National Maritime Historical Society 63rd Annual Meeting

New Haven, CT — 27-29 May 2026

NMHS 63rd Annual Meeting – New Haven, CT, 27-29 May 2026

The Trustees of the National Maritime Historical Society invite all members to join us for our Annual Meeting which will be held in conjunction with the North American Society for Oceanic History (NASOH) conference, 27-29 May 2026 in New Haven, Connecticut. This is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy maritime history, connect with peers, and explore educational travel!

Conference Highlights

  • Thematic focus: Maritime Margins: Missing Voices, Overlooked Places, and New Perspectives.
  • Explore the black engineer William Lanson’s impact on Long Wharf and the rise of industrial oystering in Long Island Sound.
  • Engage with cutting-edge research in maritime archaeology, cultural landscapes, naval history, maritime security, and environmental studies.
  • Enjoy access to New Haven’s rich cultural landscape, from world-class museums and libraries to its famed pizza.

Venue

Canal Dock Boathouse, 475 Long Wharf Drive, New Haven, CT 06511

Hotel

NMHS has reserved a block of rooms at the Hotel Marcel, 500 Sargent Drive, New Haven, CT 06511. The Hotel Marcel is located about 50 yards from the Canal Dock Boathouse. The group rate starts at $179/night. To make your hotel reservations, please use the booking link or call Hilton at 800-774-1500 and ask for the NMHS group rate at Hotel Marcel. The NMHS group rate expires April 26 and is on a first-come-first serve basis. After the cut-off date, rooms are available based on space and rate availability. Cancellation requires notification 48 hours before arrival to avoid penalties.

How to Participate

  • Register for NASOH conference
    Ensures access to their full program, field trips, and banquet.
  • RSVP for the NMHS annual meeting (click on above button) Friday, 29 May – 1:00-2:00 PM
    Lawsen Room at the Canal Dock Boathouse – free for all NMHS members
  • Book your hotel room
    Reserve via our special NMHS block before April 26.

Things to do in and around New Haven

For scholars, researchers, and museum enthusiasts

  • Yale Center for British Art – The largest collection of British art outside the United Kingdom
  • Yale University Art Gallery – Collections spanning cultures and centuries, from antiquity to the present
  • Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library – Home to the Gutenberg Bible, Audubon’s Birds of America, and an original copy of the Declaration of Independence, housed in a striking modernist building

For families and general visitors

  • Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History – Newly renovated, free, and especially popular with children and families
  • It Adventure Ropes Course – An indoor ropes course located near the conference venue
  • Shore Line Trolley Museum – Ride historic trolleys from the 1920s through scenic coastal salt marshes

All Yale museums and libraries listed above are free and open to the public.