Town Historian Tracey Wilson will present a lecture at the opening of the ‘West Hartford A to Z’ exhibit on Jan. 31, 2018.

Submitted

Town Historian Dr. Tracey Wilson. Submitted photo

On Jan. 31, 2018, the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society will open an exhibit featuring West Hartford history accompanied by a lecture by the town historian. West Hartford A to Z is a bold, colorful, interactive, and whimsical exhibit showcasing over 300 years of life in town.

Visitors to the museum can explore the alphabet soup of West Hartford’s dynamic past, colorful personalities, and pivotal events.

The exhibit features stylized artwork by painter and West Hartford native Pamela R. Levy. Levy’s artwork vibrantly brings each letter of the alphabet to life.

Guests explore the visual record of the town’s triumphs and losses through the hundreds of images included in the exhibit.

This exhibit has been redesigned from an earlier version done in 2011 to include updated information and photographs.

The new design allows for the exhibit to easily travel to other locations. According to Curator Sheila Daley, “Our goal is to have the exhibit at the museum several months each year and then display it at other locations around the community. In this way we can go beyond the walls of the museum – engaging residents and inspiring them with the community’s heritage and culture.”

The exhibit opening will include a talk by Town Historian Dr. Tracey Wilson: “10 Documents that Define West Hartford History.” In what has become an annual tradition, Wilson chose 10 historical documents that tell the history of West Hartford. In her third iteration of this task, she has dug deeper into history to find documents that help us understand our town today.

This event is free and open to the public (donations gratefully accepted). Although not required, registration for the event is recommended at noahwebster.yapsody.com.

Admission to see the West Hartford A to Z exhibit will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31. Wilson’s lecture will begin at 7 p.m. The Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society is located at 227 South Main St., West Hartford, CT 06107.

The West Hartford A to Z exhibit will be available for loan after its initial run at the museum. Contact Sheila Daley, Curator & Director of Special Projects, at 860-521-5362 x17 to inquire about loaning the exhibit.

The West Hartford A to Z exhibit was made possible through the support of Connecticut Humanities. The museum would also like to thank the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and the Greater Hartford Arts Council for their ongoing support.

The Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society is a not-for-profit museum and 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 the history of West Hartford, the community that molded Webster’s future and is still thriving over 250 years later. The historic house and exhibit spaces are open daily 1-4 p.m. For information on the museum’s extensive school and public programs, visit www.noahwebsterhouse.org or call 860-521-5362.