The simplicity of this 1970s menu, purporting to show a whale suspended in the depths, was on the front cover of the menu at the Mystic Motor Inn, now the famed Inn at Mystic.

 The community of Mystic, Connecticut, was first settled in 1654. The name comes from the Algonquin word mussituk meaning ‘great tidal river.’

The 40-room resort, spread out on what was then a five-acre hillside plot at the junction of routes 1 and 27, was opened in 1963. The architectural style recalled Mystic’s great whaling history and the inn was decorated with brass hurricane chandeliers and lights, authentic ships’ logs, octants and other maritime items.

The restaurant was called the Captain’s Table and there was dancing at weekends in the Ebb Tide room.

The inn doubled in size, changed owners and its name reverted to The Inn at Mystic. It now encompasses 15 acres and is one of New England’s premier resorts and the only lodging establishment to overlook beautiful Mystic Harbor and Fisher’s Island Sound.