New London, Connecticut Wyland Whaling Wall 41

History of the New London, Wyland Whaling Wall 41

-The Great Sperm Whales

After New York, the Wyland crew was looking forward to moving on to the smaller town of New London, Connecticut. Not only was it a small community, but it also had a long history of whaling, having been, at one point in the mid-1800s, one of the busiest whaling ports on the East Coast.” I especially liked to paint Whaling Walls in these cities because they have such a rich heritage in maritime history,” Wyland explained.;With the exception of Japan, Norway, and a few other countries, whaling by that time had been replaced by whale watching, which many the old whaling regions in the United States had found to be very healthy for tourism and economic development.”

Despite a New England summer heat wave and a bout of heatstroke, the New London wall went well for the artist. The mural of sperm whales, Connecticut’s state mammal, helped draw thousands of people to New London’s annual maritime festival. Governor Lowell Weiker dedicated the landmark mural, which has since been restored by the artist, who recently added a giant squid.

Environmental Fact

• By the late 1980s, Long Island Sounds Tidal wetlands were severely degraded. Over 80 percent were under extreme threat from human activity and increased development.
• Inspiring people of all ages to understand the science and the steps needed to reduce our impact on our marine environment is fundamental to many of the Wyland Foundation’s programs, including the Wyland National “Water Is Life” Art and Classroom Challenge, which encourages student collaboration to explore issues affecting marine health and showcase the issues through art.

Whaling wall 41

American Discount Building, 124 Captain’s Walk & State Street, New London, Connecticut
170 Feet Long x 35 Feet High
Dedicated July 12, 1993
By Governor Lowell Weiker

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