Putnam Memorial State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Putnam Memorial State Park |
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Equestrian statue of Israel Putnam at the entrance to Putnam Memorial State Park
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| Location | Redding, Connecticut, United States |
| Area | 183 acres (74 ha) |
| Elevation | 585 ft (178 m)-755 ft (230 m) |
| Established | 1887 |
| Administered by | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
| Designation | Connecticut state park |
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Putnam Memorial State Park
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Site of log huts on Company Street
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| Location | Jct. of Rtes. 58 (Black Rock Tpke.) and 107 (Park Rd.), Redding, Connecticut |
| Area | 183 acres (74 ha) |
| Built | 1778 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000683 |
| Added to NRHP | December 29, 1970 |
Putnam Memorial State Park is a special place in Redding, Connecticut. It's a public park where you can learn about history and have fun outdoors. This park keeps alive the memory of a very important winter during the American Revolutionary War.
In the winter of 1778-1779, Major General Israel Putnam chose this spot. His soldiers set up their winter camp here. This makes Putnam Memorial State Park Connecticut's oldest state park, started in 1887. Local people in Redding helped make it happen. The park was recognized nationally in 1970 for its historical importance.
Today, the park covers 183 acres (74 ha). You can go hiking on trails or enjoy a picnic. There's also pond fishing and fun winter sports. The park is located where Route 107 and Route 58 meet. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection takes care of it.
Contents
A Glimpse into History
Winter Camp of 1778-1779
During the American Revolutionary War, over 3,000 soldiers camped in Redding. They were spread across three different camps. Their main jobs were to guard important supply stores in Danbury, Connecticut. They also protected Long Island Sound and the Hudson River Valley. Many of these brave soldiers had also suffered through the harsh winter at Valley Forge the year before. Two specific groups, the 2nd Canadian Regiment (also called Congress' Own) and the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment, stayed at this very location.
How the Park Was Saved
The effort to save this historic land began in 1887. A local historian, Charles Burr Todd, encouraged Aaron Treadwell to sell some land. Treadwell sold 12.4 acres (5.0 ha) to the state for just one dollar! This act helped create the park. In 1955, the state's Park and Forest Commission started managing the park. For a while in the 1990s, local volunteers kept the park going. It officially reopened under state management in 1997.
Fun Things to Do and See
Visitor Center and Museum
- Visitor Center: This building is a great place to start your visit. It has displays that tell you all about General Putnam's life. You can also learn about the winter encampment and the park's history. The building you see today was rebuilt in 2005. It used many parts from the original building from 1893.
- Museum: Inside the museum, you'll find cool items discovered at the park. There are also things that people have donated. The exhibits show what life was like for soldiers long ago. They honor the men who stayed here during the war.
Famous Statue and Historic Grounds
- Putnam Statue: At the park's entrance, you'll see a large statue of General Israel Putnam on his horse. The famous sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington created it. She gave it to the park in 1969 when she was 93 years old! The statue shows the horse going down steps. This remembers a famous story from February 1779. General Putnam escaped British soldiers by riding his horse down 100 stone steps in Greenwich, Connecticut.
- Historic Grounds: As you explore the park, you'll see many "firebacks." These are the remains of chimneys from the soldiers' huts. There are also rebuilt copies of the guard house and officers' quarters. A 40-foot-tall (12 m) monument stands to remember the officers and soldiers. You can also find natural wonders like Philip's Cave, a rock shelter. Huge rocks called glacial erratics were left behind by glaciers long ago.
Exciting Events
- Events: The park often hosts special events. Every other November, you might see a historical reenactment. In alternating Octobers, there's a fun ghost walk. A guided winter walk happens every December. These events are put on by a group called Friends & Neighbors of Putnam Park.
Music Inspired by the Park
"Putnam's Camp"
The winter camp at Putnam Memorial State Park inspired a piece of music. It's called Putnam's Camp, Redding, Connecticut. This is the second part of a larger work named Three Places in New England. The famous composer Charles Ives wrote it.
See also
