Old Lyme

About Old Lyme

Tucked where the Connecticut River meets Long Island Sound, Old Lyme is one of Connecticut's most enchanting coastal towns — a place where saltwater breezes, historic sea captain homes, and a legendary arts legacy come together in perfect harmony. Equal parts beach retreat and cultural destination, it draws summer visitors to its sandy shores and art lovers year-round to its celebrated museums and galleries. There's a timeless, unhurried quality here that's hard to shake.

What to Know

• The Florence Griswold Museum is the jewel of Old Lyme's arts scene — the former boardinghouse turned gathering place for the American Impressionist movement, now a world-class museum.
• The Lyme Art Association, founded in 1914, is one of the oldest art associations in the United States and continues to host exhibitions and events today.
• The Lyme Academy of Fine Arts offers rigorous studio arts training and has long been a cornerstone of the town's creative identity.
• Lyme Street, the town's main thoroughfare, is a historic district lined with graceful Colonial and Federal-style homes once owned by sea captains — a living postcard of New England's maritime past.
• Seasonal beach communities like Point O' Woods and Hawks Nest draw thousands of summer visitors, and a charming carousel on Hartford Avenue has been delighting young families for generations.

History

Old Lyme traces its roots to 1665, when the town of Lyme was set off from Saybrook. South Lyme incorporated separately in 1855 and was renamed Old Lyme just two years later — a nod to the fact that it contains the oldest-settled portion of the Lymes. The town takes its name from Lyme Regis, England, honoring the heritage of its earliest settlers.

Community & Living

Old Lyme feels like a town that's found its rhythm — a close-knit community of year-round residents who deeply value their natural surroundings, from tidal marshes and forested hills to miles of Sound-front shoreline. The arts are woven into everyday life here, giving the town an inspired, creative energy that sets it apart from other Connecticut shore communities. Residents tend to love it fiercely, and it's easy to understand why.