Essex, Connecticut · Founded 1776 · Building: 1776 origin; later additions and relocated structures
A 1776 Essex inn whose Revolutionary-era tavern grew into a layered riverside complex still run by the Paul family.
The Griswold Inn traces its beginning to Sala Griswold's 1776 tavern near the Connecticut River wharves in Essex. Historical accounts link the business to the shipbuilding activity surrounding the Oliver Cromwell, and preservation sources say British forces occupied or commandeered the inn during the April 1814 Raid on Essex. The present property is a historic complex shaped by additions and relocated structures over time.
Sala Griswold establishes a tavern near Essex's river wharves as shipbuilding activity for the Oliver Cromwell brings workers and visitors to the area.
Source: Historic Hotels of America, "The Griswold Inn" history; Griswold Inn, "About Us"
The Oliver Cromwell is launched, according to the Griswold Inn's historical account.
Source: Griswold Inn, "About Us"
The Essex schoolhouse is moved down Main Street to the inn property and becomes associated with the inn and Tap Room complex.
Source: National Trust for Historic Preservation, "The Tap Room at the Griswold Inn in Essex, Connecticut," December 29, 2016
During the Raid on Essex, historical accounts report that British mariners occupied or commandeered the local inn/tavern while privateer vessels in the harbor were destroyed.
Source: Historic Hotels of America, "The Griswold Inn"; National Trust for Historic Preservation, "The Tap Room at the Griswold Inn in Essex, Connecticut"
The Paul family purchases the Griswold Inn and begins its current period of family ownership and operation.
Source: Town of Essex, "The Historic Griswold Inn"; Clio, "Griswold Inn"
The inn marks 250 years since its 1776 opening.
Source: Connecticut Office of Tourism, "Griswold Inn"; News 12 Connecticut, May 21, 2026
Every claim gets rated. A business's own website can never earn "documented."
Connecticut tourism, the Town of Essex, News 12 Connecticut and Historic Hotels of America all describe the inn as continuously operating since 1776. The candidate's claimed supporting land, tax and licensing records were not located in this review, so uninterrupted operation is not rated documented.
Historic Hotels of America and the inn's own historical account link Sala Griswold's 1776 tavern to the increased need for food, drink and lodging generated by the Oliver Cromwell project. The relationship is well-supported in historical summaries, although a primary-era tavern account was not reviewed here.
Historic Hotels of America, Atlas Obscura and the National Trust say British mariners occupied or commandeered the inn during the April 8, 1814 raid. A New England travel account uses the name Bushnell Tavern for the site, so the exact naming and command-role details should not be overstated without primary military or local records.
Historic Hotels of America states that structures were added to the grounds after the original inn, and the National Trust documents the 1801 relocation of the Essex schoolhouse to the property. The current property should therefore not be described as a single, unchanged 1776 building.
The Town of Essex states that the Paul family has owned and operated the inn for 30 years, and News 12 Connecticut reported in 2026 that the family had owned and operated it for more than 30 years while quoting co-owner Joan Paul.
The entire current Griswold Inn was built in 1776.
The inn originated in 1776, but the present property includes structures added or moved later. The National Trust reports that the Essex schoolhouse was moved to the inn property in 1801.
Source: Historic Hotels of America, "The Griswold Inn"; National Trust for Historic Preservation, "The Tap Room at the Griswold Inn in Essex, Connecticut," December 29, 2016
The current Tap Room was a 1735 schoolhouse that was simply integrated into the inn complex.
The reviewed preservation source documents the Essex schoolhouse being moved to the inn property in 1801. It does not support the candidate's specific 1735 date or its unqualified identification as the current Tap Room structure.
Source: National Trust for Historic Preservation, "The Tap Room at the Griswold Inn in Essex, Connecticut," December 29, 2016
British records conclusively establish the Griswold Inn as formal headquarters during the 1814 raid.
Several later historical accounts say British forces occupied or commandeered the inn, but the sources reviewed do not establish the candidate's claimed military-dispatch and eyewitness proof of formal headquarters. One account uses the historical name Bushnell Tavern.
Source: Historic Hotels of America, "The Griswold Inn"; New England, "The Griswold Inn | Local Flavor," August 4, 2016
The inn's longevity rests on continued hospitality use, its location in Essex's historic river village, and long-term family stewardship. The Paul family has owned and operated the Griswold Inn since 1995, maintaining lodging, dining and tavern operations while treating the evolving property as a historic destination.
The Griswold Inn traces its founding to 1776, when Sala Griswold opened a tavern near the Essex river wharves. Historic Hotels of America and the inn's history connect the opening to shipbuilding activity for the Oliver Cromwell.
The Griswold Inn is widely described by Connecticut tourism, the Town of Essex and Historic Hotels of America as one of the nation's oldest continuously operating inns. Those sources support its 1776 origin and long operation, but this review did not locate a comparative national registry or a complete primary-record audit proving every period of uninterrupted service.
Several historical and preservation accounts say British mariners occupied or commandeered the inn during the April 8, 1814 Raid on Essex, when privateer vessels in the harbor were burned. The exact name and command function of the occupied tavern vary among later accounts, so the event should not be described as a fully established military-headquarters record without primary documentation.
No. The inn's original 1776 structure is central to its history, but the present property is a complex shaped by later additions and relocated buildings. The National Trust reports that the Essex schoolhouse was moved to the inn property in 1801.
The Griswold Inn is owned and operated by the Paul family. The Town of Essex says the family has held the inn for 30 years, and News 12 Connecticut quoted innkeeper and co-owner Joan Paul during the inn's 250th-year celebration in 2026.
36 Main St, Essex, CT 06426
(860) 767-1776
Check the inn's current lodging, dining and music schedules before visiting; Connecticut tourism reports holiday-related closures for some dining spaces.