New Haven: First 100 Years

Welcome!

Whether a resident or a visitor, the City invites you to discover New Haven's first 100 years (1820 - 1920) of our history.

In 1820, New Haven was a nameless, tracking wilderness.
By 1920, this dense forest had been transformed into a thriving "transportation town." 
The catalyst for the transformation?
The 1843 opening of the Wabash and Erie Canal.

Through functional art and an enlightening story, we present our first 100 years in a series of eight "discovery sites" throughout the City, placed along the path where history was made. Through a QR code at each site, you can Explore New Haven's First 100 Years, part by part and chapter by chapter:

Part 1: Where It Began

Part 2: Origin As A "Canal Town"

Part 3: Confluence Of Transportation

Along the way, you'll discover how the early settlers transformed the wilderness and left their legacy. We hope you come away feeling awed by the story of our city's first 100 years.