putnam memorial state park

we were so impressed with this revolutionary war camp site and park. Did not know about it .Found the museum such a great learning experience and our guide at the museum was very interesting and so knowledgeable and a very pleasant man. We talked a lot and I was interested in his stories and I did tell him I am a very very distant relative to Benedict Arnold .... We had a great time at this park...

This is a fun little park with enough to keep you busy for an hour. The park has some ruins and a great deal of history. It is pretty and the trees and rubble of old hut chimneys make for an entertaining walk. Definitely worth a stop.

This is a fascinating place for history buffs. There is a relatively new visitors center and a little museum. The park itself is on both sides of the Black Rock Turnpike, the road the British marched up in 1776 on their way to burn Danbury. The park is the site were colonial soldiers camped for a year in very arduous conditions. The side of the park opposite the visitors center has a nice walking loop which is the only trail in the area snow ploughed in the winter.

Putnam Park was Connecticut's first state park when it was created in the 1890's to commemorate the winter encampment of the Revolutionary soldiers during the winter of 1778 - 1779. There is a nice walking path which includes markers which tell about the campsites and other features of the area. Another part of the park has a picnic area near the lake. A newly renovated visitor's center is open during the summer season, and it includes restrooms. It is close to my home, so I have been there many times. It is a rustic park, but a special place due to the history of the place.

Many cultivated walking paths and views of remains of winter encampment of American soldiers during the war for our independence from British rule. There is also a small museum

In the very bad winter of 1777-1778, General Israel Putnam and his troops held out against the British, who were attempting to wrest control of the Hudson River Valley, to the west, from the Continental Army. Come and see how the troops lived and tried to survive a brutal winter and stave off starvation and attack at the same time as the British approached from the Connecticut coast and up the Hudson River Valley. There is a new visitor's center here and special events from Revolutionary War re-enactments to Colonial craft fairs. At the junction of Rt58 and Rt107, here in Redding Connecticut.

At the main point there is a parking lot which borders a statue of General Putnam and a new visitor center. I had high hopes for the visitor center but, as other reviews mentioned, was disappointed in the quality of the exhibits. The biggest shock was no orientation film or resources to the park- this is about the only historical park I have ever been to which lacked one. After making my way through the visitor center (I think it took 15 minutes- and I read about everything) I entered the park area. I didn't realize at the time but the sites in the park are on a loop tour road which can be driven in your car. It does also make a nice walk. There were about 14 stops each with interpretative signage, but most of them were lacking an "tangible" reminders of what once happened here. However, seeing the locations where the cabins were really helped lend scale to the size of the encampment.I was disappointed that the museum was closed when I was there, despite being during the hours it was supposed to be open.Overall a decent stop if you are trying to break up a drive to get somewhere else and have 60-90 minutes to kill. You could spend more time here to enjoy nature.One piece of advice- if you are using a GPS to get there, print the map from the Putnam Park website ahead of time. There are about 3 ways to gain access to the park, and the GPS will not always deliver you to the visitor center.

We recently visited the Putnam Park Memorial Museum and visitor center. For years we have walked the Revolutionary War site at the park but this was out first trip into the museum building.The exhibits were mostly replicas with a few authentic period pieces as well. One, a horse bridle belonging to General Putnam is displayed on the wall behind the info desk. It is easy to overlook.The information displays have a high school history project look to them On our visit, the young lady at the desk was unhelpful and seemed more interested in texting than answering a few simple questions. She was very unknowledgeable of the area and even of the material on display.The museum, while attractive, is really a lost opportunity. Much more could be easily done to make this a more informative resource.

The have a lot of reinactments here. Beautiful in the fall especially and a fun place to hike or have picnic

self drive tour through the park. See where Revolutionary soldiers camped and lived. OMG!They had it tough caompared to how we now live up here. Excedllent historical presentation. Guides in the main house are always friendly and helpful and answer questions. Children will learn their American history here. There alre also historical re enactments for all to see. Call for or us Internet for the schedule. Worthe the trip. Visit Ridgefield while up here for the house with the Revolutionary War cannonball embedded in it. "Secret" hiding place for ball -- nice for the kids to find..

This is a beautiful park to go hiking. Easily found on the Bethel/Redding border. My dog loves it too!

New visitor center tells the story of General Isreal Putnam and his brave American troops surviving a bitterly cord winter. A must for history buffs. Also a great park for a picnic.

Nice and safe park to explore with kids. Historic activities hosted by park