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..

Ready for the Call examines the history of Red Cross activity in Litchfield through photographs, documents, uniforms, and posters. Formed in 1898 and active for over a century, the Litchfield Chapter of the American Red Cross provided valuable services to residents of our town and neighboring communities in both times of war and peace. Ready for the Call tells the stories of the dedicated volunteers who made this work possible and acted, in the words of one volunteer, “in the best Red Cross tradition.” 

Ready for the Call opens July 28th, 2023 and be on display through November 26th.