The colony's artists painted 41 panels directly onto the doors and dining-room walls of the boarding house — a tradition that began as a paint-off in 1900.
Childe Hassam arrived in 1903 and shifted the colony from misty Tonalism to vivid Impressionist light — earning Old Lyme the nickname "the American Giverny."
Why People Visit Old Lyme Connecticut
- Tour the Florence Griswold Museum, artists colony home with galleries and riverside grounds.
- See the painted panels — 41 works painted directly on the doors and walls of the boarding house.
- Visit Lyme Art Association, historic galleries showcasing regional painters.
- Relax at Sound View Beach, sandy shoreline with gentle surf and boardwalk blocks.
- Walk the Town Green, churches and historic homes along tree lined Lyme Street.
- Enjoy White Sand Beach, neighborhood cove with seasonal access and calm waters.
- Paddle or picnic at Rogers Lake, the freshwater anchor of the town's northern half.
