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America’s Home of Impressionism Restored to Period of Historic Significance

Florence Griswold House reopened Saturday, July 1, 2006 after being closed for over a year for comprehensive restoration.

Old Lyme, CT: On July 1, 2006 the Florence Griswold House, the historic centerpiece of the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut, reopened to the public, having undergone extensive restoration since May 2005.  This 1817 National Historic Landmark was the original boardinghouse for the Lyme Art Colony from 1899 to the 1930s.  Open to the public since 1947, the Museum is named after Florence Griswold (1850-1937), the self-described “keeper of the artist colony,” who transformed her family home into a country retreat for artists.

The $2.5 million project preserves this landmark for years to come and to allow visitors to fully immerse themselves in the culture and daily life of an American art colony unlike anywhere else in this country.  After nearly a decade of fundraising, research, and planning, this cherished icon of American art, itself the subject of countless paintings, has been accurately furnished to its appearance circa 1910 when the colony was the center of Impressionism in America.  The Florence Griswold House Restoration Project was made possible by the support of a partnership of funders led by the National Endowment for the Humanities and The State of Connecticut.

A Center of Artistic Significance

            In the early years of the twentieth century, the Florence Griswold House and its surrounding landscape played home to a vibrant artist colony that attracted many of America’s leading artists such as Childe Hassam and Willard Metcalf and public figures such as President Woodrow Wilson.  Together they brought national and international acclaim to Old Lyme as a center for the arts.  Today the Florence Griswold Museum, accredited by the American Association of Museums and a founding member of the Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is devoted to telling the story of Florence Griswold and the Lyme Art Colony in the most imaginative ways possible.  "Paintings on the walls and doors inside the Griswold House by the artists who lived there are among the splendid expressions of the Lyme Art Colony's legacy," notes Nancy Campbell, Chairman Emeritus of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and a longtime advisor to the Museum.  "This project was crucial to preserving these and other irreplaceable artifacts housed within this National Historic Landmark."  In addition to the painted panels, the Lyme Art Colony Collection contains nearly 4,000 artifacts and archival documents, and 489 paintings that represent the work by over 100 American artists associated with the colony.  Rotating examples from this collection will be included throughout the Griswold House. 

The Scope of the Project

             The scope of the Griswold House Restoration included stabilization of the exterior features of the house and upgrades to its climate controls, electrical, lighting, and fire protection systems.  A new fireproof mechanical shed, built on the site of a historic carriage house, houses the environmental systems.  The climate control systems employ “green” geothermal technology that draws energy for cooling and heating from a series of deep wells on the riverfront property.  This system regulates temperature and relative humidity consistent with the preservation of the Museum’s collections housed within.

The refurnished interiors capture the timeworn charm of a staid family home turned into a boisterous communal living space.  Drawing upon varied sources that ranged from the memories of those who once stayed in the Griswold House to the scientific analysis of the building itself, researchers were able to accurately recreate the period paint colors and identify appropriate furnishings, including many pieces original to the House.  Custom wallpapers, carpets, and lighting fixtures have been faithfully reproduced from originals.  Particularly valuable to this process was visual evidence found in photographs and paintings by the artists who stayed there.  Using current digital technology the Museum was able to draw out and discern details that have guided the refurnishing.  

This project dramatically changes how the visitor interacts with the Griswold House and its surroundings.  Visitors can imagine “Miss Florence’s” gracious hospitality and the laughter and camaraderie of the artists in every room.  For the first time, visitors will see the House as the artists did, view a typical boarder’s accommodations, and be able to linger in the famous dining room, where the majority of the painted walls and doors are found.  A variety of innovative learning tools – from viewing an original film of the artists to adopting the role of a painter, boardinghouse proprietor, or domestic staff member – will illuminate several themes and stories surrounding the colony.  With the reopening of the Florence Griswold House, the Florence Griswold Museum captures the spirit of a country retreat for artists like never before.  Visitors walk in the actual landscapes that inspired the artists, view paintings of those landscapes, and experience first-hand the communal boardinghouse where the artists lived and worked.

A National Partnership of Supporters

More than any other project in the Museum’s history, the Florence Griswold House Restoration Project was made possible by a diverse consortium of funders.  On the federal level, project support was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, and Save America’s Treasures (administered by the National Park Service).  The State of Connecticut generously supported this project through the Department of Economic and Community Development.  In addition, the Connecticut Humanities Council, Connecticut Historical Commission, and Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism awarded project grants.  Grants were also received from the following foundations:  The Homeland Foundation; The Henry Luce Foundation; The Chilton Foundation; The 1772 Foundation; and the Xerox Foundation.  In addition, many individuals helped in the realization of this landmark project.     

The Florence Griswold Museum

Today, visitors to the Florence Griswold Museum immediately appreciate its appeal to the artists who once stayed with Miss Florence.  The Museum encompasses eleven acres along the Lieutenant River in Old Lyme, Connecticut.  In addition to the Florence Griswold House, the Museum features a modern riverfront gallery, education center, historic gardens, and a restored artist studio.  The Museum is open year round, Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 1 to 5pm.  Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and students, $4 for children 6 to 12, and free to children under 6.  The Museum is located at 96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, exit 70 off I-95.  For additional information contact the Florence Griswold Museum at 860/434-5542 or www.florencegriswoldmuseum.org.