A Museum, Library, & Exhibit Gallery
The Old Mystic History Center (formerly the Indian and Colonial Research Center) is a non-profit organization founded in 1965 to preserve the historical research of Eva Lutz Butler.
She was a woman who was passionate about history at a time when a woman's place was NOT leading archaeological digs, conducting anthropological interviews, or writing academic articles.
Are you passionate about history too? Our special research collections will help you find your roots and learn about your history.
In addition, we have accurate information for academic researchers, educators, archaeologists, students, and others to help you add to your story. We are a museum, library, and exhibit gallery located in the historic 1856 Mystic Bank building on Route 27 in Old Mystic, Connecticut.
Westerly History Fair
On Saturday, October 25th, thanks to the efforts of Marcus Marron, Deb Keehn, and Steve Chapman, the Old Mystic History Center participated in the regional history fair in nearby Westerly, Rhode Island. Sponsored by the Westerly Historical Society, the event hosted forty-five regional museums and historical societies, offering an opportunity for the public to learn about organizations that preserve and promote local history. [Photos: Marcus Maronn and Westerly Historical Society Facebook. Video: Deb Keehn]
Memorial Cobblestones
From 1998, this newspaper clipping from The New London Day highlights the installation of cobblestones leading to the entrance of the Indian and Colonial Research Center—now known as the Old Mystic History Center. Each cobblestone was sponsored by a donor at $5.00 apiece, with donor names displayed in a case in front of the Center.
Continuing the Legacy
For more than thirty years, members of the Indian & Colonial Research Center's Board of Directors have discussed updating the identity of the Center.
In January 2020, after a two-year deliberative process, the Board made the decision to rebrand the “Indian & Colonial Research Center” with the “Old Mystic History Center” to reflect the growth in our collections. Over the past 50 years, our archival collection has expanded to include many fine manuscripts, publications, photographs, and physical objects connected to the rich and varied history of our area.
While Indigenous and colonial materials are still a large part of our collection’s strengths, our responsibility as the governing board is to care for and promote all the items under our stewardship. We need our research center to maintain relevance, visibility, and viability in the changing world of the 21st Century. The change in our name attempts to address these issues in a realistic community-centered way.
