Arts & Culture
Old Lyme Celebrates America 250
Old Lyme's America 250 Countdown celebrates America's semiquincentennial birthday,
the town's own history, and those who have lived in Old Lyme, both past and present.
We will be sharing here upcoming festivities, lectures, and walking tours
related to the Town's America 250 celebration.
We will also be celebrating the heritage of Old Lyme's townspeople today, and hope all will participate.
To learn more about and perhaps join Old Lyme's America 250 Committee, see the Town webpage.
Enjoy our feature stories written by local historians below.
Did you know in 1776 Old Lyme was part of a larger town simply known as 'Lyme?' During the time of the Revolutionary War, Lyme included Old Lyme, Salem, and East Lyme, in addition to what we know today as the Town of Lyme. Read more about how these four "ecclesiastical societies" broke off into separate towns in the 1800s in "Evolution of a Place Name."
Ezra Stiles, Map of Lyme Parishes. 1768. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University
Read our feature story "Lymes' Militia Men Answer the Call to Arms," about the men who heeded the call and marched from the Lymes to Lexington at the start of the Revolution. See a larger view of the full list of men raised on the first call for troops in April and May 1775. You may recognize a few names from the Sixth Regiment!
Read about about one woman's research to learn more about her ancestor Stephen Otis, one of the Lyme men who answered the Lexington Call to Arms.
Read an 1907 edition of Paul Revere's Ride Together with Revere's Own Account online in this Google Book.
Who was Israel Bissell, the courier who brought the Lexington Call to Arms to Lyme? Learn more about this patriotic postal express rider who traveled by horse at incredible speed to share the alarm.
Old Lyme participated in the April 18, 2025 "Two Lights for Tomorrow." See how we commemorated the anniversary.
Learn more about our local trailblazers and history
Lymes' Militia Men Answer the Call to Arms: April 1775
TO ARMS! TO ARMS! THE WAR HAS BEGUN!
So was the cry brought to our Post Road in 1775 by Minuteman Israel Bissell as he rode from Watertown, Massachusetts to New York City, informing patriots along his route that British had fired upon American militia men at Lexington, and battle was engaged. The Revolution had begun.
Welcome to Old Lyme
Welcome to Old Lyme, a small, historic town on the Connecticut coastline. We are known for our art galleries and beaches, and have so much more. Whether you are thinking about relocating your home or business here, or just looking to visit for the afternoon, welcome! We are glad to have you.