The Connecticut Valley Tobacco Historical Society

The Connecticut Valley Tobacco Historical Society One plant, roots that changed history. 🌱

With a setting among former tobacco fields, our museum opens its doors to the curious. THE MUSEUM

The C.T.

Little learners, naturalists, history buffs, farm workers, cigar connoisseurs all welcome. Valley Historical Society operates its Tobacco Museum within two buildings located on the pristinely beautiful 473-acre Northwest Park. HOURS

We are open to the public during growing season, that's tobacco-speak for spring through early fall. However, tours are available by appointment around the calendar y

ear. SCOPE

Cultivating tobacco's unique legacy, our mission is to preserve the plant's historical origins as well as the impact of its agricultural industry in Connecticut. The society houses many artifacts in the Gordon S. Taylor Tobacco Shed Museum related to farming practices, including a fantastic collection of antique farm equipment used in the growing of shade and broadleaf for which the Connecticut River Valley's known; since 1900, producing the highest quality wrapper—that is, the exterior leaf that surrounds the cigar filler—in the world! Adjacent to the shed, the John E. Luddy Archive galleries feature artisan cigar tools, books, employment records, and paraphernalia related to cigar trade and culture. Pay us a visit, and learn the history of the most important agricultural crop ever grown in Connecticut! DIRECTIONS

The museum is located in Windsor, Connecticut, USA.
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From Interstate 91 heading north, take Exit 38. From Interstate 91 heading south, take Exit 38A. Turn right at the exit on to Poquonock Avenue (Route 75). After 1.5 miles turn left on to Prospect Hill Rd. At the second traffic circle turn right onto Lang Rd. Continue up Lang Rd. to the gravel parking lot on the left-hand side. PARKING

Please park in the main parking lot and walk to the museum buildings via the marked path beside the pond.
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For seniors and those with accessibility permits only, continue to the lot next to the Nature Center for designated spots.
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If even closer parking or drop-off is needed, we will accommodate that.
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​⚠️No parking on the grass or beside the museum buildings, please.

08/31/2026

In observance to Labor Day the Museum will be closed September 4 and 5

We are planning another farm tour September 20, 2026.Please note we listened to the feedback and this year we have a mor...
08/30/2026

We are planning another farm tour September 20, 2026.
Please note we listened to the feedback and this year we have a more comfortable bus for everyone.
The farm tour will start at the Museum at 135 Lang Road then proceed by bus to a to***co farm where there will be a demonstration to the curing process of to***co.
This will be followed by a trip back to the museum for a tour of the museum, a great barbecue and fellowship.
Please call me at 860-836-0285 or Email at [email protected] with any questions.
Attached is the flyer for the to***co farm tour.

We are planning another farm tour September 20, 2026.Please note we listened to the feedback and this year we have a mor...
08/24/2026

We are planning another farm tour September 20, 2026.

Please note we listened to the feedback and this year we have a more comfortable bus for everyone.

The farm tour will start at the Museum at 135 Lang Road then proceed by bus to a to***co farm where there will be a demonstration to the curing process of to***co.

This will be followed by a trip back to the museum for a tour of the museum, a great barbecue and fellowship.

Please call me at 860-836-0285 or Email at [email protected] with any questions.

Attached is the flyer for the to***co farm tour.

08/14/2026

Save the Date
The Connecticut Valley To***co Historical Society is planning a Farm tour September 20, 2026.

Please stay tuned for details.

Jim Daniels

Call me with any questions 860-836-0285

08/07/2026

The museum will be closed tomorrow due the the Barn Smoker Event in Ellington CT

The Connecticut Valley To***co Historical society is growing Broadleaf to***co at the Museum.Once we obtain the Bluemold...
07/25/2026

The Connecticut Valley To***co Historical society is growing Broadleaf to***co at the Museum.
Once we obtain the Bluemold Resistant plants from the Experimental Station we will be growing that right along side the broadleaf to***co.
Any farmer who wants to observe this please call me at 860-836-0285 and I can set up a time for you to see.

We had a visitor from San Diego yesterday who worked in Enfield CT working Broad leaf to***co.Mitch Merriam shared stor...
07/25/2026

We had a visitor from San Diego yesterday who worked in Enfield CT working Broad leaf to***co.

Mitch Merriam shared stories of working to***co and described some of his best and worst jobs on the farm.

Attached are some pictures of his experiences at the Connecticut Valley To***co Historical Society in Windsor CT.

Come to the museum at 135 Lang Road on Friday noon to 4 PM and Saturday Noon to 4 PM to share your to***co stories.

Stepping in the Shade, a series produced by Eastern Connecticut State University and the Connecticut Valley To***co Hist...
07/17/2026

Stepping in the Shade, a series produced by Eastern Connecticut State University and the Connecticut Valley To***co Historical Society.
Join Host and Entertainment Personality, June Archer, as he takes a journey of exploration and learns about the dynamic history of the to***co farms in Connecticut and how the people who came to work on the farms left a lasting impression on society, culture and Civil Rights.

See all six episodes Friday nights beginning at 6pm on WIN-TV Comcast Channel 5 & HD Channel 1073 through the end of August.

Stepping Into the Shade is a love story about the people who toiled in the soil on the Connecticut to***co farms. This documentary series will explore the history of Connecticut To***co Farming and the various stories of the people who worked on the farms and changed culture and Civil Rights. Suppor...

07/04/2026

The To***co Museum is working with Alex and Scott from Browns Harvest growing Broad leaf and blue mold resistant broad leaf to***co.
We planted three rows of broad leaf to***co and when we get the blue mold resistant to***co we will be growing two rows of that for comparison.
Any to***co farmer who wants to observe can give me a call to observe how it works out.

I would like to thank Nancy Dudek for the donations of paintings for the Connecticut Valley To***co Historical SocietyTh...
07/03/2026

I would like to thank Nancy Dudek for the donations of paintings for the
Connecticut Valley To***co Historical Society
Thank you Nancy

Address

C. T. Valley Tobacco Museum, Northwest Park, 135 Lang Road
Windsor, CT
06095

Telephone

+18602851888

Website

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