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.

To live in a…read morelighthouse Latimer Reef Lighthouse is a 49 foot tall, brick lined, cast iron light that was build back in 1884. It is the oldest cast iron lighthouse that is still operational in the east and his area was so important and treacherous that reports indicate that the first small tower was place here back in 1804. This is a typical spark plug type of light that became popular at the time because of it's relatively inexpensive construction costs and durability. The light and surrounding reef was named after James Latimore, the revolutionary war hero. It originally had a 4th order Fresnel lens but the lens was moved to another lighthouse in Delaware when Latimer was modernized. In a bid to say money on maintenance costs the light recently went up for sale. Private bids that started at 10,000 were accepted. Sounds like a pretty cool idea to buy a lighthouse and my first thoughts were that it would make a great little place to entertain, relax and enjoy the water. However there is a catch and a rather big catch at that. The interior of the light of these spark plugs is actually tiny and Latimer will remain an active light. That means the lights stays on and the horn keeps blasting twice every 15 seconds day and night. The horn almost blows me off my kayak from hundred feet away so I suspect that actually being on the light isn't exactly relaxing. Plus the all maintenance must be keep up and paid for by the new owner and the light must keep all historically features. Not an insignificant cost but the light did finally sell for 225,000 dollars a short time ago. No word about why the new owner bought the light or what he or she is going to do with it. There are still several lights for sale in the area but the maintenance arrangements are the same. You aren't just buying the light, but also the responsibilities of maintaining it. Owning a lighthouse would be cool but for now it's enough just to admire them from a distance.

We visit the base to use the commissary and NEX. There is a submarine museum near here too, which…read moreis excellent, and in an area that does not require a military ID to access. First off, you do need a Military ID to get on base (every adult in the car) and again when trying to purchase items on base. To bring a guest on base stop at the visitor office next to the main gate. The base itself seems to have under gone some updates to road signs and basic curb appeal which is very nice for those who live and work here. The commissary and NEX are good sizes, include the expected items, (uniforms, national brands, etc.) and share a parking lot. Grab your shopping cart before entering. Baggers at the Commissary work for tips so bring a few dollars cash; they pack, carry your bags out and put them in your vehicle. NEX is two stories with a food court and restrooms near the entrance. Escalator, elevator and stairs available. Sporting goods, clothes, jewelry, cleaning supplies, H&B, liquor. All the stuff.

The police at the gate were extremely helpful. I had brought a service man back to the base and the…read moredirections I had brought me to the wrong gate. The officer that was checking ID's advised me where to and gave me directions as well as they were super efficient, and extremely kind. I always appreciate police, but in this instance, I double appreciate these gentlemen for not just their service as officers, but their service to our country as well. Thank you so very much!

Spotty is a painted dog on the side of Route 165. If you don't know it's there, it's tempting (and…read moreworth it) to turn around after doing a double take. The road is pretty quiet but with a higher speed limit. Spotty was originally painted in 1935 by Stanley Zigtorac.

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]

This overlook is located on 95 North right before the Mystic exit, exit 90. Theres about 6-8…read moreparking spots here. You can see Mystic Village from this overlook. Wouldn't make a special trip to see it but if you are driving by and have 3 minutes, then I would stop and check it out.

Outstanding opening with live artillery (Brown's Company) and flint-lock firings. This was all I…read moreaddition to some great docent work within the museum itself!! Please do not miss this gem of history moments from Route 395!

A MOST excellent tour today, Filled with fun facts, entertaining banter and our family…read morehistory--This Family of America was born here-- where our government developed, was fought for and ever evolving from--straight up from the floor boards....I enjoyed walking where Washington walked, -wondering whose DNA might still be on me right now---I remain amazed !!! Thank you--Cam and Greg for saving this treasure trove of American History!

Driving through downtown on Route 2 East, I saw this marker off to the side in a waterfront park…read moreand stopped to check it out. Howard Brown Park is very pretty, with a gazebo and awesome maritime scenery. The marker remembers Norwich's maritime heritage and its huge role in shipping and trading, leading CT to be an early advocate of establishing Colonial naval forces. The two-sided marker was dedicated in 1977, and is in pretty good condition.

This was a great history maker that was interesting to read about. I'm not from CT so it's fun to…read morelearn about the state's history. This spot is quiet, relaxing and looks over the harbor. There were lots of ducks and I spotted a look which was fun to watch dive into the water over and over again and see where he'd pop up in the water. I could have sat their all afternoon. The only negative thing was the amount of people smoking and littering alone the deck. It was frustrating that people did not care to take care of their own city. Overall, I loved it.

One of the few freebies you'll find in and around Mystic CT!…read moreHowever, Donations are suggested. You get to see the insides of naval ships without banging your shins or head on the bulkheads. There is a replica of the Turtle, from the Revolution. Imagine being in a large keg practically blind and deaf. Slowly moving forward to ram a mine into a ship and get away safely. You can be as immersive as you wish. There are people who can answer questions. Without sounding like every other review, I'll stop here. Go visit and see for yourself.

I visited the Submarine Force Library and Museum with my husband and some friends when we were…read morevisiting Connecticut over the Fourth of July weekend a week or so ago. It is the only submarine museum managed exclusively by the Naval History & Heritage Command division of the Navy and is therefore a repository of many historical artifacts. The main attraction of the museum is probably the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine and the first submarine to complete a submerged transit of the North Pole (in 1958). The submarine was launched in 1954 by Mamie Eisenhower. It was decommissioned in 1980 and has preserved at the museum since 1986 (she underwent preservation in 2002). You can walk onto the USS Nautilus and explore it in a self-guided tour. The museum building houses a permanent collection and permanent exhibits that include some of the museum's 33,000 artifacts. It has a replica of David Bushnell's Turtle (built in 1775 and considered the first submarine used in combat), midget submarines used in WWII, working periscopes, a submarine control room, and more. I was able to find the submarine my grandfather served on in WWII on their wall listing US Navy submarines. The museum was really great. Definitely worthwhile if you're in Groton/Mystic - even if you think you're not interested in submarines or naval history. I think the museum and its artifacts will win you over. And it's free to visit to boot.

I have not been to the library for a decade. I came by with my teenage son. He is very picky about…read morebooks and needed to write a Senior essay for school. He has ADHD so it's very challenging for him to read and remain focused. The two librarian were so impressively patient and knowledgeable. They worked hard with him to pick his interest. They managed to find him two great books. And I walked out with a new library card and new book. I'm so excited to start reading again.

A whole bunch of…read more Bills The history of the Ledyard, CT area is filled with Bills. Not only is this library named the Bill Library but another Bill Library is in the nearby town of Groton. All these Bills makes the history a bit confusing. The beginning of the Ledyard Bill Library actually started in 1878 when a fellow named Ledyard Bill decided that a Civil War monument would look nice in town. So he got together some money and erected a nineteen foot high obelisk and stuck it on a little plot of ground near the town center. Ledyard's brother Henry Bill liked the monument so much that figured that a library would look nice in front of it so he donated the money to have one built. The obelisk now stands behind the library. The library today is quaint, pleasant and pretty impressive for such a small town. Like most small town libraries everyone is friendly and the library has lots of programs and demonstrations. The other Bill library in Groton was donated by Frederick Bill in memory of his two sisters and curiously also has an obelisk in the back of it. The Bill Library is a nice part of the town's history. It's pretty cool that what started out as an obelisk turned into a library.