The ‘History Drives Us’ bus tour around West Hartford will take place on June 18.

The History Drives Us bus tour will leave from the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society on Saturday, June 18. Submitted photo

Submitted by Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society

The Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society will offer a special bus tour of West Hartford’s “hidden” history on Saturday, June 18 from 1-2:30 p.m. The tour will focus on the town history north of Farmington Avenue. A tour of the southern half will be offered later this summer.

The tour will point out sites of significance that have largely been forgotten over the years. Each attendee will also receive a photo packet to show past landscapes and buildings.

“We’ve split the town in half this year because an hour and a half tour didn’t do the whole town justice,” said Public Programs Manager Sarah St. Germain. “We found we were missing out on too much history!”

“West Hartford has such a rich history. There are so many places and stories that have been forgotten over time,” said Executive Director Jennifer Matos. “The History Drives Us bus tour is great because we do all the driving and our guests can sit back and relax. It’s like being a tourist in your own town.”

A.C. Petersen’s flagship farm was once located on the land between North Main Street and Troutbrook. Submitted photo

The History Drives Us bus tour will depart from the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society, 227 South Main St., West Hartford, on Saturday, June 18, 2016, at 1 p.m. and will return at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person ($20 for museum members, Presidents’ College Fellows & Let’s GO Arts cardholders) and can be purchased at noahwebster.yapsody.com. Space is limited.

The History Drives Us bus tour is co-sponsored by the Presidents’ College, a non-credit program offering short courses and activities for adults, taught by visiting lecturers and members of the University of Hartford faculty. Its mission is to create an extended community of thinking people who are interested in learning new things under the guidance of our leading professors. The Presidents’ College extends the University of Hartford’s educational mission by engaging the adult population of the surrounding communities in the intellectual and academic life of the campus.

The Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society is a cultural destination where citizens can learn to understand and appreciate the past. The museum preserves the birthplace of Noah Webster, the founding father, educator, author, and lexicographer who taught generations of Americans what it means to be American. This National Historic Landmark is also a repository for West Hartford’s history, the community that molded Noah Webster’s future, and is still thriving over 250 years later. The historic house and exhibit spaces are open daily from 1 until 4 p.m. For information on the museum’s extensive school and public programs, please visit www.noahwebsterhouse.org or call (860) 521-5362.

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The Hartford Golf Club’s clubhouse was once located across the street from the Asylum Avenue entrance of Elizabeth Park. Submitted photo

A Toll House used to sit at the base of Avon Mountain on Mountain Road. Participants in the History Drives Us bus tour will visit this and many other hidden historical sites. Submitted photo