Visit Jillson House Museum
Historic Walking Trail
A walking tour of Windham/Willimantic's most historically important locations.
“This project made possible with the generous support of the Eastern Regional Tourism District through their 2025 Regional Marketing Partnership Program.”
Welcome to Willimantic! The city section of the town of Windham derives its name from the Mohegan language which may mean “land of swift running waters.” The Willimantic River flows down through the town and water power attracted industries that produced thread and cloth during the industrial boom.
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We have identified thirty important places in Willimantic and Windham. As you visit them in person you may get a sense for our local history. The stops on the walking trail are grouped into easy walking loops. Each loop takes only a few minutes by foot. Two of the loops do require driving to the locations.
Willimantic Main Street History Trail
Windham Center History Trail
Map Stop 5
Windham Bank
Windham Bank, established in 1832, later became the home of the Windham Free Library in 1893. As with all banks, at the time, Windham Bank issued currency. Their dollar bill displays an image of the famous frog. Images of Colonel Dyer and Brigadier General Elderkin.
Map Stop 6
Site of Famous Frog Battle
Many stories have been told about the Frog Battle of Windham Center. The tales begin in the mid 1750's, during the tension surrounding the French and Indian War. Local town's folk became alarmed by loud sound from beyond the town center. Fearing an attack by natives they took shelter. Two heros appear to have emerged from the fight and later served as military leaders in the American Revolution: Col Eliphalet Dyer, and Brig. General Jedediah Elderkin.
Map Stop 12 Willimantic
Railroad Station Site
Willimantic was a rail hub with over fifty trains a day delivering immigrants and raw cotton for thread. A wooden depot was built in the 1850s but in 1892, a glorious new building, Union Station, was built. The most famous line was the Airline Route, an express which carried passengers from Boston to New Haven aboard the New England Limited. It was nicknamed “The Ghost Train” and “The White Train” because of its white exterior. The marketing ploy lasted only a few years. Today you can hike the Airline State Park Trail. By 1950 the only train was the New York, New Haven and Hartford because of the popularity of the automobile. The floods of 1955 ruined railroad property and ended passenger trains in Willimantic.
Map Stop 13
WILLIMANTIC RIVER
​The runs south from Stafford Springs through town where it joins the Natchaug River and forms the Shetucket River which flows to Norwich.
Map Stop # name
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