Fort Trumbull in New London in Southeastern Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Maury Hall
Building 28
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, October 9, 2011
1. Maury Hall Marker
Maury Hall, a substantial two-story concrete building, stood on this site from the 1930s or early 1940s until 1999. It served as classrooms for the U.S. Maritime Service officers training program at Fort Trumbull during World War II. Known to the navy simply as Building 28, it housed the Electromagnetics Division of the Navy Underwater Sound Laboratory from 1948 to 1963. The Electromagnetics Division developed submarine antennas, radio communications systems, periscopes, and other optical equipment.
The floating wire antenna, also known as the buoyant cable antenna, was one of the important technological advancements developed here by teams of civilian engineers and scientists. First successfully tested in 1954, it consisted of a long wire that floated to the surface when a submarine was submerged below periscope depth. It received very low radio frequency signals, allowing contact with the submarine at lower depths than ever before possible. A more advanced version of the floating antenna is used on all U.S. submarines today.
Other work conducted here included research in optics, infrared radiation, microwaves, and radio waves from very high frequencies to extremely low frequencies. The Submarine Electromagnetics Division transferred to a new building in 1963. Building 28 served as administrative offices when the base
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Erected by Fort Trumbull State Park.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Forts and Castles • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1999.
Location. 41° 20.704′ N, 72° 5.58′ W. Marker is in New London in Southeastern Region, Connecticut. It is in Fort Trumbull. It can be reached from East Street, on the left when traveling south. Marker is located in Fort Trumbull State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New London CT 06320, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Connecticut Shoreline and in the Thames River Valley. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New London County and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Fort Trumbull State Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Blockhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); North Battery (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bottom Reflected Active Sonar System (BRASS) (about 400 feet away); Fort Trumbull (about 400 feet away); Parade Ground (about 400 feet away); Cold War (about 500 feet away); The Barracks (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New London.
More about this marker. A picture of Building 28 at the lower left of the marker has a caption of A 1954 navy facilities report called Building 28 by far the best building on the station and noted that it offered ideal conditions for
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, October 9, 2011
2. Maury Hall Marker
Also see . . . History of Fort Trumbull. Friends of Fort Trumbull website. (Submitted on October 14, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, October 9, 2011
3. Marker in Fort Trumbull State Park
Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 575 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 14, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
