What is behind those walls?

 Sometimes things are not they seem. Take for instance Fort Trumbull in New London. This fort was originally built to defend our country's shoreline during the Revolutionary War. Since that time period, the fort has been rebuilt twice. The current fort and the 3rd is an imposing structure. The fort has an profound stone structure base, deeply fortified walls and solid masonery. There are also surrounding bunkers and large cannons that protect it's walls. To top it off, this structure towers over the city of New London and it's harbor on the Thames River. I would think that any enemy or regular Joe would tremble at it's structure. One would also think that many battles have taken place here, but this is not a true. What is true though, is that on these grounds and during the cold war Fort Trumbull was host to the Naval Underwater Sound and Research Laboratory. This research facility at the time was a top secret one.The laboratory did test for the navy to better understand how submarines could better communicate under water. These test included research on sonar. Also, test on how to improve periscopes were done here as well during that same time period. For almost one hundred years, General Dynamic Electric Boat across the water from Fort Trumbull in Groton has and was building submarines. Most of our enemy at the time and our general public knew this. What they didn't know is that right here on the shores of the Thames in New London, research was being done on how to make our submarines more stealthy and deadly. The laboratory has since be closed for over 2 decades and the fort is now a State Park. How do I know this information, you ask? Well I just visited Fort Trumbull this past weekend. I was amazed when I found out this information. Never judge a book by it's cover is the theme to this story. I was also suprised to find out that on land, New London is the 1/2 point between New York and Boston. I though was not suprised by New London's  beauty and skyline for I have always found it to be impressive. Did you know at one time New London's Port ranked  up there with such deep water ports like Boston's and New York's. The town's infamous Ocean  Beach Park is a summer destination for both tourist and locals. The beach includes a boardwalk, volley ball courts, rides and games and even a gym. I August there is an annual 10.6 mile road race that attracts hundreds. The race is free and all those that run it, receive free clam chowder at the finish line. Not everything in New London is free, but you can now access free information that at one time was top secret. New London though is not a secret. Its great beach, tourist destinations and important history have been there for many years, or has it?