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.
Stone Ridge Volunteer Fair
On August 25th, Old Mystic History Center Board of Director members Bob Mohr and Sharon Maynard attended the Volunteer Fair at Stone Ridge Active Retirement Living Center. It was a great opportunity to reach out and talk to residents about volunteering at the OMHC. It was also a chance to promote our Old Mystic Oral History Project and the many research resources that OMHC has to offer.
Come See Our Exhibit at the Otis Library -- LAST FEW DAYS
An exhibit showcasing the Old Mystic History Center's manuscript, map, and artifact collections will be at the Otis Library in Norwich, Connecticut, through the month of August. Stop by to see just some of the materials available for research found at the Center.
Also highlighted is the Old Mystic Oral History Project. If you know anyone who is interested in contributing to our oral history collection, please let us know. We are also accepting photographs, video recordings, and other ways of documenting the greater Old Mystic community over time.
The Otis Library is located at 261 Main Street in Norwich, Ct. 06360. Please visit the Otis Library website for hours of operation: Otis Library - Norwich (otislibrarynorwich.org)
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.
