29th Colored Regiment Monument

The 29th Regiment and the Legacy of Criscuolo Park

In 1863, Criscuolo Park was a very different place than it is today. That fall, in the midst of the Civil War, more than 900 Black recruits for the 29th Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers mustered and trained there to fight for their country. Just a year earlier, the governor had opposed enlisting Black troops, but as the war continued, meeting enlistment demands became increasingly difficult.

Challenges and Triumphs in Battle

As Connecticut’s first all-Black regiment, the men of the 29th faced racism and discrimination, receiving lower pay than white soldiers and often being placed at the back of the corps. Despite these challenges, they fought valiantly in several engagements in Virginia. The 29th Regiment made history as the first infantry unit to enter Richmond after the Confederate Army abandoned the city. Just days later, they witnessed President Lincoln’s visit, marking the end of the bloody war.

Honoring Their Bravery

Today, their bravery is commemorated at Criscuolo Park, where a monument dedicated in 2008 honors the Connecticut 29th Colored Regiment C.V. Infantry. The memorial was designed by sculptor Ed Hamilton, who also created the Amistad Memorial in downtown New Haven.

This site is open to the public.