Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington

Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington – Hartford Daily Photo

Farmington is located in Hartford County with the Talcott Mountain ridgeline along its eastern border. The Tunxis Indians called the area Tunxis Sepus, or bend of the little river. After incorporation in 1645 the settler’s renamed the region and its primary river Farmington.  In the 1800s, Farmington became known as the “Grand Central Station” of Connecticut’s Underground Railroad. Present-day visitors can see several sites associated with the abolitionist movement and Amistad trial of 1841. Hill-Stead Museum, Miss Porter’s School and other early buildings preserve the town’s historic character while corporate facilities, medical and dental schools, and other enterprises fuel its economy.

More on Farmington from the CT Digital Archive

Browse more interactive content on the CT Digital Archive website.

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Detail from Map of the Farmington Canal

Farmington Canal Designed to Give Connecticut Commerce a Competitive Edge

The Farmington Canal serves as an example of how developments in transportation played a pivotal role in facilitating the country’s industrial activity. …[more]

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Places

“Farmington Historical Society,” 2016. Link.
“Hill-Stead Museum,” 2017. Link.
“Stanley - Whitman House,” 2017. Link.
Farmington Valley Trails Council. “The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail,” 2016. Link.

Documents

Connecticut State Library Digital Collections. “Farmington - WPA Architectural Survey,” 2016. Link.
New Haven Museum. “Farmington Canal: MSS 57A - Alphabetical Index of Manuscript Collections,” 2016. Link.
“Farmington Collection.” Connecticut Digital Archive, n.d. Link.
Stodart & Currier. “Map of Farmington & Avon Indicating the Farmington Canal and Feeders.” n.d. Connecticut History Illustrated, Connecticut Historical Society. Link.
Durrie, George Henry. “Oil Painting: Seven Miles to Farmington,” 1853. Connecticut History Illustrated, Florence Griswold Museum. Link.

Books

Martin, Jean. Farmington. Charleston,  SC: Arcadia, 1999.
Farmington Historical Society, and Christopher Bickford. Farmington in Connecticut. Canaan,  NH: Farmington Historical Society, 1982.
Brandegee, Arthur. Farmington, Connecticut, the Village of Beautiful Homes. Photographic Reproductions, Illustrating Every Home in the Town. Prominent People Past and Present, All of the School Children, Local Antiques, Etc. Farmington,  CT: A.L. Brandegee and E.N. Smith, 1906. Link.
Shaw, Ernest. Farmington, Connecticut: A Journey of 350 Years. Farmington, CT: Heritage Trails, 1995.
Donahue, Barbara. Farmington: New England Town Through Time. Farmington,  CT: Farmington Land Trust, 1989.
Camp, David. History of New Britain, with Sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889. New Britain, CT: W.B. Thomson & Company, 1889. Link.
Alderman, Clifford. Unionville. Charleston,  SC: Arcadia, 2010.