Exhibition
To Come to a Land of Milk and Honey: Fairfield & the Connecticut Western Reserve
| October 4, 2025 — April 12, 2026 |
Imagine taking Connecticut’s northern and southern borders and extending them to the west coast. In 1662, Connecticut Colony did just that, claiming a stretch of land that reached all the way to the Pacific Ocean. In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, Connecticut ceded most of its western lands to the federal government but kept about 6,000 square miles along the shores of Lake Erie. Known as the Western Reserve or New Connecticut, that land connected New England to the American frontier.
For Fairfield residents, the story of western migration is tied to the American Revolution. Those who lost their homes in the Burning of Fairfield in 1779 received land in a section of the Western Reserve known as the Firelands. While many chose to remain in Fairfield, the Firelands represented a chance to rebuild and start fresh for the families that chose to leave Connecticut.
Together, the journeys, decisions, and sacrifices made by the people of Connecticut and the Western Reserve led to the growth of the United States, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to resonate today.
Exhibition-Related Events & Programs
October 4, 2025 | 10 am – 4 pm | Pop-Up Display at the Fairfield Museum Research Library
November 18, 2025 | 6:30 – 7:30 pm | Local to Fairfield Series | Journey to the West
This exhibition was organized by the Litchfield Historical Society and adapted for presentation at Fairfield Museum.
