Mystic River Historical Society

Welcome to the Mystic River Historical Society.

MRHS is located in Mystic, Connecticut, centered around the famous Mystic Bridge which has connected the towns of Groton and Stonington for nearly 200 years. We are some 300 strong and have been dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of the greater Mystic area since 1973. We’re a totally volunteer organization offering a wide variety of opportunities for those who are willing and able to contribute time and energy.

Founded in 1973, the Mystic River Historical Society is 50 years old this year.  Several activities are being planned to celebrate this milestone.  These include participation in this year’s Mystic Irish Parade on March 19 and a birthday social on September 24.  Other activities are in the works.  Keep an eye on this space for more information.

As the culmination to this past year’s celebration of the 100^th anniversary of the Mystic drawbridge, the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce has published a hard cover book, “Walk Your Horses, The Story of the Mystic River Bridge.”  Mystic River Historical Society board members Elizabeth Boucher and Marilyn Comrie authored this 104-page “coffee table book.”

It features 25 stories about the bridge, including a timeline showing how the bridges in Mystic have evolved to meet the needs of the village.  A section of the book highlights with photos all the bridge’s 100^th birthday activities this past year.  The book can be purchased at the Chamber’s Bascule Bridge Visitors Center on the east (Stonington) side of the bridge, just in time for holiday gift giving.  The Visitor Center is open daily from 11am to 5pm.  The book can also be ordered on line through the Mystic Chamber of Commerce website.   Note  that the 56-page souvenir booklet, “Centennial Celebration of the Mystic Bascule Bridge,” is still available for purchase, too.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MRHS ARCHIVES

When you join MRHS, you become part of an active organization that welcomes your involvement.

Benefits include:

– Free speaker programs (October, December, February, March, April, and May)
– Access to MRHS archives, including thousands of documents, photographs, books and maps
– Five bi-monthly newsletters with news of MRHS activities and articles of interest

Your membership supports the on-going preservation of our collection and our property. It also makes available to the public lectures on topics of historic interest. To join, visit our membership page.

Please note that MRHS has no affiliation with the Town of Groton’s Historic District Commission, and does not regulate any building projects.