Fort Saybrook was built in 1635 to protect the settlers here from attacks by the warlike Pequot peoples who, unlike the other "River Indians" did not accept the coming of Europeans.

In 1633 a Pequot raiding party killed nine English settlers, which spurred the English to declare war on the Pequots, who were eventually driven from their main camp at Groton.

If you drive to Old Saybrook today, follow signs reading Shore Points through the town and they'll lead you to Saybrook Point and the fort, in a small park on the left side of the road as you approach the shore.

Old Saybrook also has an Amtrak train station north of the town. (Here's information on Connecticut shoreline trains.)

Beyond the point, a long causeway leads southwest across the water to Fenwick, where actress Katharine Hepburn once lived.

Across the mouth of the Connecticut River, on the east bank, is the Great Island Wildlife Area and, northeast of it, the beautiful town and art colony of Old Lyme.

To get to Old Lyme, you will have to leave the tranquillity of Old Saybrook and climb back onto I-95 eastbound and take the first exit after the bridge over the river.

To go north to Essex, Ivoryton and other Connecticut River towns, just slip under I-95 and follow CT 9.

---

Old Lyme

Essex

Ivoryton

Hadlyme

East Haddam

Chester

Connecticut River Homepage