Thames River Heritage Park Foundation, Inc.

What Thames River Heritage Park Foundation, Inc. does

Thames River Heritage Park Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 and headquartered in New London, Connecticut, that operates a heritage tourism network connecting 25+ historic and cultural sites across New London, Groton, and Waterford, CT. The organization's core product is a weekend Hop On, Hop Off Harbor Cruise water taxi service, operating Saturdays and Sundays from June through September, that uses refurbished U.S. Navy liberty utility boats to shuttle visitors between stops at Fort Trumbull State Park, City Pier in New London, Thames River Landing in Groton, and (on Sundays) the Nautilus Dock at the Submarine Force Museum. The water taxi is supplemented by 80+ narrated historic boat tours per season covering themes such as Military Stories on the Thames, Mohegan Life, Road to Revolution, Discover the Thames, Gilded Age estates, Black Heritage, and eelgrass ecosystems, plus Pop-Up Tours, Full Moon Cruises, Fireworks Cruises, Private Charters, Audio Tours, the annual Lecture Series at Lyman Allyn Art Museum, the 10-week Docent Academy, and walking tours ("A Walk in the Park").

Name

Thames River Heritage Park Foundation, Inc.

Legal name

Thames River Heritage Park Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://thamesriverheritagepark.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Thames River Heritage Park Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a weekend water taxi and narrated historic boat tour network connecting 25+ heritage sites across New London, Groton, and Waterford, Connecticut.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Tourism Services

NAICS

Historical Sites (71212), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Heritage & Historic District Tours (THAJAAAB), Museum & Landmark Guided Tours (Skip-the-line/Docent-led) (THAJAAAC), River Shore Excursions & Onshore Programs (THAEACAG)

Keywords

• Heritage tourism services
• Water taxi tours
• Historical boat tours
• Educational programming
• Cultural heritage preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

New London

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Harbor Cruise Tickets: Revenue from hop-on hop-off harbor cruise tickets sold to tourists and residents. Tickets available at $15 for adults, $5 for children ages 4-17, with children 3 and under free. Active military and veterans ride free with ID.
2. Historic Boat Tours: Narrated historic boat tours including themed experiences such as Military Stories on the Thames, Mohegan Life, Road to Revolution, Discover the Thames, Gilded Age tours, and Black Heritage tours. Priced at $35 for adults, $5 for children ages 4-17.
3. Season Passes: Unlimited rides on Hop On, Hop Off Harbor Cruises for the summer season. Adult season passes priced at $75, child season passes at $40.
4. Membership Program: Annual membership tiers ranging from Friend ($35-$64) to Admiral ($1,000 and up), with benefits including newsletter recognition, lecture series discounts, cruise tickets, season passes, and merchandise discounts.
5. Private Charters: Boat charters available seven days a week for birthdays, anniversaries, work outings, graduations, and sunset cruises.
6. Gift Cards: Gift cards redeemable for Docent Academy, Lecture Series, Harbor Cruise Season Passes, Boat Tour tickets, and merchandise.
7. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations, annual fundraising campaigns with specific goals ($25,000 target mentioned), and grants from sponsors and institutional partners.
8. Sponsorships: Season sponsorships ranging from Collector ($500) to Director Sponsor ($10,000), plus program sponsorships for specific boat tours, docent academy modules, and lecture series.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Thames River Heritage Park Foundation operates a heritage tourism network connecting 25+ historic and cultural sites in New London, Groton, and Waterford, Connecticut. Its core offering is the Hop On, Hop Off Harbor Cruise water taxi service linking heritage sites along the Thames River, supplemented by narrated Historic Boat Tours, private charters, and educational programming including the Docent Academy and Lecture Series.

Product overview

Thames River Heritage Park is a heritage tourism organization operating a network of 25+ historic and cultural sites across New London, Groton, and Waterford, Connecticut, connected by water-based transportation. The core offering consists of the Hop On, Hop Off Harbor Cruise (Water Taxi) service providing access to multiple heritage sites, supplemented by narrated Historic Boat Tours covering military, indigenous, cultural, and environmental themes. Additional offerings include Pop-Up Tours with guest experts, Full Moon Cruises, Fireworks Cruises, Private Charters, Audio Tours, the annual Lecture Series at Lyman Allyn Art Museum, and the Docent Academy training program. Visitors can purchase individual tickets, Season Passes for unlimited summer cruises, or Gift Cards redeemable across all offerings. The organization celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2026 with expanded Sunday service to the Nautilus Dock.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hop On, Hop Off Harbor Cruise: Weekend harbor cruise service connecting heritage sites along the Thames River with stops at Fort Trumbull State Park, City Pier New London, Thames River Landing Groton, and Nautilus Dock
• Historic Boat Tours
• Docent Academy
• Lecture Series
• Audio Tours

Products and services

• Hop On, Hop Off Harbor Cruise (Water Taxi) A water taxi service operating Saturdays and Sundays from June through September that allows passengers to board and disembark at multiple heritage sites along the Thames River, connecting Fort Trumbull State Park, City Pier in New London, Thames River Landing in Groton, and Nautilus Dock on Sundays.
• Historic Boat Tours Narrated boat tours exploring historical, cultural, and environmental themes including Military Stories on the Thames, Mohegan Life, Road to Revolution, Discover the Thames, The Gilded Age on the Thames, and Black Heritage Along the Thames.
• Pop-Up Tours Limited-availability themed tours with guest experts covering topics such as haunted history, Benedict Arnold's raid, women's contributions to the Thames, and Groton's historical development.
• Full Moon Cruises Evening cruises departing twice monthly through October, traveling down the Thames River to Ledge Light as the Full Moon rises over the Long Island Sound.
• Fireworks Cruises Specialty cruises offered during Celebrate New London fireworks events, providing waterfront viewing positions from the river.
• Private Charters Boat charter services available seven days a week for birthdays, anniversaries, work outings, graduations, and sunset cruises.
• Heritage Sites Access Access to over 25 historic and cultural sites in New London, Groton, and Waterford, Connecticut, including museums, forts, lighthouses, cemeteries, and historic homes connected by the water taxi route.
• A Walk in the Park Walking tour series offered throughout October featuring guided explorations of various heritage sites and themed tours including ghost stories and Gilded Age history.
• Docent Academy A 10-week training program running February through April for volunteer docents covering the history and heritage of the Thames River region, with graduates committing to serve at heritage sites for a minimum of 4 hours monthly.
• Lecture Series A six-part winter/spring lecture series hosted at Lyman Allyn Art Museum covering local history themes, with the 2026 series titled 'Freedom: The Victories, Promises, and Potentials of 1776.'
• Season Passes Unlimited-ride passes for the Hop On, Hop Off Harbor Cruise valid for the entire summer season, with adult and child pricing tiers.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership tiers ranging from Friend ($35) to Admiral ($1,000+) providing benefits including cruise tickets, season passes, merchandise discounts, and lecture series access.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ visitors hosted annually on harbor cruises and historic boat tours
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CT HumanitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Grant funder supporting heritage tourism programming and cultural projects along the Thames River.
• CT Sea GrantcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Educational partner contributing to environmental education programming including eelgrass ecosystem tours and research coordination for the Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve.
• Mohegan TribecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Indigenous partner providing Mohegan Life boat tours narrated by tribal members, exploring tribal history and estuary connections.
• Lyman Allyn Art MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Host venue for the annual Lecture Series and collaborative programming. Museum serves as partner site in the heritage park network.
• City of New LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Municipal partner providing support and promoting heritage tourism in the city.
• City of GrotoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Municipal partner providing support and promoting heritage tourism in the city.
• Town of GrotoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Municipal partner providing support for heritage park operations.
• DEEP (CT Dept of Energy and Environmental Protection)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026State agency partner providing support through State Parks Division and managing heritage sites including Fort Trumbull and Fort Griswold.
• Naval Submarine Base New LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Military installation partner allowing harbor cruise access near submarine base and contributing ex-officio board representation.
• U.S. Coast Guard AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Military academy partner contributing liaison representation and involved in harbor cruise route near the academy.
• Mystic Seaport MuseumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Regional maritime museum partner with staff representation on board of directors.
• Custom House Maritime Museum / New London Maritime SocietycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Partner site operating lighthouse tours and managing three historic lighthouses (New London Harbor Light, Ledge Light, Race Rock Light Station).
• New London County Historical SocietycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Historical society operating Shaw Mansion as headquarters and contributing historical expertise including speakers for lectures and events.
• Submarine Force Library & MuseumcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Museum partner housing USS Nautilus (world's first nuclear submarine) and serving as Sunday departure point for harbor cruises.
• Hall Communications (WCTY 97.7)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Radio station partner providing broadcast coverage and promotional support for events.
• 98.7 WNLCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Radio station sponsor for promotional reach in the region.
• Garde Arts CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Performing arts center partner in New London's cultural district, part of the heritage park network.
• Cross Sound FerryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Ferry service partner providing cross-promotional marketing opportunities.
• Avery Memorial AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Nonprofit operating Ebenezer Avery House and Fort Griswold Battlefield, preserving Revolutionary War history.
• Friends of Fort Trumbull State ParkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Volunteer organization supporting Fort Trumbull through preservation and programming.
• Friends of Fort Griswold Battlefield State ParkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Volunteer organization supporting Fort Griswold through preservation and visitor services.
• Friends of Cedar Grove CemeteryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Organization supporting the nonprofit cemetery via cleanups, groundskeeping, and guided tours.
• Friends of HarknessminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Volunteer docent organization leading guided tours of Eolia Mansion and gardens at Harkness Memorial State Park.
• OpSail Connecticut Inc.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Maritime organization partner for tall ships events and promotional activities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• City Sightseeing: Global hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour franchise operating buses and boats in major tourist cities. Comparable on the hop-on, hop-off distribution model applied to sightseeing, though not focused on heritage-site curation.
• Boston Harbor City Cruises: Large-scale sightseeing and charter cruise operator running harbor tours, whale watches, and private charters across multiple U.S. cities. Broadly comparable sightseeing cruise product, though at much larger scale and without the heritage-site anchoring.

Direct peers

• Boston Harbor Islands National Park: Hop-on, hop-off ferry service connecting Boston Harbor to historic islands with interpretive programming. Directly comparable model: water-based transportation linking multiple heritage/interpretive sites in a single metropolitan waterway.
• Essex Steam Train & Riverboat: Scenic excursion operation in Essex, CT pairing a heritage railroad with Connecticut Riverboat cruises. Closely comparable business model: combining restored historic transportation with narrated river excursions in Connecticut.
• Custom House Maritime Museum / New London Maritime Society: Operates New London Harbor Light tours and manages three local lighthouses. Direct comparable — a partner organization offering overlapping lighthouse and harbor heritage experiences in the same New London waterfront.
• Mystic Seaport Museum: The largest maritime heritage museum in the United States, located in Mystic, CT — less than 10 miles from Thames River Heritage Park. Comparable as a New England maritime-heritage tourism destination combining historic vessels, exhibits, and narrated experiences.
• Connecticut River Museum: Heritage museum in Essex, CT focused on the Connecticut River valley. Directly comparable as a river-based cultural heritage attraction offering exhibits, boat-based programming, and school field-trip experiences.
• New Bedford Whaling Museum: Major U.S. maritime heritage museum in New Bedford, MA. Comparable as a regional maritime/heritage nonprofit that monetizes exhibits, school programming, and seasonal events tied to local seafaring history.
• Heritage Museums & Gardens: Multi-attraction heritage destination in Sandwich, MA combining outdoor gardens, a vintage carousel, and auto museum. Comparable as a New England nonprofit heritage attraction bundling multiple themed experiences into a single ticket.
• Submarine Force Museum: Active museum partner at Nautilus Dock — one of Thames River Heritage Park's cruise stops. Comparable as a New London–area heritage attraction delivering curated, theme-based visitor programming to overlapping audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thamesriverheritagepark
• Instagraminstagram.com/thamesriverheritagepark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thames-river-heritage-park-foundation-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thames River Heritage Park Foundation, Inc.