Brooklyn, Connecticut, can be explored through a range of interests: Brooklyn Green is home to a Georgian Unitarian church dating to around 1771, while Davis Forest has wooded hiking trails and an 18-hole disc golf course. The museum focuses on local history, while fair traditions, additional trails, and a hayride offer other points of interest. If you're looking for a hotel in Brooklyn, you can first decide whether local history, time outdoors, or a specific experience will shape your stay.
Architecture and Local History
Built around 1771, the Unitarian church stands in the center of Brooklyn Green. Its Georgian style offers a specific architectural landmark in the town's history. The history of the Brooklyn Green Historic District is a separate matter: it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Together, the church and the district's history offer two distinct points of reference: an individual house of worship and the historic designation of a district.
The Brooklyn Historical Society Museum is located in central Brooklyn. It features rotating local history exhibits as well as permanent exhibits in the General Putnam Gallery; the content of the rotating exhibits may change. In the gallery, “Israel Putnam: Facets of a Hero” tells the story of Israel Putnam as a farmer, soldier, tavern owner, and folk hero. These different roles make the exhibit a biographical introduction that goes beyond a single chapter of his life.
Another Putnam connection is the 19th-century Daniel Putnam Tyler Law Office, located behind the museum. Daniel Putnam Tyler practiced law in Brooklyn from 1822 until his death in 1875. The office and the gallery, then, relate to different people and historical subjects. Also in Brooklyn, Putnam Elms preserves the history of the Putnam family dating back to the 18th century.
Hiking Trails and Davis Forest
Hiking trails wind through wooded areas in Davis Forest. There is also a newly built 18-hole disc golf course; installation of some hole signs was not yet complete. This combination offers different ways to spend time outdoors, without requiring the trails and the course to involve the same activity.
Davis Forest is also home to the Scenic River Overlook Trail. It is 0.5 miles one way; also take local trail conditions into account when planning. The remains of Dyer Dam are on the site. The dam supplied power to Wauregan Mill, which operated as a cotton mill. So, alongside its trails, Davis Forest also offers a glimpse of the area's industrial history.
Brooklyn's hiking trails also include the Quinebaug River Trail, Creamery Brook Trail, Carol Randall Memorial Nature Trail, and Donald Francis Recreation Park Trail.
The Fair, Programs, and Other Experiences
The history of the Brooklyn Fair traces back to an agricultural fair organized in 1809, with plans for it to be held annually thereafter. The Brooklyn Fair is located at 15 Fairgounds Road, Brooklyn, Connecticut 06234, United States. Since addresses can change, verify the address before traveling.
The Brooklyn Historical Society hosts four free history programs each year, as well as other special events. If you'd like to plan your visit around a specific program, check the schedule in advance. This is especially helpful if a particular event date is meant to determine your travel dates.
At Creamery Brook Bison, a hayride through a farm to see the free-roaming bison lasts 40 minutes. The offering may be seasonal or require an appointment. Before making plans, check whether a ride is offered during your travel dates.
Discover more destinations: Chaplin, Putnam, Plainfield, Woodstock, Killingly, Pomfret, Ashford
For the broader travel overview: Windham.
