A visitor’s guide to the Connecticut Freedom Trail

With over 130 sites that span more than 50 towns, Connecticut’s Freedom Trail offers a visual history of the feats accomplished by the state’s most prominent Black figures. From the birthplace of famed abolitionist John Brown, to the former home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the trail is a starting point for understanding the struggles faced by many people who sought basic human rights and dignities right here in Connecticut. Differing from the similarly named trail in Boston, which is older and chronicles the colonies’ freedom from Britain, the Connecticut Freedom Trail highlights important moments pertaining to Black history in Connecticut.

The trail is overseen by the Connecticut Freedom Trail Planning Committee, which includes community leaders like Alfred Marder from Amistad Committee, Gilbert Davis of the African American Historical Association of Fairfield County and Karl Stofko of the First Church Cemetery Association. Meanwhile, the State Historic Preservation Office and the Amistad Committee are the administrators of the trail.

Though new sites have been seldom added since the trail’s website was founded in 2011, the site lists that anyone interested in registering their home as a stop on the Connecticut Freedom Trail can file an application stating their reasoning and evidence for inclusion into the trail. Connecticut History.

To view the complete guide, visit

ctinsider.com/ct-freedom-trail.

Mary and Eliza Freeman Houses, Bridgeport

In 1831, a “Little Liberia” community formed in Bridgeport around the African Methodist Episcopal church. The Mary and Eliza Freeman Houses are the only two houses remaining from that community. The Freeman sisters were two Black women who rented these houses out while they resided in New York City. The sisters would later move to Bridgeport full time and own other rental properties. Both sisters overcame significant life obstacles as Black women during that time period. Currently, the homes are privately owned and not open to the public.

352-54 and 358-60 Main St.,

Freedom continues on E4

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center/ Contributed photo The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford is part of the Connecticut Freedom Trail, which highlights important moments pertaining to Black history in Connecticut.