We did it together!
Thank you for making your history a part of ours. We couldn’t have reached this remarkable legacy
without your support!
Check back as details continue to develop.
The Birthday Weekend at a Glance
Friday, June 5, 5pm
The weekend begins with the sounds and spirit of the Revolutionary era. Guests may enjoy:
- Fife & drum performances welcoming the celebration
- Engaging with George + Martha Washington
- Revolutionary Ale, a complimentary rum tasting, and other featured beverages of the day
- 1776-inspired fare in the Tap Room
- Sea chanteys as featured evening entertainment
- In our Wine Bar & Bistro: A special menu addition – a culinary nod to our colonial heritage with a contemporary twist
- In our Wine Bar & Bistro: “historic” wine flights, including Madeira, much enjoyed by the Founding Fathers
Saturday, June 6, 5-8pm
Courses in History Dinner Party
This special celebration takes place in our Covered Bridge Dining Room.
Advance reservations/ticket purchase required for attendance.
- In our Wine Bar & Bistro: A special menu addition – a culinary nod to our colonial heritage with a contemporary twist
- In our Wine Bar & Bistro: “historic” wine flights, including Madeira, much enjoyed by the Founding Fathers
Sunday, June 7
We close out the weekend with more nods to the Inn’s layered past including:
- Hunt Brunch, 11am – 1pm commemorating a tradition inspired by a brief but significant historical event during the British Raid on Essex in 1814
- Steeped in History: An Author’s Tea with Julie Gerstenblatt, 3:30 – 5pm. The event is an opportunity for an early look at Gerstenblatt’s upcoming historical novel, Stargazers of Nantucket, before it’s official release date to the general public.
Sunday, June 25 – July 26
The Spirit of 1776: Stay & Play – a creative collaboration with the Ivoryton Playhouse.
July 4th, 5pm
The Sailing Masters of 1812 will set the tone for a festive evening at The Gris. Details to follow soon!
An American Story of Perseverance: The Griswold Inn Turns 250
Fife & Drums, Founding Fathers, Candlelit “Courses in History” Dinner, Sea Chanteys, and The Spirit of 1776 Stay & Play Theatre Experience
Dateline, 2026! We’re marking our 250th birthday alongside the nation! Recognized as one of the country’s oldest continuously operating inns and having remained in operation through war, economic downturns, and centuries of change we’ll celebrate the milestone with a marquee Birthday Weekend in June, bringing the spirit of the Revolutionary era vividly to life. Guests can enjoy fife and drum performances, Founding Father reenactors, candlelit colonial dining, sea chanteys, and more. Later in the month, the Inn will roll out The Spirit of 1776: Stay & Play theatre experience in partnership with Ivoryton Playhouse.
“There are few places in America where you can step into history and really feel it around you,” says Joan Paul, co-owner of The Griswold Inn. “Our 250th anniversary is a tribute to the people who have shaped this Inn, from seafarers and soldiers to loyal patrons, and a year-long invitation to celebrate and experience history firsthand.”
2026 Anniversary Highlights
Art Tours, March – October
Currently scheduled for March 8, March 29, and April 19, with additional dates to be announced.
Home to the largest privately held marine art collection in the country, The Griswold Inn will offer guided Art Tours highlighting museum-quality pieces and artifacts amassed over generations. Led by co-owner and innkeeper Geoffrey Paul, these free tours invite the public to explore the history and stories behind the Inn’s remarkable collection.
Gris 250 Birthday Weekend: “A Taste for History”
Put together one paragraph…
Friday, June 5 – Sunday, June 7
Step into 1776 as The Griswold Inn comes alive for its signature birthday celebration with the Sailing Masters of 1812 Fife & Drum Corps welcoming guests.
Friday Evening – Historic 1738 Tap Room
A special Tavern Night featuring Revolutionary Ale, branded 1776 burgers, rum concoctions, and other favored beverages from the day with The Jovial Crew entertaining with their popular Sea Chanteys.
The Gris Wine Bar will offer elegant pairings with historic wines such as Madeira—the drink favored by Thomas Jefferson and other Founding Fathers during the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Actors portraying historic figures may be seated right alongside guests.
Saturday Evening – Colonial-Style, Candlelit Dinner
A colonial-style, candlelit “Courses in History” Dinner Party in the historic Covered Bridge dining room, featuring live music from Orchestra New England, a show-stopping birthday cake, and appearances by historic figures such as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, and George and Martha Washington.
(Ticketed event – link) Need link
Sunday Morning (TBD)
The return of the classic Hunt Breakfast, which commemorates the British Raid on Essex (April 7–8, 1814), marking a pivotal moment in the town’s history. The British commandeered the Inn for a period of 24 hours or less, demanding a “Hunt Breakfast” that acknowledged the British tradition of such a meal before the hunt.
The event will feature traditional fare alongside immersive programming, including walking history tours and a possible book talk with local historian Chris Pagliuco (TBD).
Sunday Afternoon
Tea, cake, and storytelling with George Washington and other historic characters, complemented by a special literary or historical program.
Summer 2026 & Beyond
The Connecticut Sea Music Festival, June 12-15
A traditional maritime folk festival celebrating the region’s seafaring heritage, presented in partnership with the town of Essex and local venues. Daytime events are free with donations accepted, while evening concerts are ticketed. After performances each evening, there will be pub songs in the Tap Room.
Founding Fathers Celebration, July 4
Experience Essex’s Independence Day festivities, anchored by The Griswold Inn and the Connecticut River Museum. Highlights include a special scavenger hunt, museum exhibits opening at noon, a dazzling boat parade at 2 p.m., cannon fire, and a culinary nod to the colonial era in the The Griswold Inn’s Covered Bridge historic dining room with reenactors once again roaming about.
The Spirit of 1776: Stay & Play, Thursday, June 25 – Sunday, July 26
In celebration of its 250th Birthday, The Griswold Inn partners with the Ivoryton Playhouse to offer a special hotel/theater package – The Spirit of 1776: Stay & Play – built around the classic musical 1776. The experience includes two preferred-seating tickets to 1776, an overnight stay at The Griswold Inn, continental breakfast for two, and a commemorative keepsake. Packages are available for select performances from June 25 through July 26, 2026, with weekday overnight stays starting at $350 and Friday or Saturday stays at $385. For reservations or additional information, please visit griswoldinn.com or call the Inn at 860.767.1776.
Share Your Griswold Inn Story
The Inn recently launched a #GRIS250ShareYourStories campaign, inviting guests to share personal narratives, photos, and memories that capture the spirit of The Gris across centuries. Submit your story, whether a few sentences to a page, along with any photos, to The Griswold Inn via email: stories@griswoldinn.com.
About The Griswold Inn
A member of Historic Hotels of America, The Griswold Inn, located in the heart of the historic seaport village of Essex, Connecticut, first opened its doors for business in 1776 promising “First Class Accommodations, Fine Food and Spirits.” Two hundred and fifty years later, the Inn still lives up to that promise. Now owned and operated by The Paul Family for over 30 years, The Griswold Inn is at the forefront of historic inns and is one of the most popular destinations in Connecticut. Easily accessible by land and sea, it caters to neighbors, yachtsman and overland travelers from all around the world.
To learn more about this historic property, please visit griswoldinn.com.
The Griswold Inn, 36 Main Street, Essex, Connecticut, 860.767.1776, griswoldinn.com
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2026 is a very big year. We are here to celebrate along with the rest of the country America 250. But we too have a very special “personal” celebration. We would be remiss, in this oh so challenging time, to overlook a “celebration” of sorts. Yes – we said it – a celebration. Although we are currently operating in unprecedented times over the course of our tenure, we want to take a minute to acknowledge and celebrate some of the accomplishments and milestones in this period.
It’s hard for us to believe but… This month marks 30 years of stewardship of The Griswold Inn. Little did we know when we “signed on” to this responsibility those many years ago, that there would be some significant challenges along the way. But – that’s not what we want to focus on now. We want to celebrate the fact that WE ARE STILL HERE! We made it to a quarter of a century!
We take the responsibility of preserving this piece of history – now 244 years in continuous operation and counting – ! – very seriously. Under our watch we’ve tried to achieve the balance between conserving the best of the “old” while continuing to operate very much in the present, keeping relevant in this 21st century. It’s a delicate dance. Over our course we’ve renovated, innovated, re-imagined and now, we’ve “pivoted”. We’ve undertaken extensive renovations to our guest accommodations and our campus; added new dimensions and experiences to The Gris like our Wine Bar which celebrated 15 years this past May; our retail operation Goods & Curiosities ~ The Griswold Inn Store, marking its 10-year anniversary also in May of this year; popular ongoing events like Wine, Women & Wednesdays, our Wine Series and Art Tours; re-imagining ‘The Terrace’ to offer another dining venue during the pandemic; and continuing – and hopefully always improving upon – all of the many traditions, like our December festivities, that make The Gris – The Gris!!!
All modesty aside, we have received literally hundreds of accolades and awards over our time at the helm, all very much appreciated. But, at the risk of sounding sappy or disingenuous, none of those “Best ofs” or favorable reviews have been more important than hearing from each one of you, sharing your experience and what The Gris has meant to you and/or your family – whether in person, by US Post, e-mail, review sites… All of it. THIS is why we continue to do what we do. It’s not always easy, and boy are we being tested right now, but it is ALWAYS worthwhile. Truly.
It’s the people that make this place come alive, that give it spirit, and a beautiful sense of place – both in the community and in the wider world. And for that we are grateful! People from all over the globe have experienced The Gris and a great number share with us their special connection to this place, its ability to connect deeply after even one experience. For so very many The Gris has been a constant in their lives, playing an important and changing role throughout the years, a gathering spot for family and friends and a backdrop for life’s special markers and milestones. Whether it’s a lively night of Sea Shanties in the Tap Room with the remarkable Cliff Haslam and his Jovial Crew, a celebratory meal in one of our Historic Dining Rooms, a weekend spent with us and exploring the town in which we are so fortunate to be located… We THANK YOU ALL for making your history a part of ours.
Finally, though certainly not least, we acknowledge the myriad of players on our team, both past and present. We’re fortunate to have worked with so many dedicated team members who have contributed to the “long-term success” and vitality of The Gris in important ways over the years and who continue to do so today.
We could write a book! But for now…
With Immense Gratitude,
The Paul Family
