The Hempstead Houses

The Hempstead Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. There are over 140 structures in the Hempstead Historic District of New London. The 1678 Hempstead House, the oldest surviving frame-built house in New London, serves as the historical centerpiece to this historical neighborhood. The Joshua Hempstead House was occupied by the Hempstead family until the late 1930's. It is presently owned and operated by the Antiquarian and Landmarks Society of Connecticut. The home has been carefully restored and original furnishings and fixtures add to it historic properties. The Nathaniel Hempstead House constructed in 1758 also remains as a unique area landmark. These two homes serve as important links to colonial New England. A visit to this interesting district allows guests to step back in time when the New London area was a thriving seaport community. Over half of the buildings in the Historic District were built between 1840 and 1889. In addition to the residential structures the district also features other celebrated buildings that include the former New London County Jail or 1845, a school built in 1903, and a number of industrial locations of the mid-19th century. The Hempstead Houses are listed as sites of Connecticut's Underground Railroad and documentation seems to suggest that the Hempstead houses played an important role in freeing slaves.