Visit • Discover • Learn
Located in three historic buildings in downtown Torrington, the Torrington Historical Society is home to the Torrington History Museum, the Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum and the John H. Thompson Library & Archive. The Society also owns the West Torrington site where noted abolitionist John Brown was born.
We invite you to discover the history of Torrington by touring our exhibits and house museum, attending programs and events, using our research library or visiting the John Brown Birthplace. All are welcome.
Torrington
History Museum
Hotchkiss-Fyler House
Guided Tours
The John H. Thompson
Library & Archive
What’s Happening
"Write Me at Every Opportunity" - Revolutionary War Story Stage Performance Saturday, October 17, 4 p.m., Five Points Arts, University Drive, Torrington
Write Me at Every Opportunity is a stage adaptation based on American Revolutionary War correspondence (1775-1777) between husband and wife Nathan and Lois Peters from Preston, Connecticut. The phrase “Write Me at Every Opportunity” appears frequently in the couple’s letters during this time period. Short quotes from these letters were used in the recent Ken Burns American Revolution documentary.
Commissioned by the Preston Historical Society, this production will be performed by Pocket Productions, a new nonprofit theater group based in Torrington. John Long of Preston and formerly of Torrington, adapted the correspondence for the stage.
The letters are in the collection of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, which has generously granted the Preston Historical Society access to use the letters.
This event is co-sponsored by Five Points Arts.
We Came in Peace for All Mankind with Hamish Lutris Wednesday, November 4th, 6:30 pm in the Carriage House at 192 Main Street, Torrington
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong descended to the lunar surface. It was an event hailed throughout the world as a major milestone in the history of humankind. Many Americans still remember being riveted to Walter Cronkite’s broadcast of the moon landings, and their excitement at what we had all achieved. This talk will discuss the Apollo Program, touching on the beginnings of space flight, the sense of political urgency that drove the USA to shoot for the moon, as well as the intrepid technological spirit and prowess that transported Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to another heavenly body and allowed them to explore it and even play a bit of golf.
Hamish Lutris is an author, educator, and outdoorsman, and a well-known speaker throughout the region with long experience in historical programs. Please visit Eventbrite for more info!
A Christmas Carol Comes to the Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum with Rick Corbo as Dickens Saturday, December 12th, 6:30 pm
Imagine stepping into a beautiful decorated Victorian home on a December evening, surrounded by Christmas garlands and soft white lights – and hear Charles Dickens himself tell the story of Ebenezer Scrooge.
This is a unique opportunity for attendees to enjoy a holiday classic as they sit in one of Connecticut’s finest house museums, decorated for the season. The program will be approximately 45 minutes in length.
Rick Corbo has portrayed Charles Dickens for more than eight years, performing at venues and events including the Storrowtown Yuletide Weekend, the Greater Boston Dickens Fellowship, and Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. A Torrington native, Corbo now lives with his family in West Haven, Connecticut.
Center for History and Culture
Capital campaign for construction drawings
Planning continues for a transformational project, designed by award winning architect Mark Cavagnero, that will solve critical institutional needs by building climate-controlled facilities to preserve important historical collections and provide new and renovated space for educational programs, exhibits and cultural events. Donate to our campaign for construction drawings.