Events

Railroad history walk

220 North Main Street Manchester CT 2 Main Street, Manchester

Hikers will have an easy, fairly flat, walk along the former railroad, built in 1869 to connect the Cheney silk mills to the main rail line in the North End. At 2.5 miles, it was the shortest freight-and-passenger railroad in the United States. We will hike at a moderate pace along the one-mile portion owned […]

North End history walk

Whiton Library, 100 North Main St. 100 North Main St., Manchester, CONNECTICUT

Enjoy the charm of the old North End, viewing what remains from the Urban Renewal of the 1960s. We'll visit Whiton Library, the "Y," Apel's Opera House (pictured), Woodbridge and Hudson Streets. About one mile along streets and sidewalks. Rain or shine. Extreme weather cancels. We'll meet at the front steps of the Whiton Library. […]

Cheney Homestead open house

Cheney Homestead 106 Hartford Road, Manchester, CT, United States

Visit the 1785 Homestead, rich with history, art, furniture, tools, and kitchenware. This cozy house was the residence of Cheney family members from 1785 to the 1960s. The family donated the house and grounds to the Manchester Historical Society in 1968, and it has been a house museum since then. Its usual open house schedule […]

Arts, Culture, History Walk

Town Hall 41 Center Street, Manchester, CT, United States

Walk through parts of Manchester's Cultural District, designated in 2024 by the State of Connecticut. Led by Susan Barlow, Town Historian, this 2.5-mile walking tour through historic districts, will emphasize the work of artists and architects, noting their contributions to the culture and economy of Manchester. Terrain is somewhat hilly on this moderately paced walk. […]