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
The Life of Frederick Douglass May 21 at 6:30 p.m.
Join us for Frederick Douglass: From Slave to Statesman with Professor Bryan Sinche, UHART
May 21 6:30 p.m.
Frederick Douglass was a writer, an editor, an activist, a government minister and the de facto spokesman for nineteenth-century Black America. Professor Sinche will highlight Douglass’s achievements as a pre-Civil War author and abolitionist, explain his importance as a Civil Rights leader in the postwar period and reflect on Douglass’s enduring legacy.
Bryan Sinche is Professor and Chair of English and Modern Languages at the University of Hartford, He is a scholar of nineteenth-century African American literature and most recently, the author of Published by the Author: Self-Publication and Nineteenth-Century African American Literature, which was published by the University of North Carolina Press and a finalist for the 2024 Book Prize presented by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
This free event will be held at the Torrington Historical Society at 192 Main Street on May 21st at 6:30 pm. As space is limited, registration is recommended through he Historical Society’s Eventbrite page using the link below.
This program is generously sponsored by Thomaston Savings Bank.
We are in the midst of giving school programs and hosting visiting students to The Hotchkiss Flyer House and Torrington History Museum. We thought you might enjoy seeing some of the images that we share with the students as we teach them about Torrington's history.
Early Water Street
Moving Coe Park Rock
Allen House Hotel with Carriages, East Main and Main Streets
Beekeeper Tammi Worsham from the Back Yard Beekeepers Association gave an insightful look into the history of beekeeping on May 7th. The program was packed with fun and interesting facts about bees and their habits and the audience had the opportunity to look at various bee related objects and taste different types of honey. It was a fabulous night for all. Thanks Tammi!
History Education Center Community Forum
Watch • Learn • Share
The link below will bring you to our History Education Center web page. Here you can learn more about this transformational project, watch a video presentation from the community forum, and access an online form to share your thoughts and ideas with us.