‘Leaving Connecticut, Shaping America’ Lecture at Museum of Darien

The Museum of Darien is hosting Leaving Connecticut, Shaping America, a lecture by Walt Woodward, Connecticut State Historian emeritus, taking place on Sunday, October 29th at 3:30pm. Refreshments will be served following the lecture.

Between 1780 and 1830, tens of thousands of Connecticans left Connecticut to “begin the world anew” in places like Pennsylvania, Vermont, western New York, and especially, the Connecticut Reserve of what is now Ohio. In a fast-paced and copiously-illustrated talk, Woodward discusses the reasons behind Connecticut’s massive outmigration, the distinctive attributes of the people who chose to leave, and the very serious concerns their removal raised for those they left behind.

Dr. Woodward is a scholar of Early American and Atlantic World history, with an emphasis on Connecticut and New England and is the author of five books. He served as the State Historian of Connecticut and a member of the History Department at the University of Connecticut from 2004 to 2022. Before becoming a historian, Woodward had successful careers in both the music and advertising industries. He was the composer of two minor hit country songs (“Marty Gray” (Top 10) and “It Could’a Been Me” (Top 20)) in the 1970s, as well as music for film and television, for which he won two Emmy Awards and two special achievement awards from SESAC. His advertising creativity won him 8 Clio Awards, and in 1980 he was Cleveland’s Advertising Person of the Year. He continues to research write and share his love for the history of Connecticut and New England through the Today in Connecticut History program on Connecticut Public Radio and at TODAYINCTHISTORY.com, the Grating the Nutmeg podcast he produces in collaboration with Connecticut Explored, the magazine of Connecticut history, articles, and public lectures.

All are welcome to attend the lecture, which is free and open to the public and follows the 3pm Annual Meeting open only to Museum members. All members are encouraged to attend the annual meeting to discuss highlights of the past year, plans for the coming year and to vote in a new Board member, Cynthia Stamm.

RSVP for the Leaving Connecticut, Shaping America lecture by October 25th by calling (203) 655-9233 or emailing ekoch@museumofdarien.org. To find out more, visit museumofdarien.org. The Museum of Darien is located at 45 Old King’s Highway in Darien, CT.

Established in 1953 as the Darien Historical Society, the Museum of Darien welcomes all ages to celebrate the town’s history and to experience and discover the crafted objects, narratives and works of art that have shaped the community of Darien. The museum tells Darien’s story, from its earliest beginnings as Middlesex Parish to the prosperous community it is today. To learn more about supporting the town’s history, visit museumofdarien.org or call 203.655.9233

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