Named Saybrook after two early patentees, Lord Saye and Sele and Lord Brook, the small community of Old Saybrook has been shaped by its notable history and distinct geographical location at the mouth of the Connecticut River. Deeply rooted in farming and fishing, the town became a summer resort and tourist destination by the 1900s. Through the years, Old Saybrook's residents have made important contributions in government, literature, film, architecture, education, science, and technology.