625 Williams Street
New London, CT 06320
(860) 443-2545
http://www.lymanallyn.org/
Lyman Allyn is a full service museum featuring a wide range of changing exhibitions in many different media throughout the year. A few examples of past exhibitions include, From the Distaff Side: Early Artistic Expression of American Women; Award-Winning New England Painters; Rain of Talent: Umbrella Art; and This Wondrous World: Children's Book Illustration by New England Artists.
A full calendar of fun and educational family activities includes art classes for children and adults, special events, lectures, and more.
Families can tour the exhibits on their own, and a special Adult Group Tour includes American paintings and decorative arts, antiquities, Medieval - Renaissance and African and Asian Galleries. Another tour features Connecticut Impressionism, showcasing the works of artists such as Willard Metcalf, William Chadwick, Guy Wiggins, and other greats. Adult tours are also recommended for high school and college students.
Great School Group Tours include Who's Who at the Lyman Allyn Zoo (elementary grades): an alphabetical safari throughout the Museum, where children hunt for a Greek Octopus, a Mexican frog and more, and then participate in a hands-on art activity; The Face in the Art (elementary and middle grades): students go on a scavenger hunt, write a fictional biography, and draw a portrait; and Masks (elementary and middle grades): where students learn about ritual masks throughout the world and then design their own. Great stuff. Others are available, and teachers should call for details.
This is a great place, and if you're traveling far to visit is easy to combine with the nearby USS Nautilus and other fine institutions. Mystic is only about a half hour farther.
Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 1 - 5pm. Closed Mondays and major holidays.
Admission: Adults $5.00, Students & Seniors $4.00, Children under 8 FREE. Call for group pricing.Reservations: At least 4 weeks in advance.
Lunch: Bagged lunch may be eaten indoors or out.
Group Reservations: Call.
Handicapped: Accessible.
Directions: I-95 North (New England Thruway) to exit 83. Left at light onto Williams St. Go through next light and across overpass. Museum entrance is second driveway on right.
Time: 2½ hours from the George Washington Bridge.
Nearby: Mystic Seaport , Mystic Marinelife Aquarium , USS Nautilus , United States Coast Guard Academy .