New Haven City Hall & Courthouse, Historic American Buildings Survey
– Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
John Warner Barber’s Connecticut Historical Collections (1836) marks the first effort to document Connecticut’s historic places, but it would not be until the late 19th century that residents became interested in the state’s historic places. Early preservation focused on houses, often restored by women’s organizations and made into museums. The Works Progress Administration drove preservation efforts in the early 20th century and widened the scope of sites considered important. In 1955 the General Assembly established the Connecticut Historical Commission and in 1966 Congress enacted the National Historic Preservation Act, which mandated preservation activities. Committed to preserving the built environment, Connecticut has more than 1,500 resources, from Colonial homes to skyscrapers, on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Emily Holcombe Pioneered to Preserve Connecticut’s Colonial Past
Emily Seymour Goodwin Holcombe was an activist and preservationist who took pride in the state's history, particularly its colonial past. …[more]
