Walking Tours

The walks get people to tell stories about their communities, explore their cities, and connect with neighbors. About one hour; moderately paced half mile. Rain or shine. Free.

Moderately paced 1.25-mile urban walk around the pond. Somewhat hilly, paved terrain. Led by the Town Historian, the walk takes about 75 minutes and includes historic and botanical commentary. The Cheney family donated the 55 acres for a park to the Town of Manchester in the 1920s, when the pond was built. The Town has […]

Moderately paced one-mile scenic walk on the loop trail, starting at the parking lot of Salter's pool, Lydall Street, Manchester -- plenty of parking. Salter's Pond got its name from Lorenzo T. Salter who, in partnership with Mr. Strong, founded the Salter and Strong paper mill, which became Lydall paper mill. Many North End residents […]

This free history walk features the "Great Lawn" and proceeds along streets and lawn to view historic mansions and the nine acres purchased by the Town in 2005 for open space and historic preservation. Cheney district commission members Tom Ferguson and Susan Barlow will comment on the historic landscape and buildings. There is some steep […]

Strenuous 4.25-mile walk over rough terrain to visit a charcoal mound on the east side of Case Mountain. We will also visit the Adirondack-style summer house at Upper Case Pond, and hikers can choose to end their hike without the charcoal visit. That option would cover about one mile. More charcoal info here. Meet at […]

Walking tour plus stone-cleaning demonstration at the West Cemetery, which was laid out in 1740, when the land was part of East Hartford. It became part of Manchester in 1823, and is our first cemetery. It's located on Spencer Street near the entrance ramp to I-384, accessible just beyond the I-384 on-ramp, which enters the […]

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 […]

We'll visit the monuments in the park, noting the memorials to soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, Civil War, and Spanish American War. About one hour, and about one mile. Meet at the front steps of Town Hall, 41 Center Street. Rain or shine, but extreme weather cancels.

Free history walk in the Cheney Brothers National Historic Landmark District, co-sponsored by the District Commission, and the CT State Community College Manchester Institute of Local History. This two-hour walk visits the former silk mills, and related buildings and streets, with commentary on silk manufacturing, labor relations, and the South Manchester Railroad. This will be […]

Explore the Case Brothers National Historic District in the Highland Park section of Manchester. Includes history walk, visit to the 1917 cabin, and an optional climb to the lookout with its scenic view of Hartford and beyond. Meet at the small parking lot near the picnic tables, GPS 670 Spring Street.  Those who want a […]

Due to severe weather predictions, we are postponing this walk. This free history walk features the “Great Lawn” and proceeds along streets and lawn to view historic mansions and the nine acres purchased by the Town in 2005 for open space and historic preservation. Cheney district commission members Tom Ferguson and Susan Barlow will comment […]

Hikers will trace the route of 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 private freight-and-passenger railroad in the United States. We will start our hike in the South End, heading north toward Center Springs […]