A warm, English-Tudor style cottage built in the 1920s on the top of a meadow surrounded by…read moregardens. Fields filled with birds, butterflies and dragonflies. I wish I could describe it better... I'm not going to, because I'm tired. I guess you can always just look at the photos. Unless you decide to actually go and experience it for yourself. Either way...

Since moving to CT, we discovered a great program that gives a little incentive for visiting a…read morenumber of CT state parks, the DEEP Sky's The Limit Program. In 2017, Topsmead was among the parks listed, so we decided to go give it a visit. Winter was not the best time to visit, and it's hard to give it a really good/fair rating. The main farmhouse area was closed for the season, and the weather wasn't really great for hiking. It would be a great spot for cross country skiing in the winter, though. The outstanding negative at the time of our visit were the state of the toilets. They're pit toilets, which is fine, but they were not dug at all deeply, and if not for the freezing weather, I can imagine it would be rather unpleasantly fragrant. We'll definitely be visiting again and reevaluating at some point.

The historic district of Litchfield is what people who don't live in Connecticut picture when…read moreconjuring up an image of the state. Litchfield's history is an interesting one, my favorite pieces including locking up Benjamin Franklin's loyalist son and melting down a statue of King George to make bullets during the Revolution. Hints of that history, and the slight revisionism that followed it, can be seen in the structures of Litchfield today. The cobblestone court, although they did not historically have cobblestones, is where horses and blacksmiths used to be kept behind a (no longer existing due to fire) hotel. The Green is well kept with multiple memorials, although the design used is not the one submitted by the architect who one day designed Central Park (and his name escapes me). Today the historic Green area has multiple restaurants (with a lot of pizza), home goods and clothing shops, and of course antique shops. At the top is the Litchfield Historical Society, which can tell you much more about the history then this Yelp review. (They probably remember the important names) They also occasionally offer walking tours, so it's a good idea to watch their Facebook page.

The beautifully manicured Litchfield Town Green, bounded by North, South, East, and West Streets,…read moreis a treasure chest of historical sights. Military monuments are everywhere -Civil War, WW I, WW II, Korea, and Vietnam. There is a cannon there. There is a plaque to commemorate where in 1862, a recruiting tent stood to sign up recruits for the 19th CT Volunteer Infantry. There is a plaque signifying where Lyman (father of Harriet Beecher Stowe) Beecher's church stood. In recognition of all this, in 1968 the US Dept of the Interior and the National Park Service awarded this area the status of "a registered national historic landmark" due to its "exceptional value in commemorating or illustrating the history of the United States." I posted individual reviews of the Beecher, Civil War, and 20th Century war memorials.

A lovely marker located in front of Litchfield Town Hall. There is a separate entrance and exit so…read moreyou can drive around, or park on the Green and carefully make your way over to study it. Parking in the back is signed as being for Town Hall business only, and since the town trooper apparently keeps his office there, you may want to follow that guidance.

"Location, location, location", right?…read more Because it was located on the stagecoach route between New York and the New England towns, the village known as Litchfield thrived and became a strategic post during the American Revolution. So not only did George Washington sleep there, but so did Alexander Hamilton and Lafayette! Even way back then, Litchfield seemed to attract the beautiful people. Located on the front lawn of Litchfield Town Hall, this is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It dates to 1977 and is in very good condition. The full inscription reads: Litchfield The "Greenwoods" or "Western Lands" of Connecticut were explored in 1715 by John Marsh of Hartford, purchased for fifteen pounds from the Potatuck Indians, who called the area "Bantam", and first settled in 1720. In 1751 this village was designated the seat of the newly organized county of Litchfield. A location on the inland stage routes between New York and the towns of New England promoted a healthy commerce, and during the American Revolution the town served as a supply depot for the Continental Army as well as an occasional holding place for Loyalist prisoners. In September 1780 General George Washington, attended by his aides Alexander Hamilton and the Marquis de Lafayette, lodged in this town en route from an historic conference with French allies at Hartford. Here Judge Tapping Reeve had established the first law school in America by 1784, and in 1792 a pioneering school for the education of females was opened by Miss Sarah Pierce. (reverse) By 1810 Litchfield was the fourth largest town in Connecticut, but then, overlooked by railroads and large scale water-powered industry, the town declined in population for almost a century, fortunately preserving a large portion of the architecture of her golden age. Here can be seen the houses where Ethan Allen, Aaron Burr, John C. Calhoun, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Benjamin Tallmadge, and Oliver Wolcott, signer of the Declaration of Independence, lived or studied. The village green and the areas of North Street and South Street within the Borough have been designated a National Historic Landmark. Points of interest open to the public include the Oliver Wolcott Library, the Tapping Reeve House and Law School, and the Litchfield Historical Society Museum and Research Library. At the western edge of town are Bantam Lake, the largest natural lake in the state, and the Litchfield nature center and Museum, on the grounds of the White memorial Foundation. Erected by the Town of Litchfield and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1977

This historical landmark may have been the brain child of some exasperated historian trying to…read moreconvince people history is literally in their front yard. I have no proof of this, but I'd like to believe it's true. The sign and rocker marker for the Pierce Academy are literally in someone's front yard, but the house is set far back from the sidewalk so if you're stopping to look, you don't have to go onto their property. The Pierce Academy was also called the "Female Academy", and subscribed to the then novel idea girls should learn the same things as boys. Believe it or not, Litchfield and the surrounding area was once a place people went to (thank you trains) so pupils came from far and wide, and got to comingle with the young men going to the first american law school down the road. Now a rock marks the place where all the learning was. If you visit this rock, please be respectful of dog walkers. Right now there are snow mounds taller then most dogs, and there's not a huge amount of room to socially distance.

Bantam River Park is across from the former Bantam Town Hall. It's small but cute. There's a lovely…read moregarden in the spring, and currently signs explaining former historical landmarks in Bantam. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I forget some of these small towns used to have THINGS, instead of just shopping and restaurants. Bantam had factories like many other small towns. They made horse carriages, one of which is on display in a small barn. There's a waterfall you can admire, although I believe access is restricted by gated fence.

Lyman Beecher, the father of Harriet Beecher Stowe, was a Presbyterian minister in Litchfield…read moreConnecticut, in the long long ago. To commemorate this, in 1908 a plaque was placed on the Litchfield Green in presumably the location his church stood. In the modern era, this is right next to a road leading up to a traffic light, so observe with some caution for the cara behind you. It is located on the area of the Green across from the Litchfield historical museum. It is very pretty as plaques go, and being raised makes it easy to find.

When Lyman Beecher moved to Litchfield in 1810, he wouldn't have known that one of his descendants…read morewould alter the course of American history. The town green in Litchfield includes a very cool memorial plaque dedicated to Lyman Beecher and his children. The monument is on the site of the church where Beecher preached from 1810-1826. One of Reverend Beecher's children became a pivotal figure in American history and a catalyst in the abolition movement. Harriet Beecher (Stowe) was born in 1811, just a half mile away. In 1852, she published Uncle Tom's Cabin, an anti-slavery book that helped rocket America toward it's Civil War. The memorial was erected by the Litchfield County University Club in 1908. It's another great example of the incredibly rich history that seems to pop up in every corner of this small state.

This memorial is on the Litchfield Town Green in Litchfield, CT. There are seven monuments placed…read morein memory of war veterans. There is a huge obelisk, Cival War cannon, Cival War memorial, flag pole. The obelisk is grand and stands about 18 feet; it was erected in 1874 and is made of marble. Other monuments are for the Vietnam, Korean, and World Wars. This is a nicely maintained memorial. There are brick pavers throughout. The views of downtown Litchfield provides a nice back drop.

I live in the South so I'm used to seeing Civil War memorials on every town square and county…read morecourthouse https://www.yelp.com/collection/MZtwuckarww8rexRQ2G_uQ/Civil-War-aka-The-War-of-Northern-Aggression. Spotting them in the North is a bit more unusual and I am still glad to see them. While there are few battlefields in the north, the cities and towns here sent their young men to fight for the Union. Many did not return. This monument is to them. The Litchfield Civil War monument is a marble obelisk on a gray granite base. It is 18 feet high and was erected here in 1874 to honor its citizens who died in the Civil War. In the middle, there are raised letters spelling out "PRO PATRIA" which translates to "For Country" and on the front, "FT DARLING" and "FISHER HILL" with the seal of the State of Connecticut. The east side of the monument displays "ANTIETAM" and "FT HARRISON" while the north face reads "PETERSBURG" and "NORTH ANNA" and the west face reads "WINCHESTER" and "COLD HARBOR." The monument is on the Litchfield Town Green. [Review 18403 overall - 69 in Connecticut - 1925 of 2022.]

The Litchfield Jail has gone through a bit of a remodel in recent years - it's been converted into…read moreseveral business spaces (as of this writing including the Bakehouse) and a restaurant (the Marketplace). I heard rumor the top floor was converted to an apartment. The Jail is still visible to the outside for those who know what the original building is, but it's not available for tour or anything as a jail. You can go in the shops, and while they are of course very nice, they look like shops. So just to break down the rating: one star for being a historic building, one for being blue (a lovely color), but since the fact it was originally a jail is trivia more then anything, no additional stars.

If you are a history buff then this is definitely a place for you. My recent visit to Litchfield…read morewas a journey through the 19th century. While exploring I learned how Litchfield became such a valuable institution and game changer in the education system especially empowering women. The hands-on and interpretive exhibits alters your perception of what museums are for sure. Don't be fooled by the small size, the exhibits were beautifully laid out, very detailed and informative .. what I liked most is you can do it at your own pace. The museum is free to all and street parking is fairly easy. P.S: don't forget to catch a glimpse (across the street, while you still can) of the last sycamore tree planted by Oliver Wolcott...representing 13 colonies marking victory over British rule.

The Tapping Reeve House is the site of the first law school in America. Having gone to law school,…read moreand being kind of a nerd, I had to visit when I was in the area. There are only a few rooms with exhibits on the first floor of the house and no real tour, but the exhibits are informative, and the house itself is very nice inside. Tapping Reeve's first student was Aaron Burr, and as the school grew, he built a small classroom next to his house, which you can peek into. We skipped the 15-minute informative video, but the friendly staff member there gave us a brief synopsis of the history of the school, and I think that was enough. Admission is now free.