Category: News & Events

Join us at the Andrews Homestead for the final tour of the year. Hear the history of Meriden through the eyes of women and children as you travel through time. Reserve your space HERE.

Join us for a local event in conjunction with Gallery 53 to ring in the holiday season. Come on down and complete scavenger hunts for prize drawings or to shop for just the right gift for the history buff in your life. We look forward to seeing you there. The event is free.

Saturday. November 8th at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM

In Hidden History of Meriden, Justin Piccirillo shares overlooked stories that shape Meriden. Blending historical depth with local charm, this book offers a compelling portrait of a community whose hidden stories continue to resonate today.  After the lecture, autographed copies of the book will be for sale. Reserve your seat for either the 1:00 PM or 3:00 PM lecture and book signing. Please click HERE to reserve you seat.

November 20th 6:30 at 41 West Man Street

Continuing our series on immigration to Meriden, this lecture by Ruth Borsuk explores the history of Jewish immigration to Meriden, tracing the journey of families who arrived primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from Eastern Europe in search of religious freedom and economic opportunity and the ways they contributed to the city’s cultural and economic growth and  highlights how the Jewish community shaped Meriden’s identity while preserving their traditions in a rapidly changing America. Reserve your seat HERE.

Meriden Hall of Fame 50th Anniversary Exhibit

The Meriden Historical Society and the Meriden Hall of Fame invite you to celebrate the city’s most distinguished residents, showcasing the achievements of individuals who have made lasting contributions in fields such as arts, industry, sports, public service, and community leadership. Through photographs, personal artifacts, multimedia displays, and biographical stories, visitors discover how these men and women shaped Meriden’s identity and left their mark on the wider world. The exhibit not only honors their accomplishments but also inspires pride and reflection on the diverse talents and enduring spirit that define Meriden’s history and future. All Sunday tours in October at 11:30 and 1:00 require an online registration. Click HERE.

Who’s Buried Where and Why Do We Care?

The last tour of this year’s w series will run rain or shine.   The tour starts promptly at 1:00 at the entrance to the cemetery and take approximately two hours.  Our tours are refreshed every year so plan on meeting new “residents” even if you have been on a tour to a cemetery previously.

Oct 26    B’nai Abraham   113 Corrigan Avenue

While the cost is free, we would appreciate your donations.  The suggested donation is $10 per tour and can be done on-line when your reserve your seat by clicking on the name above.

Thursday September 25th 6:30-7:30 41 W Main Street Meriden

Welcome to another chapter in our ongoing lecture series about the immigrants whose rich diversity made Meriden!  Between 1840 and 1870, nearly 1 million French speakers emigrated from Canada to the northeast United States and formed “Little Canada” communities, one of of which was Meriden.  Join Martha Colaresi (née Benoît) as she explores the heritage, trials, tribulations and triumphs that shape the story of French Canadians crossing the border, finding their way to Meriden, and becoming Franco-American.  Register HERE.

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.

The Homestead is NOT handicapped accessible and not airconditioned. Should the temperature prove to be too hot we will notify registered guests on the front page of our website and through Zeffy.

Thursday August 28 6:30-7:30 Meriden Museum & History Center, 41 West Main Street

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. Register HERE.

Thursday July 24 6:30-7:30 Meriden Museum & History Center ,41 West Main Street

xplore 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.