What a cool and unique experience!…read more We took a quick ride to the Ledge light house on the Thames River, about a 10-15 minute boat ride out from the docks When we arrived to the lighthouse, we had to walk up some steel stairs along the side of the base of the lighthouse. We had an hour to explore the 3 floors of the lighthouse museum along with the tip of the lighthouse where the light sits We didn't get much information on the ride over nor from the people giving the tour. However there was a lot of information within the museum itself. But... It felt very rushed and I didn't have enough time to really explore and read everything. The tip of the lighthouse was a quick 10 minute view of the surrounding waters and shorelines surrounding the Thames. The whole trip was about an hour and a half. Parking on the streets of New London is a 2 hour limit, so we had just enough time. New London residents are $5 while out of town is $55!! A bit steep for a very quick tour

We passed close to the New London Ledge Lighthouse on the New London to Orient Point. Close enough…read moreto take pictures and enjoy the view. It looks nothing like any other lighthouse I've seen. This is a red brick and granite building in the French Second Empire style. The cast-iron lantern rises from the center of the building's mansard roof. New London Ledge Lighthouse was built in 1909 on the southwest ledge at the entrance to the New London Harbor. The United States Coast Guard took over in 1939 upon its merger with the Lighthouse Service and the light was automated in 1987. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. New London Ledge is locally famous for the ghost of an early keeper named Ernie who allegedly haunts the lighthouse. The Coast Guard crew on duty at the lighthouse reported unexplained knockings taking place at night, as well as doors opening and closing repeatedly, the television turning on and off by itself sporadically, and the unexplained removal of sheets from beds. We couldn't see Ernie at 6:45 this morning. Maybe he sleeps in? [Review 15302 overall, 804 of 2021, number 50 in Connecticut.]

In the final 79 words of this plaque's inscription, the words "art" or "artist" are mentioned five…read moretimes. Artists began congregating in Old Lyme in the early 1800's, and the town continues to be a popular artists' colony to this day. The marker is located on the front lawn of the Old Lyme Town Hall. It's a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It has different inscriptions on each side. The marker is in pretty good shape with minor fading on the blue background on both sides. 164 CT towns down, 6 to go The full inscription reads: As early as the 1640's settlers from Saybrook cleared and planted land on the east side of the Connecticut River in what is now Old Lyme. The first recorded grant of land, in 1649, was to Matthew Griswold in the Black Hall quarter. By 1665 the inhabitants on the east bank, "... desiring to be a plantation by themselves: do declare that they have a competency of Lands to entertain thirty families", and agreed with those on the west bank upon a "loving parting" by which a separate community was established. Two years later the General Court of Connecticut ordered that "... ye Plantation on ye East side ye River over agt Say-brooke for ye future be named Lyme." The settlement, some eighty square miles, included the present towns of Old Lyme, East Lyme, Lyme and part of Salem. The General Court gave consent to Lyme in 1678 to found a church society, which was not formally organized for fifteen years. Meeting House Hill, east of Duck River, was the site of two 17th century meetinghouses and one of the 18th. Samuel Belcher designed a fourth, built in 1817, to face the green at the south end of Lyme Street. After it burned in 1907, a replica became as favored a subject for artists as was the original. Seaborne trade began in 1650 with exportation of barrel staves on the ship TRYALL, starting a lucrative commerce with the West Indies. In the 19th century Lyme was divided four towns. This comminute in 1855 was named South Lyme, renamed Old Lyme two years later. From a summer colony of artists at the turn of the century evolved the Lyme School of Art, the Lyme Art Association, and the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts. Nearby on Lyme Street stands the Florence Griswold House of 1817, which lodged the artists and is now the headquarters of the Lyme Historical Society, where many of their works may be seen. Erected by the Town of Old Lyme the Lyme Historical Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1979

This is exactly what the name applies, a scenic overlook. Located off 95N, like me you've probably…read morepassed by this hundreds of times. Today I finally checked it out. Nothing fancy, just a small view of the mystic waterfront. No binoculars, no vending machines, no picnic tables, no restrooms or porta potties, no information, and only 6-8 spaces to park. It's as simple as it gets. Yet it serves its purpose. There's no landmark or oddity in the sitelines, but it is a calming oasis off the highway. Would I make a trip to see this? Heck no. If you're traveling 95N in the area is this worth a 2-5 minute stop ti check it out? I'd lean towards yes. It's not going to blow your mind, but happiness comes in small doses and this does the trick.

Perched atop a modest rise off I-95, the Hoxie Scenic Overlook offers panoramic vistas of Long…read moreIsland Sound and Mystic Harbor. Historically, the overlook's name traces back to the Hoxie family, whose legacy is woven into the fabric of Mystic and the greater New London area. Benjamin Franklin Hoxie, a prominent 19th-century businessman and civic leader, helped shape Mystic's development through shipbuilding, commerce, and public service. He founded the downtown fire department and built several notable structures, including the original Hoxie House in 1861. Though the overlook itself wasn't part of his holdings, its name honors the family's enduring imprint on the region. On a clear day, it's the kind of view you would expect to see painted and hanging in a museum. And since it's free, I'm a fan. One tip - be aware of your surroundings and question anyone walking towards you. [Review 1067 of 2025 - 120 in Connecticut - 24621 overall]

Ever hear of King Philip's War? It was fought between the New England colonists and their Indian…read moreallies against other hostile (and British backed) Indian tribes from 1675-78. New England took on terrible losses (especially in the Massachusetts and Rhode Island colonies) and a dozen of their young towns were destroyed. I read that this War was a leading contributor in the case for an independent American identity, because the colonists were fighting more or less on their own, with no outside support -giving them a "shared identity" as a group different and distinct from the British. Pretty interesting, isn't it? Anyway, this marker taught me that Montville's Mohegan tribe fought on the British side during the war. Located in front of Town Hall is this 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It has different inscriptions on both sides. The marker is in pretty good condition with side two being in better shape than side one. The colors are brighter on side two with none of the peeling seen on the bottom of side one. The full inscription reads: This area was long the home of the Mohegan Indians, by settlement before the Colonial period, and by reservation until more recent years. Prominent Indian sachems were Owaneco and his father Uncas, who defeated the chief Miantonomoh, a Narragansett, destroying that tribe's will to fight and opening the land to occupation by the whites. Uncas aided the English in King Philip's War of 1675-76, their most difficult and widespread conflict with the Indians. John Mason, about 1723, erected a school to educate and teach Indians the Christian religion. Samson Occum, a student trained at the Reverend Eleazer Wheelock's school in present-day Columbia, taught in New London and became the first ordained Indian minister. He was a missionary to the Indians of New York colony. Visiting England, he raised a sum of $50,000, which was used to found Dartmouth College. Uncas donated lands to English friends in 1658, urging them to settle. Samuel Rogers, the first settler, built a home in 1670 and reared six children, the first white persons born in Montville. Connecticut divided lands to each Indian family in 1790, extending equal rights to all Indians as to whites in 1872. Sarah Huntington and Sarah Breed established a school on Fort Hill about 1827. They raised funds to build the present Mohegan Indian Church in 1831. Nearby are Fort Shantok State Park and Mohegan Indian Burial Ground, the Church, and the Tantaquidgeon Museum, preserving much Indian culture. Erected 1977 by Town of Montville, Montville Historical Society and Connecticut Historical Commission. Four stars for one of the more interesting accounts I've seen on a marker, and for prodding me to go learn something about King Philip's War 159 CT towns done, 11 to go

Fact- during my childhood in the Bronx, the local high school was named DeWitt Clinton High School…read more I played a lot of stickball and basketball there. Later I learned that DeWitt was quite a public servant, serving as a Senator from NY (1802-03), Mayor of NYC (1803-1815), and later as Governor of NY (1817-1822). That's quite a Triple Crown. Today, while reading the Clinton CT Historical marker, I learned about one more of his accomplishments - the honor that Clinton, CT was named for him. The marker is located on the lawn just to the right of Clinton's Town Hall. It's a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. The marker has the same text on both sides. The 1977 marker is in an uneven condition. One side is in pretty good shape, with a fairly bright and unfaded blue background and white lettering. The other side was not as fortunate, because I saw various of points of failure in the form of fading in both the blue background and white lettering. The full text reads: Settled in 1663 and then known as Homonoscitt Plantation, this shoreline and rural community soon thereafter was given the name Kenilworth and later Killingworth. In 1735 the First and Second Ecclesiastical Societies were established being the southern and northern portions of the Town respectively. In May 1838, the southern portion was incorporated as a separate town with the name of Clinton after DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York. Early classes of the Collegiate School, later Yale University, were held here. Citizens prominent in Clinton history: Abraham Pierson - a founder and first rector of the Collegiate School. Jared Eliot - church pastor and noted doctor friend of Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Gale - pupil of Eliot, gifted physician and agriculturist. Charles Morgan - benefactor of public schools. Horatio G. Wright - Civil War general, chief of army engineers. Erected by the Town of Clinton the Clinton Historical Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1971 166 CT towns down, 4 to go

William Ledyard commanded Fort Trumbull and Fort Griswold. On September 6, 1781, both fell to the…read moreBritish after a one hour battle. Ledyard ordered his men to stop firing and lay down their weapons. When the British asked the colonists who commanded the fort, Ledyard said he did and offered his sword to the British, who promptly stabbed him to death with it, and started a massacre of the 80 captured Americans. The marker that honors the town named after him is located in a small plaza with a bench near the entrance to the Ledyard School. It's a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, with the familiar white lettering on a blue background. The marker dates to 1976. It's front side is in very poor condition (fading and obliterated lettering), while it's reverse is in pretty good shape. The marker's full inscription reads: Settled by New London pioneers in this conquered Pequot Indian country began long the river at Allyn's Point and Poquetanuck in 1653, then spread down the indian trail to Mystic. Here at the "Center" in 1725 the precise center of that are which became Ledyard was chosen as the site for the new North Parish church of Groton and the training field of the militia was moved. On Septmeber 6, 1781 that militia supported the defender of Fort Griswold. Colonel William Ledyard, when Benedict Arnold sacked New London and Groton. One-third of those massacred came from this North Parish. Its people, recovering slowly, chose in 1836 to name their new town as a memorial to their leader. (Reverse) The first village Gales Ferry (1740) sheltered blockaded Commander Decatur from British attack during the War of 1812. For nearly 100 years (1878-1975) Yale and Harvard crews have trained there for their annual four-mile race along the Thames. Ledyard was the birthplace of: SILAS DEANE (1737-1789) - envoy to France during the Revolution SAMUEL SEABURY (1729-1796) - first Episcopal Bishop of Connecticut JONATHAN WHIPPLE (1794-1875) and ZERAH WHIPPLE (1849-1879) - Quakers, founders of the Whipple Home School for Deaf Mutes, now the Mystic Oral School Erected by the Town of Ledyard, the Ledyard Historical Society, and the Connecticut Historical Commission, 1976.

This is a must stop for the holidays. The 30 foot high tree is made from lobster traps that are…read morewrapped with colorful lights and hand painted buoys of all creations that are wonderful to see. you can even go inside the tree. Very simple and fun to see what the artists created on the round buoys

We went after Christmas and it was a nice way to enjoy without the crowds. The buoys are…read morebeautifully painted and each very different and unique in its own way. Definitely a must if you are in the area.

9/24/22: Visit! Village of Greenport is adorable!…read more Took the Shelter Island ferry over to the '22 Maritime Festival. We boarded a replica of the Amistad ship. A narrator gave us some of the ship's history. We walked around the festival. Everyone was in a good mood. Lots of cool kiosks with a variety of goods and "Cheer" were for sale. Purchased some lovely lavender from one of the kiosks. : D We stopped where ironworks were demonstrated and beautiful rustic ironwork crafts were sold. (Please check out my pics). Lots of cute shops, pubs and restaurants in the Village of Greenport! A carousel is in the port too! Definitely would return!

Lovely seaport village with plenty of shops, restaurants and cafés…read more Visit the museum by the ferry and railroad. Take a stroll on the piers and see the old carousel. Sail your boat or take a yacht and explore Shelter Island and Sag Harbor nearby on the Peconic Bay. Best wineries and vineyards are here on the East End of New York. All very good. Enjoy!