Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park in Groton

Fort Griswold was completed in 1775 and became the site of the largest Revolutionary War battle in Connecticut. On September 6, 1781, British forces commanded by Benedict Arnold captured the fort. Of the 165 American patriots stationed there, 88 were killed, including their commander, Colonel Ledyard.

The battle is also known as the Battle of Groton Heights. The Groton Monument’s marble memorial plaque bears the names of defenders who fell in the battle. Connecticut designated the grounds as its 60th state park in 1953, and the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 6, 1970.

Preservation is part of the site’s continuing story. People interested in Fort Griswold formed a nonprofit in October 1994 to help preserve and maintain its history; the Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park Foundation, Inc. was incorporated on May 3, 1995, to raise funds for the historic site.

Today, the Friends of Fort Griswold work with Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to preserve, restore, maintain and promote the park’s earthworks, buildings and grounds.

The foundation’s ongoing work includes beautification, small repairs, school tours, education programs, a junior docent program and the preservation of historical documents.

Its archive describes the Battle of Groton Heights commemoration as an anniversary event held in September, near the September 6 battle anniversary. The broader program has also included tours, history presentations, music and community open houses, with individual programs varying.

Start with the original fort ramparts, which preserve the outline of the defensive works. A granite outline marks where the fort’s original barracks stood in 1781. Rather than climbing on the earthworks for a view, use the viewing platform built to help protect them. Interpretive signs there help you orient yourself to landmarks within the fort.

The grounds also include the restored Ebenezer Avery House, the Groton Monument and a Revolutionary War museum. From the park, you can see the harbor and Fort Trumbull across the Thames River.

The Ebenezer Avery House is listed at 0.0 miles from the park; the U.S. Submarine World War II Veteran’s Memorial (East) is 0.1 miles away, and Avery-Copp House is 0.2 miles away.

The Groton Monument was built between 1826 and 1830. It stands 135 feet tall and has 166 steps. Its marble plaque names defenders who fell during the Battle of Groton Heights.

The nearby Monument House Museum was built in 1830 as the monument caretaker’s house. The local Daughters of the American Revolution began meeting there in 1894 and added the Memorial Annex in 1906.

Inside the Monument House Museum, exhibits cover the battle and other periods of Groton history. They include a battle painting and a model showing how the fort looked on September 6, 1781.

A digital kiosk offers content created and updated by volunteers. You can pair the battlefield with a visit to Bluff Point State Park for another outdoor stop in Groton.

The grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset. The museum and monument have a more limited seasonal schedule: Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Admission to the park is free. If seeing the museum or climbing the monument is part of your plan, arrange your visit around those seasonal opening days and hours.

Connecticut State Parks lists parking, picnic tables and restrooms among the park’s facilities. Dogs are permitted on leash. The park foundation also describes a six-stop recorded cell-phone tour: call (860) 424-4005 and follow the signs at the stops. Free parking is available on adjacent side streets.

The park’s grounds, monument, museum and interpretive features give you a few ways to approach the visit. You can walk the earthworks and use the platform signs to understand the fort’s layout, then spend time with the museum’s battle artifacts and historical model.

If you have less time, the grounds and memorial still connect the battlefield’s layout with its history.

The park’s address is Park Avenue and Monument Street, Groton, CT 06340. To drive from I-95, take Exit 87 for Clarence B. Sharp Highway. Turn right onto Meridian Street at the first traffic light, then left onto Mitchell Street at the next light. Take the second right onto Park Avenue; the park is one block ahead.

If you’re planning a bus trip, Connecticut State Parks advises contacting the park directly at (860) 449-6877. The official park listing also identifies the Thames River Heritage Park Water Taxi as visitor information for Fort Griswold.

Before you go: Hours and visitor details can change, so check the official site before you go. The operator is Connecticut State Parks.