The original of this 1879 Riverboat Sign, measuring 11 x 13.75,” hangs in the Essex Room of The Griswold Inn. Photography by Ellen McDermott, NYC.

This sepia photograph, by an unknown photographer, was taken in 1865 and is now hanging in the Covered Bridge Room at The Griswold Inn.The first three-story structure of Connecticut, it is the oldest continuously operating Inn in the United States.

An 8 x 10 digital print of the 1930 oil on canvas by Neal MacEachern which greets visitors from near and far from its spot above the fireplace at The Griswold Inn. Original painting is oil on canvas, 25" x 31 1/2".

This is an 8 x 10 reprint of an 1867 Currier & Ives original lithograph. After joining forces in 1857, they would soon become the most successful lithographs company in the U.S. until its dissolution in 1907.

This is a reprint of an 1866 Currier & Ives original lithograph. After joining forces in 1857 they would soon become the most successful Lithographs company in the U.S. until its dissolve in 1907.

This hand-colored lithograph is among Nathaniel Currier's Sailor series, a period of independent work before forming the now famous Currier & Ives. This is a digital print of the original that hangs with a companion piece in the lobby of The Griswold Inn.

Birds Eye view of Essex, CT from 1881 by artist Oakley-Hoops Bailey. View includes the villages of Centerbrook and Ivoryton as well as Essex Village. High quality 11" X 14" digital reproduction of original lithograph courtesy of The Connecticut Historical Society Museum.

This 11 x 14 print of a pencil and charcoal study for the final oil painting River Pilot is one of three known studies done by Norman Rockwell before completing the final painting in 1940. This rare Rockwell example hangs in The Griswold Inn Wine Bar.

A major change in steamboat design resulted in the introduction of the first propeller driven steamers built expressly for the Connecticut River Run. The Hartford was built in 1892 followed by the Middletown in 1896. The two steamers ran together for three season before the Hartford was sold to the government for use in the war with Spain. Painted in 1915, the oil on canvas measures 20" x 36".

Built at the peak of the steamboat industry's "good times" The Connecticut was launched by the Stonington Steam Ship Company along with Providence, and Massachusetts; designed to compete with the Fall Rivers Line Pilgrim and Puritan. Individually and collectively, these ships represented the biggest, best and most innovated among steamboat art and technology. The original oil on canvas painting is 30" x 50" and is prominently displayed in the Wine Bar at the Griswold Inn.

A major change in steamboat design resulted in the introduction of the first propeller driven steamers built expressly for the Connecticut River run. The Middletown was a twin- screw steamer built in 1896 and ran together with the Harford for three seasons. The Hartford was sold to the government for use in the war with Spain and the Middletown remained in operation for 35 years. The original oil on board, 20"x36" painting by Antonio Jacobsen from 1915 hangs with the Hartford in the "Library Room" in the Griswold Inn.

The Challenge was a 2,000 ton clipper ship built for speed and capacity, and was the largest and fastest American ship in the mid 1800s. Brothers Nathaniel Lynde Griswold and George Griswold, founded the N.L. & G. Griswold Company to import sugar & rum from the Caribbean on clipper ships. They later expanded to China Trade, capturing a large share of the 19th century tea market. Painted in Hong Kong harbor c.1860 and flying the Griswold House checked flag, the original oil on canvas measures 18" x 23".

A prominent NY fashion/advertising illustrator, Ericson as a Griswold guest, signed this drawing for Innkeeper Arthur Lovell placed at far right of the bar. Also depicted the well-remembered waiter "Major" and the artist himself to immediate left.