Freedom Trail Quilts
Origins of the Freedom Trail Quilt Project
The Freedom Trail Quilt project and its exhibition underscore the importance of Connecticut’s Freedom Trail and the narratives it contains. The idea of the project first originated with Eloy Toppin, a cyclist from Hartford. Later on, Heather Williams, a Yale graduate and quilter, gathered a small group to create the quilt sections.
Design and Representation of the Quilt
Due to its large size, the quilt is divided into four sections, each representing the regions of Farmington, New Haven, Hartford, and New London. Overall, a total of 89 people contributed to making the quilt squares, and 116 individuals helped assemble the entire quilt. The quilt features 15-inch squares that depict various Freedom Trail sites, including gravesites, monuments, homes, and other structures connected to the Underground Railroad and the Amistad Case. This quilt also honors notable individuals like Paul Robeson, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Prudence Crandall, and Marian Anderson.
It was unveiled to the public at a ceremony at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford on September 27, 1998, and the quilt framing was donated by Pratt & Whitney, in 1999.
The quilt is now displayed at the Museum of Connecticut History.
This site is open to the public.
Learn More
Tuhus, Melinda. “The View from/the Freedom Trail; a Giant Quilt Pays Tribute to People United in the Cause of Justice.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Oct. 1998, Link.
Contact
Opening hours
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Monday10:00 am - 4:00 pm
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Tuesday10:00 am - 4:00 pm
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Wednesday10:00 am - 4:00 pm
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Thursday10:00 am - 4:00 pm
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Friday10:00 am - 4:00 pm
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SaturdayClosed
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SundayClosed
Closed on State Holidays