Torrington Historical Society

Home
United States
Torrington, CT
Torrington Historical Society

The Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum and two permanent exhibits are open seasonally (April - October)

06/02/2026

So exciting to see the Tuscan-style pergola take shape on the Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum grounds!

05/27/2026

The reproduction of the Hotchkiss-Fyler garden pergola begins to take shape. The pergola was designed by local architect Mike Boe using historic photographs as a guide. The project is part of an on-going effort to restore the Hotchkiss-Fyler gardens and make them more beautiful and accessible to the public for passive recreation.

The historical society is grateful for the following donations that make this restoration possible: The O’Heron Family in loving memory of Joyce Bagnaschi O’Heron, The Gertrude Hotchkiss Trust, The City of Torrington-Community Impact Grant, The Elizabeth Rivera Garden Fund, David and Esther Bennett, In Memory of James and Margaret Murphy, In Memory of Charles H. Perret.

05/26/2026

Join us, Saturday, June 13 at 2pm at the Torrington Historical Society, for Coco’s Carnival Dance and Headpiece Making Workshop!

Presented by Coryse Villarouel, this engaging, high-energy experience blends culture, creativity, and community. This workshop is ideal for audiences of all ages. This program will kick off with an energetic and visually stunning Carnival dance, bringing the spirit of Trinidad & Tobago to life. The dance, presented by Coco’s Caribbean Dancers under the direction of Coryse Villarouel, will captivate and inspire the audience, immersing them in the rhythms and vibrant colors of Carnival.

Following the performance, Ms. Villarouel will read her children’s book, "Coco’s Carnival Connection", which shares the journey of a young girl rediscovering her cultural heritage and learning to celebrate it with pride. The program will end with a fun, hands-on activity where participants can design and create their own Carnival headpiece to bring home!

The event is free but please register at the link below and we will see you there! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/caribbean-carnival-with-cocos-carnival-dance-and-headpiece-making-workshop-tickets-1989150513733?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/09/2026

Join us in a free event, Wednesday, May 13th at 6:30pm at the Torrington Historical Society, for Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America (USA Today Bestseller) with Author, Kostya Kennedy!

This presentation will have author, Kostya Kennedy, discussing his most recent book, “The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America” in which he presents a dramatic new narrative of the events of April 18 and 19, 1775, informed by fresh primary and secondary sources researched through archives, family letters and diaries, contemporary accounts, and more. Kennedy reveals Revere's ride to be more complex than it usually is portrayed—a loosely coordinated series of rides by numerous men, near-disaster, capture by British forces, and finally success.

Kostya Kennedy is the Editor in Chief of Premium Publishing at Dotdash Meredith, overseeing special editions under People, LIFE, Eating Well, Real Simple, Health, TIME, and others. Along with "The Ride", Kennedy has written “True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson” and the NYT's bestsellers "56: Joe DiMaggio and the Last Magic Number in Sports", and "Pete Rose: An American Dilemma." His television work includes appearances on Late Night with Seth Meyers and Morning Joe.

Come and listen to Kostya Kennedy, USA Today and NYT's Bestselling author, and learn new information about this important historical event!

Books will be available for purchase at the event and can be ordered for presale through our website.

Please register through the link below and we'll see you there: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-ride-paul-revere-and-the-night-that-saved-america-with-kostya-kennedy-tickets-1985147893789?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

05/08/2026

Celebrate John Brown’s birthday with other members of the community and Reggie Harris, a gifted musician, storyteller and cultural ambassador known for his ability to inspire hope in his audiences of all backgrounds. The concert will be held on Saturday May 9th at 3pm at Five Points Arts Center, 855 University Drive, Torrington, CT. The concert is sponsored by the Thomaston Savings Bank…admission is free.

Reggie Harris is a highly acclaimed musician and storyteller. His passion for history led to his involvement with the Living Legacy project, an organization that leads Civil Right pilgrimages through the south and hosts seminars on human rights and voting. Reggie is a DJ on Sirius radio for the groundbreaking program "The Sound of Color". His memoir, "Searching for Solid Ground" was released in 2024. Among other things the book includes his work with Peter and Toshi Seeger and his ongoing commitment to positive social change. Harris’ most recent CDs "Ready To Go and On Solid Ground" have been praised for their personal, global and political perspectives on topics that challenge us today. Harris is the recipient of the W.E. B. Dubois Legacy Award and the Spirit of Folk award.

We encourage you to register through the link below but walk-ins are welcome: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/folksinger-reggie-harris-to-present-free-concert-for-john-browns-birthday-tickets-1987062948770?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/06/2026

Don’t miss renowned folk singer Reggie Harris in a free concert at Five Points Arts Center, Saturday at 3pm, as we celebrate Torrington native and abolitionist, John Brown’s birthday!

Reggie Harris is a powerful interpreter of history through music as he blends acoustic folk traditions with African spirituals and gospel influences. His music connects audiences with stories of the Underground Railroad, Civil Rights Movement, and the ongoing pursuit of justice making his concerts both moving artistic experiences and opportunities for reflection on the nation’s past and present.

Don’t miss out on this experience!

04/29/2026

Join us, Saturday, May 9th at 3pm, at Five Points Arts Center for a free afternoon performance, thanks to Thomaston Savings Bank, by internationally acclaimed musician, storyteller, and educator Reggie Harris to celebrate the birthday of abolitionist and Torrington native, John Brown!

Reggie Harris is a powerful interpreter of history through music, and is widely known for performances that connect audiences with stories of the Underground Railroad, the Civil Rights Movement, and the ongoing pursuit of justice. He blends acoustic folk traditions with African American spirituals and gospel influences, his concerts are both moving artistic experiences and opportunities for reflection on the nation's past and present. He has received the Spirit of Folk Award from Folk Alliance International in 2021 and the W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Award for his contributions to public understanding of African American history and culture. He has been affiliated with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Education Program for more than two decades and performs regularly throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Come join us, in celebration of John Brown and come listen to and experience the music of Reggie Harris! We'll see you there!

We encourage advance registration through our website or the link below but walk-ins will be welcome if space allows: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/folksinger-reggie-harris-to-present-free-concert-for-john-browns-birthday-tickets-1987062948770?aff=oddtdtcreator

04/25/2026

Join us, Wednesday, April 29th at 6:30pm at the Torrington Historical Society for Reconnected: Restoring the Rivers of Long Island Sound

With Earth Day just this past week, this free, fascinating program will discuss the removal of dams in an effort to create more climate resilient river systems, unblock critical habitats, and reduce risk to communities. Connecticut alone has more than 5,000 dams and most no longer serve their original purpose. They disconnect access for fish and wildlife habitat for breeding, feeding, and nursery grounds. They disrupt water flows and trap natural sediments that Connecticut's remaining coastal marshes desperately need to keep pace with rising sea-levels.

Come listen to Emily Hadzopulos, Freshwater Restoration Project Manager for The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut, and Aimee Petras, Executive Director for the Farmington River Watershed Association, discuss this fascinating topic this Wednesday and we'll see you there!

Please register at the link below: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reconnected-restoring-the-rivers-of-long-island-sound-tickets-1985144813576?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Sponsored by Thomaston Savings Bank

04/24/2026

Torrington’s John Brown Birthplace was spruced up on Earth Day, April 22nd by volunteers from the Aquarion Water Company.

The daylong project centered on improvements to the loop trail and roadside landscaping. As a result the historic site is more inviting and people with disabilities can navigate the beginning of the trail on a hardened surface. New interpretive signs will follow later this year. Those signs are funded by a grant to the Torrington Historical Society from the National Park Service.

04/22/2026

Today’s the last day of Give Local!

Your donations this year help fund our FREE and ACCESSIBLE programs for Torrington school groups and the general public. You have until 7pm tonight to make a difference!

All donations are welcome!
https://www.givelocalccf.org/organizations/torrington-historical-society-5dd167a3-8f7b-4e17-894f-6956bdea013c

Address

192 Main Street
Torrington, CT
06790

Telephone

(860) 482-8260

Website

http://www.torringtonhistoricalsociety.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Torrington Historical Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Torrington Historical Society:

Shortcuts

Want your museum to be the top-listed Museum in Torrington?