Hidden Gems of North-Central Connecticut

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Tucked behind a red picket fence on South Main Street in West Hartford is a seemingly unassuming 2-1/2 story wood frame house, featuring a large central chimney, but the history contained within its walls makes it worth the trip from anywhere in Connecticut. This is the site where in 1758, the future creator of the Blue-backed speller and the Dictionary of the American Language was born. Welcome to the Noah Webster House, a museum of the West Hartford Historical Society.

Following his graduation from Yale, Webster returned to the house in which he had grown up and began working as a teacher. He produced his first spelling book at age 25, and in 1828, the tome commonly known as Webster's Dictionary was published.

The house remained a private residence until it was donated to the town and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1962. It was converted to a museum in 1966, the same year it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Noah Webster House is open daily from 1 to 4 p.m., except on major holidays. Admission fee is $8 for adults, with discounts for senior citizens and students. More information about the museum, including rental opportunities, is available at www.noahwebsterhouse.org.

(West Hartford Historical Society)

(West Hartford Historical Society)

(West Hartford Historical Society)

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The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to tim.jensen@patch.com.

Other columns in this series:

• Signature Wall at the Bushnell
• Belding Wildlife Management Area
• The Aborn Castle
• Heublein Tower
• Birthplace of Jonathan Edwards
• Grave of Revolutionary War Soldier Heman Baker
• Jessica's Garden, Lobster and Ice Cream Shack
• Shade Swamp Sanctuary
• Ken's Corner Breakfast & Lunch
• Tolland Red and White
• The Packing House
• Cold Harbor Seafood
• Nye Holman State Forest/Heron Cove Park
• Hosmer Mountain Soda Shack
• Connecticut Trolley Museum
• Matterhorn Mini Golf
• Wood Memorial Library & Museum
• Hastings Farm
• Liquid Nirvana
• Iwo Jima Survivors Memorial Park
• Academy Hall
• Southington Drive-In
• Little Theatre of Manchester at Cheney Hall
• Somersvillage Gifts & Gourmet Baskets
• New England Civil War Museum
• The Pinchot Sycamore
• Stafford Palace Theater
• Mansfield Hollow State Park
• Old Tolland County Jail and Museum
• Hill-Stead Museum
• Mark's Restaurant