Town #110: Old Lyme

Old Lyme is one of the towns in the Connecticut River Valley. Every time I visit this region there is something else beautiful to see. Depending on who you talk to, the Connecticut River Valley can include towns from as far away as Middletown or be limited to the towns along the shoreline of the state. But Old Lyme is undoubtedly one of the towns in this picturesque region.

What it's known for: Florence Griswold Museum

For those who live in the area it is also known for historically being a summer art colony and influencing American Impressionism painting. Old Lyme has always been about art. Today it has the state's only private four year college devoted entirely to fine art.

We visited the Florence Griswold Museum a little too early to see the gardens' flowers budding, but the rest of the museum was nice. The museum is split into two structures. One is the original house in which the art colony painted. The first floor is a self-guided house tour and the second floor is a museum to Impressionist art. There is also a more modern structure (picture above) that has three galleries of art. The Florence Griswold Museum is one of only two places in the state on all three of the following trails: art, garden, and women's heritage.

Old Lyme Stats:
Population: 7,488
Size: 28.8 square miles
Villages/Other Communities: Black Hall, Laysville, Sound View, South Lyme
Historic Places: Bennett Rockshelter, Florence Griswold House and Museum, Lieutenant River III Site, Lieutenant River IV Site, Lieutenant River No. 2 Site, Natcon Site, Old Lyme Historic District, Peck Tavern, Springbank