The Florence Griswold Museum’s holdings include iconic examples of American Impressionism by artists drawn to the picturesque town of Old Lyme and its surrounding landscape. They include some of the most prominent American artists of the early 20th century, many of whom contributed a painted panel to the interior of Miss Florence Griswold’s boardinghouse as a mark of distinction among their peers. The historic house today is furnished with a selection of fine and decorative arts from the collections.

In 2002, the Museum’s collections were transformed by a monumental gift of 190 paintings and sculptures from The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. This landmark donation included colonial paintings by Ralph Earl and Ammi Phillips, landscapes by Hudson River School masters Thomas Cole and Frederic E. Church, and beloved Impressionist views by Childe Hassam, Matilda Browne, Willard Metcalf, and John Henry Twachtman.

The Museum’s collections continue to grow with recent acquisitions highlighting modern and contemporary artists working in or connected to Connecticut. These include works by Joseph and Anni Albers, Sol LeWitt, Walker Evans, and others who transformed American art in the 20th century and continue to do so today.