National Register of Historic Places

Old Lyme Historic District

Old Lyme, New London County, Connecticut
Listed
October 13, 1971
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
71000916

About this property

The Old Lyme Historic District encompasses the historic village center of Old Lyme, Connecticut. Located mainly on Lyme Street south of Interstate 95, the village, settled in the mid-17th century, has an architectural history dating to the early 18th century, flourishing as a shipbuilding center and home to many ship captains. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Old Lyme was one of the early settlement areas of the Puritan Saybrook Colony in the 17th century, and was the early town center of Lyme. It separated from that community as South Lyme in 1855, and eventually renamed itself Old Lyme. The village center has since the early days been arrayed along what is now called Lyme Street, which runs parallel to the Lieutenant River shortly before its mouth at the Connecticut River. The village flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries as a shipbuilding center, and was home to the Old Lyme Art Colony in the late 19th century. The artistic legacy is continued by the presence of the Lyme Art Association and the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts in the village. The historic district extends along Lyme Street, roughly from the junction with I-95 southward to McCurdy Street, and then a short way along that roadway. It also includes a few buildings north of I-95, including the Old Lyme Inn and the Florence Griswold House and Museum, the historic center of the art colony. The town's civic buildings are located in the village, including the town hall and library. Houses in the district range across the architectural spectrum from the early 18th century to the late 19th century, and including the Peck Tavern on Sill Lane, an 18th-century tavern that is now a private residence. National Register of Historic Places listings in New London County, Connecticut

Location

Old Lyme, New London County, Connecticut
41.31709, -72.32998

Categories

ARTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Nearby Historic Sites

Griswold, Florence, House and Museum
Industrial
0.5 mi
Peck Tavern
Early Republic
1 mi
Springbank
Listed
1.1 mi
Shore Line Electric Railway Powerhouse
Industrial
1.3 mi
Whittlesey, John, Jr., House
Industrial
1.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Old Lyme Historic District listed on the National Register?

Old Lyme Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 13, 1971.

What type of historic resource is Old Lyme Historic District?

Old Lyme Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Old Lyme Historic District?

The period of significance for Old Lyme Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Old Lyme Historic District?

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