Straddling the towns of Norwalk, Wilton, and New Canaan is the little valley known as Silvermine, an artists' colony whose rural feel has changed little since it was settled in the Colonial era. By the 19th century, a dozen mills were humming along the Silvermine River. When the mills became silent with the advent of steam power, the bucolic beauty of the valley attracted painters and sculptors, writers and poets, and illustrators and cartoonists who formed a celebrated artists' colony centered around the Silvermine Guild of Artists and the Silvermine Tavern. In 2006, an enclave of 85 buildings in the core neighborhood, including a number of artists' homes, were recognized as part of the Silvermine Center Historic District. Today, Silvermine continues to attract residents who value its artistic heritage and natural beauty.