While the town of Groton in Connecticut wins no prizes for either the most descriptive or the most attractive sounding place name, its location just east of the end of Long Island and between the Thames and Mystic rivers assures it some pleasant scenery, while its status as the largest municipality between New Haven and the cities around Providence ensures that it has plenty to offer in the way of modern urban amenities.
With a population of just over 40,000, Groton is still way behind other burgeoning locations in the state such as Danbury, whose permanent resident figures run double that. This fact, however, ensures that the town retains its charm and distinctly informal ambiance, assets considered attractive to outside visitors. Groton gets its name on the map for being the home of the Electric Boat Corporation, the company responsible for providing the majority of the US Navy’s submarine maintenance. Pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer, also has a significant base of operations in Groton.
The town is home to a number of interesting attractions of a historical nature including Fort Griswold, the Historic Ship Nautilus and Submarine Force Museum and the Mystic River Historical Society.
Highlights
Fort Griswald: visitors are permitted access to this 18th century defensive structure, which has retained most of its original architectural features.
Historic Ship Nautilus: offers an insight into the lives of the men who braved the ocean in their mighty steel vessels during various military conflicts.
Mystic Aquarium/Institute for Exploration: get up close and personal with a variety of fascinating fish, crustaceans and marine mammals at this popular aquarium facility.
Jabez Smith House: this 18th century colonial farmhouse remains pretty much in its original state on the outside while inside it features a collection of authentic 18th and 19th century antiques.
US Naval Submarine Base: as exciting as this base may sound, the headquarters for the North Atlantic fleet is essentially an unattractive place but the interesting Submarine Force Museum next door makes up for this.