Top 15 Activities and Attractions in Newington, CT

Summary

Mill Pond Park
Cedar Hill Cemetery
Lucy Robbins Welles Library
Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station
Newington Junction
Gen. Martin Kellogg House
Kelsey House
Newington Waterfall Festival
Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum
Montana Nights Axe Throwing
Alvarium Beer Company
Dinosaur State Park
Stanley Golf Course
Iwo Jima Survivors’ Memorial Park
Copernican Observatory and Planetarium (CCSU)

Newington, a residential suburb of Greater Hartford, boasts numerous appealing attractions worth your consideration.

Individuals passionate about amateur radio will recognize it as the birthplace of the American Radio Relay League and the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station.

Newington is also home to the smallest waterfall in the United States, situated in a picturesque park at the heart of the town.

At Newington Junction, visitors can admire the stunning New England architecture that has stood for over 300 years. The Newington Historical Society has opened two fascinating homes for public exploration.

The town is compactly nestled amongst neighboring suburbs, making it convenient to access museums, craft breweries, and one of the best public golf courses in the state, all within a short distance.

Let us delve into the most noteworthy attractions in Newington:

1. Mill Pond Park

Nestled between Newington’s major roads, Willard Avenue and Main Street, this park features a waterfall at its core.

Mill Pond Falls is not merely an ordinary landmark; it is officially recognized as the smallest natural waterfall in the United States.

The water from the park’s pond, named after a sawmill established in 1860, cascades from the southern end.

The waterfall descends 16 feet over a series of rocks at a maximum flow rate of 3.5 gallons per second. It serves as a charming feature of the city, which celebrates it with an annual festival.

A path encircles the pond, allowing visitors to traverse the falls via a quaint wooden footbridge. The remaining areas of the park include a baseball field, basketball court, tennis courts, two soccer fields, a public pool, children’s playground, and a concession stand.

Try to visit during Newington’s Fourth of July fireworks display, regarded as one of the finest in the state.

2. Cedar Hill Cemetery

This noteworthy cemetery, open to the public year-round, was established in 1866 and deserves to be visited.

Following the design of rural cemeteries, Cedar Hill Cemetery spans 270 landscaped acres adorned with ponds and a brook, providing visitors ample sights to appreciate.

Within its grounds, one can find a remarkable collection of historic buildings, striking burial monuments, and graves of notable and distinguished individuals.

Architecturally, notable features include the Northam Memorial Chapel built in 1882 and the Gallup Memorial Gateway, which boasts a magnificent wrought iron carriage gate from 1888.

Several renowned architects and sculptors, such as Carl Conrads, George Keller, and Randolph Rogers, have created monuments within this cemetery, which houses notable burials.

I was particularly moved by the modest grave of Katharine Hepburn and her mother, Katharine Martha Houghton Hepburn, a prominent suffragist.

Don’t miss Keller’s striking monument for banker John Pierpoint Morgan and his family, as well as the burial place of the Colt Revolver inventor, Samuel Colt.

3. Lucy Robbins Welles Library

The local library serves as an invaluable resource for Newington residents, boasting a comprehensive catalog of over 167,000 items. Consequently, the book borrowing rate in this town is nearly double the national average.

Established in 1939, the Lucy Robbins Welles Library was made possible through the generous donation of funds and land by local philanthropists Fanny A. Welles and Mary Welles Eddy.

Designed in a charming Georgian Revival style, this library not only provides an extensive collection of books but also offers free Wi-Fi, public computers, newspapers, and a robust array of programs for infants, children, teens, and adults.

Additionally, the library hosts exhibitions by local artists, movie screenings, storytime sessions, craft workshops, discussions, and yoga classes.

4. Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station

Newington is home to the flagship station for amateur radio operations in the United States. W1AW, known by its call sign, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, has maintained its original features since its establishment in 1938.

Situated adjacent to the headquarters of the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL), which was established in 1963, the station’s dedication ceremony in 1938 was notable for being broadcast live nationwide on the CBS network.

Named after Hiram Percy Maxim, co-founder and first president of the ARRL, the station still retains his personal call sign (W1AW) and is renowned internationally for its news bulletins and Morse code practice sessions.

Guided tours are conducted from the ARRL building in the morning and afternoon, Monday through Friday, with W1AW as a key attraction.

Visitors can view Hiram Percy Maxim’s original roll-top desk, a post-WWII transmitter, and a rotary spark gap transmitter known as “Old Betsy,” which was previously housed in Maxim’s Hartford residence.

Additionally, I found the current transmitters, three studios, and digital station to be quite engrossing.

W1AW features three guest operating positions available for licensed amateurs, subject to their class.

5. Newington Junction

Located in the northeast of the town, at the intersection of Willard Avenue and West Hill Road, lies a verdant area with a rich historical background.

Newington Junction comprises three distinct historic districts: Newington Junction South, North, and West. Enthusiasts of local history will find this area compelling for exploration.

The oldest building in this area dates back to 1650, and among the approximately 30 contributing structures, visitors can appreciate a variety of resplendent homes ranging from Colonial to Gothic Revival, Late Victorian, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival styles.

Notably, the Newington Junction Railroad Depot and Freight House is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Constructed in the 1890s, it currently houses a garden center and landscaping business.

6. Gen. Martin Kellogg House

One of the most remarkable houses in Newington is located at 679 Willard Avenue, preserved as a historic house museum.

The sizable Gen. Martin Kellogg House is an exquisite example of Federal-period architecture, dating back to 1808 and officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1987.

The original wing of the structure features five bays, a wooden frame, and an authentic Doric portico at the main entrance. An extension built in the late 1920s is present on the right side.

Inside, visitors can appreciate masterful woodwork and period-appropriate decor throughout the parlors and chambers.

Among the displays are Meissen porcelain and a significant collection of farm tools. For tour details, typically held on Sundays, please contact the Newington Historical Society.

7. Kelsey House

Also managed by the Newington Historical Society, the Enoch Kelsey House was constructed in 1799 by the eponymous farmer/tinsmith and his son David.

This house was once slated for demolition until members of the historical society discovered four rare freehand murals adorning the walls. These trompe-l’œil paintings mimic wallpaper.

While the murals are a highlight, the beautifully restored wooden paneling and original beehive oven and fireplaces merit close examination.

Also noteworthy is a barn loom dating back to 1822, which has been utilized by four generations of women from the same family.

8. Newington Waterfall Festival

The smallest waterfall in the United States is celebrated annually in September with a one-day festival in Market Square.

The Newington Waterfall Festival, initiated in 2000, now attracts visitors from well beyond the town. The agenda includes live music and a farmers’ market, alongside over 70 arts and crafts stalls and food vendors.

The Kids Zone is notable, featuring performances by the Newington Children’s Theater Company.

The central event is the Artist’s Chalk Walk, transforming Market Square into a vibrant art gallery.

9. Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum

Located next to the largest historic district in the state, this museum in Wethersfield is just a ten-minute drive away and features a trio of 18th-century homes, each with its own intriguing history.

One highlight is the Joseph Webb House (built in 1752), where George Washington resided for five nights in 1781 and collaborated with the Comte de Rochambeau in planning a decisive Revolutionary War offensive.

The Silas Deane House (constructed in 1769) served as the residence for another vital figure of American independence, who would later become the first American diplomat to France on behalf of the Continental Congress.

Visitors can explore the Isaac Stevens House (built in 1788) which offers insight into the life of a middle-class leatherworker in the early 19th century.

Moreover, this site showcases period furniture and wallpaper alongside the innovative technologies introduced during the Industrial Revolution, with a fascinating collection of toys, dolls, and dollhouses on display upstairs.

Another property, the Bottolph-Williams House (from 1711), nearby, enriches the historical narrative with decorative arts from the 17th century.

10. Montana Nights Axe Throwing

The largest axe-throwing venue in New England is located in Newington and offers a unique, engaging activity reminiscent of darts but with a heavier twist.

Montana Nights features seven throwing pits, making it ideal for gathering a group of eight friends; otherwise, you might find yourself in a randomly assigned group while attending on busier evenings.

As with any axe-throwing endeavor, safety is paramount, necessitating a briefing from your designated “axespert.” Thereafter, participants can engage in various throwing games for the following hour.

After an exhilarating session, patrons may enjoy a bar stocked with craft beers alongside pool tables, chess games, and arcade activities.

11. Alvarium Beer Company

A brief taxi ride will take you to this craft brewery in New Britain, managed by a skilled trio.

Set within an industrial backdrop, the taproom showcases handcrafted elements, featuring wood paneling and a 10-ton bar composed of steel I-beams.

Patrons can enjoy shuffleboard, foosball, board games, and access digital menus displayed over the bar indicating the available selections. Complementary food includes kielbasa and soft pretzels, with a food truck frequently visiting.

During my visit, the brewery offered 16 brews on tap and numerous bottled options, ranging from hoppy New England IPAs and DIPAs to an Oatmeal Stout. Last time I visited, an outstanding Düsseldorf-style Altbier (CTRL+ALT+DEL) was available.

12. Dinosaur State Park

In less than ten minutes, you can visit one of North America’s most significant dinosaur track sites, dating back 200 million years.

This remarkable discovery occurred in a sandstone quarry in 1966, leading to the park’s opening two years later.

The main structure at Dinosaur State Park is a geodesic dome that protects around 500 tracks left by a carnivore similar to a dilophosaurus that once walked the sandy shore of a lake.

These tracks measure up to 16 inches in length and can be spaced as much as 4.5 feet apart. Life-sized models of dilophosaurs can also be found within the dome, along with interactive exhibits featuring lizards and Madagascar hissing cockroaches.

Outdoors, I enjoyed wandering around the arboretum, featuring 250 species and cultivars of coniferous trees meant to represent Mesozoic woodland, interconnected by two miles of hiking trails.

13. Stanley Golf Course

Finding a better public golf facility than the Stanley Golf Course nearby would be a challenge; based on my experience, this course rivals high-end private clubs.

It encompasses 27 holes of golf distributed across three nine-hole configurations, notable for their challenging greens and tee placements that require precision.

Additionally, players can practice at the floodlit driving range and putting greens, with many opting to simply hit a few balls thanks to newly installed TopTracer technology.

Weekends see green fees around $40 for 18 holes, which is reasonable considering the exceptional quality. The Back Nine Tavern Restaurant offers an extensive menu of American classics, including pizza and sandwiches, to satisfy any appetite.

14. Iwo Jima Survivors’ Memorial Park

Among the 6,821 U.S. servicemen who perished during the fierce Battle of Iwo Jima in February and March of 1945 were one hundred individuals from Connecticut.

The memorial evokes the famous image of six marines hoisting the flag atop Mount Suribachi, captured on February 23.

The National Iwo Jima Memorial located in Newington replicates this photograph in bronze and was inaugurated on February 23, 1995. I found the entire site profoundly moving.

An eternal flame is situated nearby, with black granite panels that inscribe the names of the one hundred Connecticut men who lost their lives.

15. Copernican Observatory and Planetarium (CCSU)

The Physics and Engineering Department at Central Connecticut State University maintains a planetarium and a range of telescopes for its astronomy program, which is accessible to the public approximately every other Saturday.

Free planetarium shows are conducted by passionate educators and students, starting at 8:00 PM, covering a diverse array of topics. During my visit, the program featured an exploration of the astronomical origins of the winter solstice.

If conditions permit, visitors can ascend to the rooftop for stargazing through the observatory’s telescopes following the show.

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