Center Springs Park ramble
2025-06-07 13:00 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Center Springs Park, 39 Lodge Drive, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
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 installed fountains and other welcoming features. No dogs, please. Rain or shine, but extreme weather cancels. This walk and 100+ others are promoted by Connecticut Trails Day, a program of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.

Salter's Pond loop walk
2025-06-08 13:00 - 14:00 | Salter’s Pond, 123 Lydall Street, Manchester
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 learned to swim at Salter’s Pond before the town swimming pool was built. Our walk will include some historic and botanical commentary. The path has stairs, hills, bumpy terrain, and some wet spots — please wear sturdy footwear/sneakers. The pond and adjacent land is owned by the Manchester Land Conservation Trust. No dogs, please. Rain or shine, but extreme weather cancels. This walk and 100+ others are promoted by Connecticut Trails Day, a program of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.

CT Open Museum Day
2025-06-14 11:00 - 15:00 | CT
Our properties will be open 11:00 to 3:00 on this special state-wide Open House Day. Visit the History Center at 175 Pine St., the Old Manchester Museum at 126 Cedar Street, the Cheney Homestead and Keeney Schoolhouse at 106 Hartford Road, and the Woodbridge Farmstead at 495 East Middle Turnpike, with decor by the Manchester Garden Club and music by Judy and Mark Handler starting at 1:00, classical and folk. ALSO, the Pitkin Glass Works at the corner of Pitkin and Putnam Streets, South Methodist Church at 1266 Main Street (celebrating its building’s 100th anniversary), and the CT Fire Museum at 230 Pine Street will also be open. Free.

Walking tour on the Great Lawn
2025-06-28 11:00 - 12:30 | 146 Hartford Road, Manchester, 146 Hartford Rd, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
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 and uneven ground, so participants should wear sturdy shoes or boots. Extreme weather cancels, but the walk will be held in light rain, so please bring an umbrella.

Old Manchester Museum open house
2025-07-05 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-08-02 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-09-06 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-10-04 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-11-01 10:00 - 14:00 | CT
The former Cheney School, built in 1859, houses permanent and special exhibits, maps, school information, Pitkin glass, Cheney silk, etc. Hosts Bob Kanehl and Art Pongratz can help answer local-history questions, and there’s a museum shop to browse — books and maps about local history, as well as gifts for yourself or others. Free admission, donations welcome. Generally open the first Saturday of each month, except holiday weekends, May through December, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Drop by for a visit of 10 minutes or 4 hours! More about the museum here.

Cheney Homestead open house
2025-07-06 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-20 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-03 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-17 13:00, 2025-09-21 13:00 | Cheney Homestead, 106 Hartford Road, Manchester, CT, 06040, 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 is 1:00 to 4:00 on the first and third Sunday of May through December, except holidays. It’s also open by appointment, 860-647-9983, and for special events. The Keeney schoolhouse, also on the grounds, is open in the warmer months. Come for 10 minutes or three hours! Free. Donations welcome.

Charcoal hike at Highland Park
2025-07-12 13:00 - 15:30 | Birch Mountain Road parking lot, 78 Birch Mountain Road, Manchester, CONNECTICUT
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 the kiosk in the parking lot on Birch Mountain Road, near its intersection with Camp Meeting Road, across from West Carter Street. Closest GPS is 78 Birch Mountain Road, Manchester.

Woodbridge open house & tavern talk
2025-07-13 13:00 - 16:00 | Woodbridge Farmstead, 495 Middle Tpke E, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
SPECIAL EVENT during open house: Maude McGovern’s presentation at 2:00 p.m., “Woodbridge’s House of Entertainment: An Early American Tavern.” The 1830s-era farmhouse and grounds welcome visitors, young, old, and in between! Take a guided tour of the house and a self-guided tour through our 18th-century barn. Check out the displays inside our Visitor Center Barn showing some of the history of Manchester Green. The Farmstead committee organizes events on many of the open house days — farm animal visits, antique farm tool exhibit, duck races, history talks. The Farmstead is located near the intersection of East Middle Turnpike and Woodbridge Street. Visitors can park at the municipal lot behind the Senior Center or along the street between the Senior Center and the farmstead itself. From the street, walk to the back yard using the grass driveway between the house and Woodbridge Pizza. The Woodbridge farmstead is on the National Register of Historic Places. The farm was donated to the Manchester Historical Society by Raymond and Thelma Woodbridge in 1998. Open houses are usually held on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, through October (except May, when holidays fall on those dates and we’re open the first and third Sundays). Free, donations welcome.

Tour of West Cemetery
2025-07-13 14:00 - 15:30 | 271 Spencer Street, Manchester ct, 271 Spencer St, Manchester, 06040, United States
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 cemetery’s northwest corner on the right. Park either at the commuter lot, or drive into the cemetery. Gravestone Network founder, Ruth Shapleigh-Brown, says, “The families buried here have connections and history that go back to our early settlement times and the Revolutionary era. In a listing done by Mrs. Kingsbury in the 1930’s, here are totals of family members buried here: • Forbes, 13, • Bidwell, 13, • Brewer, 11, • Kennedy, 26, • Keeney, 46, • Olcott, 30, • Spencer, 74, • Marsh, 16, • Case, 21, •Hills – the winner with 130.” Co-sponsored by the Historical Societies of East Hartford and Manchester.

Woodbridge open house & learn to play Whist
2025-07-27 13:00 - 16:00 | Woodbridge Farmstead, 495 Middle Tpke E, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
SPECIAL EVENT during the open house! Whist, an old-fashioned card game, will be taught by volunteer Georgie Melrose, 1:00 to 4:00. Visitors can also tour the 1830s-era farmhouse and grounds. Take a guided tour of the house and a self-guided tour through our 18th-century barn. Check out the displays inside our Visitor Center Barn showing some of the history of Manchester Green. The Farmstead committee organizes events on many of the open house days — farm animal visits, antique farm tool expert, duck races. The Farmstead is located near the intersection of East Middle Turnpike and Woodbridge Street. Visitors can park at the municipal lot behind the Senior Center or along the street between the Senior Center and the farmstead itself. From the street, walk to the back yard using the grass driveway between the house and Woodbridge Pizza. The Woodbridge Farmstead is on the National Register of Historic Places. The farm was donated to the Manchester Historical Society by Raymond and Thelma Woodbridge in 1998. Open houses are usually held on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, through October (except May, when holidays fall on those dates and we’re open the first and third Sundays). Free, donations welcome.

Woodbridge Farmstead open house
2025-08-10 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-14 13:00 - 16:00 | Woodbridge Farmstead, 495 Middle Tpke E, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
Visit for 10 minutes or 3 hours. The 1830s-era farmhouse and grounds welcome visitors, young, old, and in between! Take a guided tour of the house and a self-guided tour through our 18th-century barn. Check out the displays inside our Visitor Center Barn showing some of the history of Manchester Green. The Farmstead committee organizes events on many of the open house days — farm animal visits, antique farm tool expert, duck races. The Farmstead is located near the intersection of East Middle Turnpike and Woodbridge Street. Visitors can park at the municipal lot behind the Senior Center or along the street between the Senior Center and the farmstead itself. From the street, walk to the back yard using the grass driveway between the house and Woodbridge Pizza. The Woodbridge Farmstead is on the National Register of Historic Places. The farm was donated to the Manchester Historical Society by Raymond and Thelma Woodbridge in 1998. Open houses are usually held on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, through October (except May, when holidays fall on those dates and we’re open the first and third Sundays). Free, donations welcome.

Railroad history walk
2025-08-16 13:00 - 14:30 | 2 main street manchester ct, 2 Main Street, Manchester, CT, 06042, United States
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 by the Manchester Land Conservation Trust and then on to the bridge overlooking Center Springs Park and Bigelow Brook, about three miles round trip. Participants will hear about the history of the railroad. Meet at the north end of Main Street in Manchester, in the parking lot of the strip mall on the north (right) side of the tracks, across the tracks from the former Farr’s Sporting Goods store at 2 Main Street, Manchester, CT 06042. Park at the southeast end of the strip mall or at the former Eighth Utilities District office building, 18 Main Street. A special favor will be given to children who attend the hike. We will hike if light rain — bring an umbrella — but extreme weather cancels. No dogs, please. Free.

Woodbridge Farmstead open house
2025-08-24 13:00 - 16:00 | Woodbridge Farmstead, 495 Middle Tpke E, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
Visit for 10 minutes or 3 hours. The 1830s-era farmhouse and grounds welcome visitors, young, old, and in between! Take a guided tour of the house and a self-guided tour through our 18th-century barn. Check out the displays inside our Visitor Center Barn showing some of the history of Manchester Green. The Farmstead committee organizes events on many of the open house days — farm animal visits, antique farm tool expert, history talks, duck races. The Farmstead is located near the intersection of East Middle Turnpike and Woodbridge Street. Visitors can park in the municipal lot behind the Senior Center or along the street between the Senior Center and the Farmstead itself. From the street, walk to the back yard using the grass driveway between the house and Woodbridge Pizza. The Woodbridge Farmstead is on the National Register of Historic Places. The farm was donated to the Manchester Historical Society by Raymond and Thelma Woodbridge in 1998. Open houses are usually held on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, through October (except May, when holidays fall on those dates and we’re open the first and third Sundays). Free, donations welcome.

Walking tour in Center Memorial Park
2025-09-20 13:00 - 14:15 | Town Hall, 41 Center Street, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
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.

Cheney Homestead open house
2025-09-21 13:00 - 16:00 | Cheney Homestead, 106 Hartford Road, Manchester, CT, 06040, 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 is 1:00 to 4:00 on the first and third Sunday of May through December, except holidays. It’s also open by appointment, 860-647-9983, and for special events. The Keeney schoolhouse, also on the grounds, is open in the warmer months. Come for 10 minutes or three hours! Free. Donations welcome. Always free to members.

Annual meeting & 60th anniversary celebration
2025-09-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Manchester History Center, 175 Pine Street, Manchester, 06040, United States
Members are invited to the annual meeting to vote on the slate of elected directors and to hear reports on financial and other activities of the Society in the last year. There will be an illustrated presentation commemorating the 60th anniversary of our founding. Details to come.

Cheney Homestead open house
2025-10-05 13:00 - 16:00 | Cheney Homestead, 106 Hartford Road, Manchester, CT, 06040, 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 is 1:00 to 4:00 on the first and third Sunday of May through October, except holidays. It’s also open by appointment, 860-647-9983, and for special events, such as the December holiday open house. The Keeney schoolhouse, also on the grounds, is open in the warmer months. Come for 10 minutes or three hours! Free. Donations welcome. Always free to members.

Landmark District walking tour
2025-10-11 13:00 - 15:00 | 146 Hartford Road, Manchester, 146 Hartford Rd, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
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 the 50th such walk in the mill district. All welcome. Rain or shine; extreme weather cancels. No dogs, please.

North End exhibit opening reception
2025-10-19 12:00 - 17:00 | Manchester History Center, 175 Pine Street, Manchester, 06040, United States
Free — come visit and travel back in time through the history of the North End via photos, artifacts, and audiovisual presentations. Meet the volunteers who have spent two years researching, designing, and constructing the exhibit, which includes schools, churches, industries, mills, Depot Suare, and 135 years of the history of the Manchester Fire Department, 8th District.

Woodbridge Farmstead open house. Costumes are welcome.
2025-10-26 13:00 - 16:00 | Woodbridge Farmstead, 495 Middle Tpke E, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
Celebrating the harvest season and Halloween. Costumes are welcome. This is our last open house until spring. The 1830s-era farmhouse and grounds welcome visitors, young, old, and in between! Take a guided tour of the house and a self-guided tour through our 18th-century barn. Check out the displays inside our Visitor Center Barn showing some of the history of Manchester Green. The Farmstead committee organizes events on many of the open house days — farm animal visits, antique farm tool exhibits, duck races. The Farmstead is located near the intersection of East Middle Turnpike and Woodbridge Street. Visitors can park at the municipal lot behind the Senior Center or along the street between the Senior Center and the Farmstead itself. From the street, walk to the back yard using the grass driveway between the house and Woodbridge Pizza. The Woodbridge Farmstead is on the National Register of Historic Places. The farm was donated to the Manchester Historical Society by Raymond and Thelma Woodbridge in 1998. Open houses are usually held on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, through October (except May, when holidays fall on those dates and we’re open the first and third Sundays). Free, donations welcome.

Meaning, Memory, Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
2025-11-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Manchester History Center, 175 Pine Street, Manchester, 06040, United States
Kicking off our events commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with a free lecture by noted historian Dr. Matt Warshauer, who will present “The Declaration of Independence: A Minute Reading,” exploring the questions, “What did the Declaration actually declare? Why…and to whom? What was the actual point, and, in the long stretch of history, where does the document stack up in our contemporary world?” This is one of a series of four lectures by Dr. Warshauer, sponsored by local historical organizations, with the support of the America 250 CT Commission. The other three lectures will be in March, April, and May 2026.
