Wadsworth Falls State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wadsworth Falls State Park |
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 Wadsworth Falls State Park
Location in Connecticut
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| Location | Middlefield & Middletown, Connecticut, United States |
| Area | 285 acres (115 ha) |
| Elevation | 174 ft (53 m) |
| Designation | Connecticut state park |
| Established | 1942 |
| Named for | Clarence C. Wadsworth |
| Administrator | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
| Website | Wadsworth Falls State Park |
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Wadsworth Falls State Park
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Part of | Wadsworth Estate Historic District |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000775 |
| Added to NRHP | July 25, 1996 |
Wadsworth Falls State Park, or simply Wadsworth Falls, is a fun place to visit in Connecticut. It is a public park with lots of nature to explore. You can find it in the towns of Middletown and Middlefield. The park covers about 285 acres of land. It is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Park History
This park is named after Colonel Clarence C. Wadsworth (1871–1941). He was a very smart person who studied many things. He also spoke different languages. Colonel Wadsworth was a big fan of nature and worked to protect it. He was also part of the New York National Guard.
Colonel Wadsworth owned the land where the park is now. He developed it in the early 1900s. It was part of his large estate called Long Hill. He created a group called the Rockfall Corporation. This group was a charity that helped manage his properties. It also helped him with his efforts to protect nature.
After Colonel Wadsworth passed away, the Rockfall Corporation gave 267 acres of his land to the people of Connecticut. This land became Wadsworth Falls State Park. This gift helped make sure the beautiful area would be protected forever.
In 1996, a part of the park was added to a special list. This list is called the National Register of Historic Places. This part of the park is about 130 acres and is in Middletown. It is part of a larger area known as the Wadsworth Estate Historic District. The main building of this district, the Wadsworth Mansion, is next to the park. You can even reach it from the park by following a hiking trail marked with purple blazes.
Amazing Waterfalls
The park is famous for its two beautiful waterfalls. You can easily reach both of them by following the park's trails.
Big Falls
The larger waterfall is called Wadsworth Big Falls. It is on the Coginchaug River. This waterfall is very wide, about 52 feet across. The water drops about 30 feet over a rock shelf. This rock is a type of volcanic rock called Hampden basalt.
Little Falls
The smaller waterfall is called Wadsworth Little Falls. You can find it along Wadsworth Brook. This waterfall drops about 40 feet. It flows over a rock called Portland arkose, which is a type of sandstone.
Fun Things to Do
Wadsworth Falls State Park is a great place to enjoy the outdoors. It has beautiful scenery and lots of trees.
- Hiking: There are many trails for you to explore on foot.
- Mountain Biking: You can also ride your mountain bike on some of the trails.
- Fishing: If you like to fish, you can try your luck in the streams.
Please note that swimming, picnicking, and alcohol are not allowed in the park anymore.
