Thursday July 24 6:30-7:30
Monthly Lecture Series Witamy W Meriden: The Polish Immigration Story
Explore the rich history and enduring legacy of Polish immigrants who begin settling in the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We will discuss why they come to Meriden because of the opportunities in the booming silver and manufacturing industries, taking on physically demanding jobs while forming tight-knit communities centered around churches such as St. Stanislaus. The lecture also emphasizes the role of Polish cultural traditions, language, and mutual aid societies in preserving identity and fostering resilience amidst discrimination and economic hardship. Through personal stories, and historical documents, the presentation paints a vivid picture of how Polish Americans helped shape Meriden’s cultural and economic landscape. Reserve your seat HERE.
Saturday July 19 11-3 at the Andrews Homestead
Guided tour “Wampum to War Bonds” starts at 11:30 and 1:30
If you haven’t seen the new Andrews you’re not going to want to miss it. Step through time on this immersive historic home tour, where each room reveals a different era in Meriden’s past—from the lives of Native peoples before European settlement to the transformation of the homefront in the post-World War II years. As you move from one space to the next, discover how women and children shaped and experienced daily life in each period, from early farming and industry to the rise of the silver trade and wartime sacrifice. Rooted in Meriden’s unique local history, the tour highlights everything from 18th-century hearthside chores to 20th-century life, offering a vivid, room-by-room journey through the evolving story of home and community. The guided tour, Wampum to War Bonds, starts promptly at 11:30 and 1:30. You are free to tour on your own when a guided tour is not in progress. Seats are reserved and limited in number to enable our visitors to see and hear easily. Click HERE to reserve your spot. he Homestead is NOT handicapped accessible and not airconditioned. Should the temperature prove to be too hot we will notify registered guests both on this page and through Zeffy.
Thursday August 28 6:30-7:30
Monthly Lecture Series In Arrivo a Meriden: Coming to Meriden from Italy
Italian immigration has played a significant role in shaping the cultural, economic, and social fabric of Meriden, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In this lecture, we will explore the major waves of Italian migration, the push and pull factors that drove millions to leave their homeland, and the experiences of Italian immigrants as they settled in Meriden. From the challenges of assimilation to the preservation of cultural identity, we will examine how Italian communities left a lasting legacy that continues to be felt today. Reserve your seat HERE.
Kitchen Chronicles: Storytelling Through Food
Collecting until August 31 We invite you to share a family recipe along with the story behind it. If you have a handwritten recipe, feel free to take a photo of it, and of the finished dish. Those would be great added bonuses!
To help minimize labor, we kindly request that, if at all possible, you send your recipe in a word-processed document, so we can easily copy and paste it without the need for transcribing handwritten notes. Click HERE to see an example.
You can submit your materials in one of three ways:
- Email the recipe and any pictures to info@meridenhistsoc.org
- Drop them off at our building at 41 West Main St in Meriden. There is a figural drop box next to the front door if we are closed.
- Mail them to Box 3005, Meriden, CT 06450.
We look forward to hearing your stories and recipes!
Hours at Our Main Location, 41 W. Main Street, downtown Meriden.
The Meriden Historical Society’s Museum and History Center, located at 41 West Main Street, is open to the public at the following posted times. Please call us (203-639-1913) when you arrive so we can greet you at the door.
- Monday Closed
- Tuesday By appointment
- Wednesday 9-3 Guided tour at 11:00
- Thursday
- 1st Thursday (July 3, August 7, September 4) Closed
- 2nd Thursday (July 10, August 14, September 11) 12 – 6 Guided tour at 2
- 3rd Thursday ( July 17, August 21, September 18) 1 – 7:30 Guided tour at 6
- 4th Thursday (July 24, August 28, September 25) 2-6 By Appointment
- Friday By appointment
- Saturday We are open the following Saturdays 6/28, 7/12, 7/26, 8/9, 8/23) 9-3 Tours of exhibits are scheduled at the following times.
- Quills to Clicks: How News Has Shaped Meriden and Beyond Guided tours begin at 11 and 1 through July 31
- Innovation & Industry begins at 2 on Saturday when open
- Polished Perspectives begins at 12 on Saturday when open.
- Sunday We are open every Sunday in October. 11-3. Guided tours at11:30 and 1:00.
Research: We are open to researchers at our Museum & History Center, 41 West Main Street, during our regular office hours (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays) by appointment only. To schedule your research visit, please call at least 24 hours in advance. 203-639-1913.
Tours: Those who wish to tour with a guide at the Museum at 41 Main Street must call ahead and book a time in order for us to make sure we have a guide available for you.
Lecture Series: Join us on the 4th Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm for our regularly scheduled lecture series.
Andrews Homestead The newly interpreted Andrews Homestead will open on the following Sundays from 11-3, weather permitting, as the house is not air conditioned. We will post here if the weather is too hot to open. July 19, closed in August, September, 20, October 18, and November 15
Supported by its volunteers, the Meriden Historical Society operates at two locations
The Meriden Historical Society’s Museum & History Center is our main office and research center. Located at 41 West Main Street, in the heart of Downtown Meriden. This historic building’s size and central location allows us to expand our public programs, exhibit more of our collections, welcome more researchers and visitors, and better tell the story of our community! To read more details about this location click HERE . To schedule a visit to our History Center, please call 203-639-1913.
The Andrews Homestead, 424 West Main Street, is one of the oldest homes in Meriden. The all new Andrews will open to the public for special programs and events in late spring and by appointment. Young and old (and in-between) are welcome!
We share a parking lot with the Benjamin Franklin elementary school. You may enter the parking lot through the do-not-enter entrance as long as it is not during school hours.
To set up a visit, please call our main office number: 203-639-1913.
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