New Oyster Exhibit @ Westport Historical Society

Oysters were the quintessential American food – especially in the estuaries and inlets of shoreline Connecticut where they grow in natural abundance.  The Westport Historical Society is celebrating the culture and lore of oystering on Long Island Sound with a month-long exhibit through July 29 entitled Westport Is Your Oyster.

The exhibit offers a glimmer into Westport and Norwalk’s oystering history using original artifacts and objects from the private collections of Ms. Robin Tauck and Mr. Norman Bloom as well as items from our permanent collection.  Ephemera relating to the consumption of oysters round out a display that includes tools of the trade and archival documents.  Oysters have been enjoyed by native people who seared them in hot coals, in a method later adopted by European colonists.  In those days, the oysters pulled from the waters around Westport were as large as dinner plates. 

The Westport Historical Society is located on 25 Avery Place in Westport and is open Tues.-Sat. 10 am - 4 p.m. and Sun. noon to 4 p.m.