Essex, Connecticut is a small harbor town where all roads lead to the Town Dock and the Connecticut River Museum, which was once a historic 1878 warehouse.
June 13, 1776, the ship Oliver Cromwell, built by Uriah Hayden, was launched in Essex. The ship was one of the largest full-rigged ships built for the state.
The Griswold Inn, fondly known as “The Gris,” is one of the oldest continuously operated inns in the country, we opened our doors for business in 1776. On Main Street, village shops and early Colonial and Federal-era homes can be seen side by side with a red, white and blue stripe down the center of the street. Essex is so adorable and was named the “Perfect Small American Town” in 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.
