“The Silk City, Manchester, CT”

Manchester, a town in central Connecticut, Hartford County, is home to numerous town clubs, museums, and parks that provide activities for both children and adults. The town of Manchester was founded in 1672 after Puritans bought the land from Mohegan Native Americans. Known as the “Silk City” Manchester served an important role during the Industrial Revolution. Manchester CT has historical buildings all around town. Along with this, the town has a multitude of restaurants, activities, and recreational places for everyone. Check out some of these attractions below!

Historical Sites in Manchester CT

The Cheney Brothers Historic District

The Cheney Brothers Historic District is located in South Manchester CT and dates back to the early 1900s. The district is home to the Cheney brothers’ company town that produced silk. They were one of the first American silk manufacturing companies to create new techniques for producing silk, having many other companies use these techniques soon after.

The historic district is about 175-acres long, and holds a number of silk mills, family mansions, workers’ housing, schools, and libraries that are displayed as museums and are seen as a national historic landmark. Cheney Hall, one of the centerpieces of this district, is located at 177 Hartford Road in Manchester. Built by the brothers after the Civil War, Cheney Hall acted as a showroom used for decades. It can be used for both private and public functions, and its beautiful exterior makes it a wonderful place to sightsee.

Cheney Family Mansions

The Cheney Brothers Historic District also offers the Cheney family mansions, which are now hotels and inns for visitors. The Seth Cheney (139 Hartford Road, Manchester CT), Charles Cheney (131 Hartford Road, Manchester CT), and Philip Cheney (50 Forest Street, Manchester) mansions are all hotels that are also open for sightseeing. Being located near the Manchester Historical Society, these lovely mansions built between the late 1800s and early 1900s offer prime Gilded Age architecture that has been preserved to its highest quality.

The mansions were once home to members of the Cheney family, as they didn’t want to stray too far from their business location. With lovely service and breathtaking views, these mansions serve as the perfect hotels for a stay in Manchester.

Activities and Recreation for Families and Kids in Manchester CT

Manchester’s Museums

Some museums to visit while in Manchester are Lutz Children’s Museum (247 South Main Street, Manchester) and Manchester Historical Society (175 Pine Street, Manchester). Lutz Children’s Museum is another place for kids. With exhibitions and displays that allow children to discover new things about culture, sciences, and history, the museum also has animal and nature exhibitions and programs.

The Manchester Historical Society is a non-profit organization that presents the history of Manchester. From open houses to lectures to history walks, the organization provides many assets for both adults and children to learn about old Manchester to its modern version today.

Wickham Park

Manchester, Connecticut is home to many parks, including recreation of all kinds. There are trails running throughout the entire town, and it isn’t hard to find a nice outdoor spot. One very popular spot is Wickham Park, located on 1329 Middle Turnpike West in Manchester. With 280-acres of land, the park is home to pavilions, picnic spots, trails, gardens, sporting areas, and other facilities.  Wickham Park also extends into East Hartford, and is home to many local events, such as state cross-country races, fundraiser events, and, during Christmastime, Santa’s Workshop. Wickham Park is open throughout the year, and is the perfect place for any occasion.

More Outdoor Manchester Areas 

Similar to Wickham, other outdoor parks for families and kids are Center Springs Park (39 Lodge Drive, Manchester CT) and Charter Oak Park (56 Charter Oak Street, Manchester). The two offer a variety of trails, waterfalls, and fishing areas, along with sporting spots such as a disc-golf course and basketball and tennis courts. The parks also have playgrounds and recreational spots for kids, as well as picnic areas. More places throughout the town that offer similar activities are Gay City State Park, Hop River State Park, and Manchester’s schools, such as Manchester High School and Waddell Elementary School.

Manchester Ropes Challenge Course

In Manchester you can find the Manchester Ropes Challenge Course. The challenge has low and high elements for beginners and more advanced participants, and offers games that aim to work mental and physical functions. Children can complete the course in groups, and is led by a trained supervisor. Located at 180 Hillstown Rd in Manchester CT, this park is a joy for kids and families.

Manchester CT Restaurants

Manchester offers many restaurants of many flavors. Some casual dining options include the Market Grille, Artisanal Burger Company, Mulberry Street Pizza, and Sukhothai Restaurant. Other options for dining include Filomena’s Pizzeria, Center Perk, Three Amigos Taquería, and Indigo Indian Bistro.

Manchester’s Notable People

Two notable people from Manchester, CT are Dana White and Kory Sheets. Dana White is an entrepreneur best known for being president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Born on July 28th, 1969, White had turned the UFC organization into a global success, grabbing audiences from all over the world. Kory Sheets is a football player in the National Football League (NFL). He was born on March 31st, 1985, and signed to the San Francisco 49ers in 2009 after playing college football at Purdue.

The running back was signed to many other teams after that, even playing in the Canadian Football League. He holds the 2nd highest record for yards gained in a championship game for his 197 yards in the 101st Grey Cup game, being named that year’s Grey Cup’s most valuable player.

Because you never know, 3-D Bail Bonds Manchester bail bond services are available 24 hours, seven days with instant bail services at all local Manchester police stations and courts in and around Manchester, and Vernon CT. For fast and affordable bail bonds, find us here or call toll-free 800-896-9001.

This post was contributed by Morgan Kicks. She’s a content writer at 3-D Bail Bonds, learn more about her published works by visiting her profile.