Prudence Crandall Museum

National Historic Landmark · Canterbury, Connecticut

The house where Prudence Crandall ran the first school in New England for African American girls, and where the town of Canterbury destroyed it. In 1833 she admitted a black student to her respected girls academy, the white families withdrew their daughters, and rather than back down she reopened as a school for black girls alone. Connecticut responded by passing the Black Law specifically to shut her down, jailed her, and the town poisoned the well, smashed the windows and finally attacked the building with an iron bar in 1834 until she gave up and left the state. The resulting court case was cited on both sides of Dred Scott and argued again in Brown v Board of Education. It is a small, plain 1805 house that tells one of the hardest and least comfortable stories in New England, and Connecticut has since named Crandall its state heroine. The museum has closed and reopened more than once since, which is its own kind of commentary, so confirm it is open before driving out to Canterbury - there is very little else out there to rescue the trip.

1 South Canterbury Road, Canterbury, Canterbury, Connecticut, 06331, United States

SEASONAL and on a very short week - typically a few days a week from late spring to early autumn, with reduced or no opening outside that. The schedule at this site has changed repeatedly, including a period of closure, so CONFIRM IT IS OPEN before travelling. The exterior and the green it stands on can be seen at any time. Closed on major holidays.

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