Visiting artists at the boarding house were known as 'Gris-wolds' and frequently painted panels on the doors and mantelpieces in lieu of paying rent.
The museum holds a permanent collection of over 800 paintings, drawings, and prints, primarily focusing on the American Impressionist movement.
The property is situated along the Lieutenant River, a site that provided the primary subject matter for the Lyme Art Colony's plein air works.
The museum underwent a major expansion in 2002 with the opening of the Krieble Gallery, designed to accommodate climate-controlled art exhibitions.
The Miss Florence Griswold House was originally built in 1817 in the Late Georgian style.
The Florence Griswold Museum serves as the historic home of the Lyme Art Colony, the epicenter of American Impressionism. The site centers on the 1817 Florence Griswold House, where artists lived and painted on the walls and doors during the early 20th century. The museum campus includes the Krieble Gallery for changing exhibitions, a landscape-designed garden, and the restored Lieutenant River frontage. Visitors can view the original artist studio and the collection of American art that documents the region's historical significance. The grounds span 13 acres of riverfront property. The museum remains active today as a center for both historical preservation and contemporary art displays.
The view of the historic Florence Griswold House exterior from the riverside gardens.
Walk the outdoor trails that wind along the Lieutenant River to see the landscape that inspired the Impressionists.
Check the museum website for the current installation in the Florence Griswold House, as wall decorations are sometimes conserved or rotated.
Allow extra time for the Hands-on Art activities if visiting with children.
Do not skip the grounds and garden area, as the external landscape is as vital to the history of the art colony as the indoor galleries.
Closed on Mondays.
No photography of fragile or restricted interior artifacts; maintain quiet in the historic house galleries.
