This lecture explores the evolving story of Latin American immigration to Meriden, tracing the journeys, challenges, and contributions of communities that have reshaped the city’s cultural and economic landscape. From early migration waves to present-day neighborhoods, we’ll examine how traditions, labor, language, and identity intersect to create a vibrant local mosaic. By connecting personal stories [...]
Since 2000, Meriden, Connecticut has quietly transformed into a vivid crossroads of cultures, shaped by new waves of immigration that are redefining the city’s identity. This engaging lecture explores the people, policies, and personal stories behind that change—tracing how global migration trends have reshaped neighborhoods, schools, and local economies. Through data, lived experiences, and surprising [...]
This lecture explores how a small but strategically situated New England community became intertwined with the broader struggle for American independence. Nestled among the rugged Hanging Hills, Meriden’s landscape shaped both its economy and its role in the Revolutionary War, from supplying goods and manpower to serving as a corridor for communication and movement. The [...]
From factory floors to training camps, discover how Meriden workers, families, and soldiers experienced the war—at home and on the frontline. During the Civil War era, the city of Meriden emerged as an important center of industry, demonstrating how northern manufacturing supported the Union war effort. Known especially for its silver and metalworking factories, Meriden [...]
Join us for “From War to Welcome: How 1898 Brought Puerto Rico to Meriden,” an engaging exploration of how the Spanish–American War reshaped both Puerto Rico and Meriden in unexpected ways. This lecture traces the story from war and American expansion to the arrival of Puerto Rican families who helped transform Meriden’s neighborhoods, industries, culture, [...]
From Silver to Service: Meriden in Two World Wars explores how our city’s factories, families, and streets were shaped by wartime service and sacrifice. This lecture explores how two global conflicts transformed the twentieth century while revealing the vital role one Connecticut community played in the war effort. Beginning with an overview of the causes, major events, [...]
Step back into Meriden during the Viet Nam era—a time of protest, factory shifts, family kitchens, and the Hanging Hills watching over it all. This lecture explores how the national tensions of the Vietnam War era were reflected in the community of Meriden, Connecticut. Through stories of local residents, veterans, activists, and workers, it examines [...]