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Middletown is a city of about 47,000 people on the west bank of the Connecticut River, roughly halfway between Hartford and New Haven. Settled in 1650, it grew into one of the busiest ports in colonial New England, and its merchants traded with the West Indies from wharves along the river.
Today the city is best known as the home of Wesleyan University, founded in 1831, whose hilltop campus holds Greek Revival landmarks such as the Russell House and the Davison Art Center. Main Street is unusually wide and lined with brick commercial blocks, restaurants, cafes and independent shops, and it stays lively thanks to students and theater groups like Oddfellows Playhouse.
Outdoors, Harbor Park sits on the riverfront, the Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill has wooded trails, and Wadsworth Falls State Park on the Coginchaug River is a short drive south. Middletown also makes an easy base for the Connecticut River towns of Haddam, East Haddam and Essex.
Wesleyan's campus on High Street mixes 19th-century brownstone buildings around Andrus Field with modern arts buildings. Visitors can walk the grounds freely, catch a concert or film series, and see College Row. Park on the side streets and pick up a campus map at the admission office.
Colonel Clarence Wadsworth's 1909 Colonial Revival mansion sits on wooded grounds with formal gardens and walking trails. The house is used for weddings and events, while the trails and lawns are open to the public for walks. Check the event calendar, as some areas close during private functions.
Built in 1828 for China trade merchant Samuel Russell, this columned mansion on High Street is a National Historic Landmark and one of the finest Greek Revival houses in the country. Wesleyan now uses it for readings and concerts, so check the university calendar for chances to go inside.
This 1810 Federal-style home belonged to Union General Joseph K. F. Mansfield, who was killed at the Battle of Antietam. It is the headquarters of the Middlesex County Historical Society, with exhibits on local history and the Civil War. Open hours are limited, so call or check online first.
Founded in 1850 next to the Wesleyan campus, this rural garden cemetery has winding lanes, a Gothic stone chapel and graves of notable Middletown families and university figures. It offers quiet walks and views over the city. Visitors are welcome during daylight hours; please be respectful.
Wesleyan's art museum is housed in the 1830s Alsop House and holds a large collection of prints, drawings and photographs spanning five centuries. It runs changing exhibitions in its gallery, and admission is free. Hours follow the academic year, so check before visiting in summer.
Middletown's Main Street is famously wide and lined with 19th-century brick buildings filled with restaurants, coffee shops, bars and independent stores. It is the city's social center for students and locals alike. Street parking is easy, and evenings are busiest when events or shows are on.
This riverfront park along the Connecticut River has a boardwalk, lawns and docks with views across to Portland. It is a pleasant spot for a sunset stroll and hosts summer concerts and boating activity. Reach it through the underpass from Main Street and bring a picnic for the river benches.
Just south of downtown, this state park has the impressive Big Falls on the Coginchaug River, wooded hiking trails and a swimming pond with a sandy beach. The short trail to the falls is easy for families. Expect a parking fee for non-Connecticut vehicles on summer weekends.
Kidcity fills a historic building on Washington Street with imaginative, hands-on themed play rooms designed for children up to about age eight. Visits are by timed admission, so reserve online in advance, especially on weekends and school holidays.
One of the oldest youth theaters in the country, Oddfellows Playhouse stages plays, musicals and circus shows with young performers in a historic hall on Washington Street. Public performances are affordable and family-friendly. See the website for the season schedule and summer programs.
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Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
