Community Corner

Destination: Greenwich For Governor's Regional Tourism Swing



Connecticut’s state tourism logo may be ‘Still Revolutionary,” so it was seemingly fitting that Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy kicked off the tourism season with a visit to Greenwich, the Republican bastion founded in 1640.

Malloy kick-started his annual tourism tour in Fairfield County, specifically, The Bruce Museum where he acknowledged the museum is one of dozens throughout the state that generate millions of dollars in tourism revenue. He spent about a half-hour viewing the museum's exhibits on July 9.

Museum Executive Director Peter Sutton explained to Malloy that the institution is fortunate to be able to rely upon dedicated collectors who live in town and nearby, who are willing to loan their collections for exhibition at The Bruce. “It’s very much like Halloween where you can go to homes …” Sutton said to Malloy as they toured the exhibitions in the museum overlooking Greenwich Harbor.

As the pair toured the museum—which was once the home of textile merchant Robert Bruce who bequeathed his home to the town for use as a museum—Sutton discussed how the local economy is stimulated by the 150,000 visitors who come to view the 14 exhibitions the museum mounts each year, generating an estimated $6 million in revenue spent by museum patrons.

Local resident Dr. Dorrance Kelly patiently sat in a rear vestibule for Malloy and Sutton to walk by. Sutton introduced Malloy to Kelly who has loaned dozens of rare prints —ranging from Albrecht Durer and Rembrandt to James Abbott McNeill Whistler—for one of the current exhibits on view through Aug. 18.

Malloy said, "The new shining star fir employment growth is tourism and the hospitality industry." Using the "Connecticut - Still Revolutionary" logo, the state is investing $15 million in tourism promotion this year, Malloy said.

Sutton said he was "very flattered" by the governor's visit. "Dan Malloy has been a very good supporter and patron of the arts. The state of Connecticut has been good to us."

Sutton added, "we're an easy hop, skip and a jump from New York ... We're easy to find and hard to leave."

Malloy's visit reinforced the "museum's mission - to be entertaining and edifying," Sutton added.

After his Greenwich visit, Malloy made whistlestop tours of the Stamford Museum & Nature Center and the recently opened refurbished rest stop on northbound I-95 in Darien.


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