Imagine taking Connecticut’s northern and southern borders and extending them west to the Pacific Ocean. Under the terms of a royal charter given to the colony in1662, Connecticut was to stretch from the “Narraganset-Bay on the East, to the South Sea on the West Part.” Following the model of other states, Connecticut gave most of its claimed land over to the federal government in 1786, but it “reserved” a territory in the northeast of present-day Ohio for its continued use and settlement. This became the Connecticut Western Reserve.

To Come to a Land of Milk and Honey: Litchfield and the Connecticut Western Reserve tells the story of the Reserve’s lasting legacy and the experiences of the men, women, and children affected by westward migration.

Opening April 21, 2023.

While Litchfield was never home to the kind of formal art colony found in other parts of Connecticut, the town has a rich and lasting connection with the visual arts. Painting Litchfield showcases paintings inspired by Litchfield scenes and landscapes from the nineteenth century to the present. Learn about one of the earliest artist groups exhibiting in Connecticut, explore the career of a painter who served in the Monuments Men, and view works by artists living in Litchfield today. 

Painting Litchfield will be on display from April 21 to July 16, 2023