A few days after 9/11, just before one of the subs deployed, a hand lettered banner from the crew appeared at the entrance to the Submarine Base.  The message to the terrorists read:

"We have you in our sights!" 
That said it all.

	The U.S. Navy Submarine School and Sub Base New London in Groton, are across the Thames river from the  U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, home port of the tall ship USCG Barque Eagle.  The base is the birthplace of the submarine force. You can tour the first nuclear sub, the USS Nautilus  at the nearby Submarine Force Museum. Boats home ported in Groton. The Sub Force Museum is a must see.  It has a variety of small subs, but the big attraction is the USS Nautilus.  You can see some photos here that were taken when we toured the sub recently.  The inside of the museum has numerous displays including models of various boats, actual equipment, working periscopes, and much more.  The combination of video and hands on equipment give you a feel of what it's like to work on a Nuke boat.
USS Nautilus Photo Tour
The museum gift shop has some unique gifts and souvenirs, including local artist Dave Bishop's submarine patch posters.  Dave created the posters when he was Public Affairs Officer for the museum. The museum is one of three places in the world where you can buy the posters.  Next to the museum, in the main entrance, you can see more of Dave's work, a large overhead model of Jules Verne's Nautilus and a wall sized mural.
During the Revolutionary War Fort Griswold  commanded the harbor and nearby countryside. "We will not give up the Fort let the consequences be what they may." Col. Ledyard September 6, 1781     Bill Memorial Library.  Read about the fort, the burning of New London and the Battle of Groton Heights at these sites: The War for American Independence  , The Revolutionary War a research site , Connecticut College's page , Fort Griswold History , Revolutionary War Battlefield Sites (U.S. Gov) ,

Electric Boat is located near the mouth of the Thames river. Groton has a long history as a shipbuilding city starting in the early 1700s.  In 1900 the newly founded Electric Boat Company (EB) sold the first submarine to the Navy for $150,000.  The boat had been built by John P. Holland's Torpedo Boat Company.  Holland's company joined with EB just before the Navy sale.  The first diesel powered submarine was constructed here in 1912.  The first nuclear submarine, the Nautilus, was built at General Dynamics' Electric Boat Division in 1950.  Many of our U.S. Submarines were built here at EB.  They are currently working on the last of the Seawolf class submarines and are preparing for the first of the Virginia class.   There's more information about the Seawolf on our submarine page. 

Pfizer, according to Business Week, is "poised to become the new drug-industry leader."  Pfizer, creator of the well know drug Viagra and many other beneficial drugs for humans, pets, and livestock. has a 137-acre Research and Development facility in Groton.  Their new Global Development facility is across the river in New London. Plans for the two facilities include continued research on a broad range of diseases including central nervous system disorders, inflammatory disease, immunological disorders, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and infectious disorders.  Find out about products and research, and get health and lifestyle information at their their website.  

Groton photo from Roots Web.

Groton New London Airport.

Town of Groton

Runnning Route: 3.6-mile Bluff Point State Park Run, Groton, CT