As part of its longstanding commitment to preserving Guilford’s historic built and natural environments, the Guilford Preservation Alliance launched its Heritage Tourism Initiative in October 2011, working in tandem with professional staff from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to develop a viable heritage tourism component for Guilford’s local economy. At its core, heritage tourism is about inviting people to discover and experience their town’s local history and culture as expressed in its distinctive historic buildings, places of historic interest and preserved natural resources.
Guilford, Connecticut, was founded in 1639 by English Puritans looking for a place where they could practice their religion unfettered by the restrictive leadership of the Church of England. Since that time, Guilford has been settled by and has nurtured leaders in religion, education, literature, government, invention, industry, architecture and the abolition of slavery. The walking tours of Historic Guilford will allow our student tour guides to share our wonderfully preserved community with those interested in Guilford’s contribution to 376 years of American History!
Henry Whitfield State Museum
Guilford is uniquely endowed with numerous splendid resources in each of these categories. It possesses hundreds of significant structures from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the Henry Whitfield State Museum, which is a National Historic site dating from the founding of European settlement at Guilford in 1639.
Its historic Town Green is considered by many to be among the most beautiful of all town greens to be found in New England. The town additionally contains thousands of acres of preserved open space, shoreline, forests and farmland within its nearly 50 square miles of area which can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
Tour Information
Tours are FREE and begin at The Guilford Information Plaza, 32 Church Street, Guilford, CT
