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Montville, Connecticut: Mohegan Ground on the Oxoboxo

Montville, Connecticut

Pictures from Montville

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Mohegan Sun Sky Tower Fort Shantok

Montville separated from New London and incorporated as its own town in 1786; its name signifies "mountain village," and it now comprises four principal villages — Chesterfield, Mohegan, Oakdale, and Uncasville. Rocky, forested terrain made farming difficult, so the town turned to waterpower instead: early enterprises smelted bog ore into iron, and by the late 1800s manufacturers lined the Oxoboxo River. Montville's deeper history centers on the Mohegan people: in the seventeenth century, sachem Uncas established a fortified village at Fort Shantok above the Thames River, the tribe's principal settlement from 1636 to 1682, which withstood a Narragansett siege there in 1645. Mohegan medicine woman and anthropologist Gladys Tantaquidgeon co-founded the Tantaquidgeon Museum in 1931 with her father and brother; her research later helped the Mohegan Tribe win federal recognition in 1994. The tribe's 700-acre reservation, a sovereign nation within Montville's borders, is now home to the Mohegan Sun casino resort.

  1. The oldest Native American-owned and operated museum in the U.S.

  2. The Mohegan Tribe's principal 17th-century settlement, an NHL since 1993.

  3. A casino resort on the sovereign Mohegan reservation.

  4. A beloved local home-style breakfast spot.

  5. A neighborhood Italian pizzeria in Uncasville.

  6. A signature steakhouse inside Mohegan Sun.

  7. About 1,600 rooms across two resort towers.

  8. The one stop in Montville aimed squarely at children, open daily 10am to 6pm with last entry at 5pm.

Mohegan ground on the Oxoboxo

Montville separated from New London and incorporated as its own town in 1786; its name signifies "mountain village," and it now comprises four principal villages — Chesterfield, Mohegan, Oakdale, and Uncasville. Rocky, forested terrain made farming difficult, so the town turned to waterpower instead: early enterprises smelted bog ore into iron, and by the late 1800s manufacturers lined the Oxoboxo River. Montville's deeper history centers on the Mohegan people: in the seventeenth century, sachem Uncas established a fortified village at Fort Shantok above the Thames River, the tribe's principal settlement from 1636 to 1682, which withstood a Narragansett siege there in 1645. Mohegan medicine woman and anthropologist Gladys Tantaquidgeon co-founded the Tantaquidgeon Museum in 1931 with her father and brother; her research later helped the Mohegan Tribe win federal recognition in 1994.

Getting there

Montville is a drive-to destination on the west bank of the Thames River, reached via I-395 and CT Route 32 (the Norwich-New London Turnpike). There is no train station in town — the nearest Amtrak service is in New London, about 10 minutes south on Route 32.

Mohegan Sun and the villages beyond

The tribe's 700-acre reservation, a sovereign nation within Montville's borders, is home to the Mohegan Sun casino resort, opened in 1996 with a 10,000-seat arena and more than 35 restaurants, bars, and cafes. The Tantaquidgeon Museum, the oldest Native American-owned and operated museum in the United States, traces Mohegan heritage from prehistoric times to the present, while Fort Shantok, a National Historic Landmark since 1993, marks the tribe's seventeenth-century settlement above the Thames. Uncasville's Norwich-New London Turnpike carries a strip of longtime local restaurants outside the reservation.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Montville?
Montville is reached via I-395 and CT Route 32 (the Norwich-New London Turnpike). There is no train station in town; the nearest Amtrak service is in New London, about 10 minutes south on Route 32.
What is Mohegan Sun?
A casino resort on the sovereign Mohegan reservation within Montville, opened in 1996, with a 10,000-seat arena, more than 35 restaurants, bars, and cafes, an 18-hole golf course, a spa, and 30-plus shops.
What is the Tantaquidgeon Museum?
The oldest Native American-owned and operated museum in the United States, established in 1931 by Gladys Tantaquidgeon with her brother Harold and father John; its collections trace Mohegan heritage from prehistoric times to the present. Visits are by appointment — call (860) 862-0875 ahead.
What is Fort Shantok?
The site of the principal Mohegan settlement from 1636 to 1682, associated with sachem Uncas, designated the Fort Shantok Archaeological District, a National Historic Landmark, in 1993, and returned to Mohegan control in 1995.
Where can I stay in Montville?
Mohegan Sun's Sky Tower and Earth Tower, with about 1,600 rooms and suites combined, are the town's verified lodging option; no independent historic inn or B&B in Montville could be verified as currently operating.

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