@ctlandmarks.org. 

CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.