Historic Litchfield, Connecticut

Oliver Wolcott Home

Several years ago, while I was working on a project for school, I took a trip to Litchfield, CT, and was pleasantly surprised to see several historic spots in addition to the home I had specifically gone to photograph. The home I specifically went to photograph was the Oliver Wolcott House. This home was owned by a signer of the Declaration of Independence whose family had a long history in Connecticut. Wolcott's father served as the Royal Governor of Connecticut, and 45 years later, his son, who also fought and served in the Continental Army, would also be elected governor. It is a beautiful house, but it is a private residence, and as such, if you visit Litchfield and stop by the property, please stay off the property.

To my surprise, though, the first law school in the United States was located just across the street. It was surprising to see a law school that essentially could double as a house.

Litchfield Law School

The Litchfield Law School operated from 1744 to 1833 as an independent law school and was not affiliated with any major college of the day. It was started by Tapping Reeve and his partner, John Gould. They would go on to educate over one thousand students who entered government at a variety of levels. It is a beautiful building across the street from the historic Wolcott Home. Now the law school is a museum, so please go and visit to learn more about the home, school, its inhabitants, as well as Litchfield itself.

Our final stop in Litchield was the Shrine of Lourdes, which is an outdoor church built into a hillside. This is a replica of the Lourdes Grotto in France and was built by the Montfort Missionaries. It is located on a 170-acre tract of land. It is incredibly beautiful and very peaceful. We spent nearly an hour there just contemplating and relaxing in the beautiful setting.

The Grotto

Litchfield is a charming little town, and after we had seen some of the sights, we stopped and had a delicious snack at one of the local restaurants. The hospitality of the locals was wonderful, and the food was fantastic! I wish I could remember the name of the restaurant, but it has been so many years that I have forgotten. Next time I'll remember to take better notes!