Ethos

Litchfield, Connecticut: The First Law School and a Quiet Green

Litchfield, Connecticut

Pictures from Litchfield

See all 3 photos →
First Congregational Church, Litchfield Tapping Reeve House and Law School Litchfield Green and West Street

Litchfield was incorporated in 1719 by settlers from Hartford and Windsor, on land originally called Bantam township — a name that survives today as a borough within the town — and took its present name from Lichfield, England. By the late 1700s it had become northwestern Connecticut's commercial and cultural center: in 1784 Tapping Reeve opened the Litchfield Law School, the first law school in the United States, and in 1792 Sarah Pierce founded the Litchfield Female Academy, one of the nation's first schools built for the higher education of girls. When 19th-century industry faltered, the town settled into life as a quiet resort community, leaving the Colonial and Colonial Revival architecture that still lines its streets. The Shepaug Valley Railroad reached Litchfield in 1872, but passenger service ended in 1930 and freight in 1948 — the town has had no rail since.

  1. The historical society's free flagship museum on South Street.

  2. The first law school in the United States, founded in 1784.

  3. A brass heiress's 1925 Tudor Revival cottage on a 510-acre free state forest.

  4. Nature museum and trails at the heart of a 4,000-acre foundation.

  5. Farm-to-table New American dining on the green since 1990.

  6. Daytime bakery cafe on the Arethusa Farm campus in Bantam.

  7. Arethusa Farm's dairy-to-table dinner restaurant, dinner only.

  8. A 32-room inn with a new Pool & Field House.

A law school, a girls' academy, and a green

Litchfield's rise came fast and its industry faded faster. Tapping Reeve founded his law school in 1784, and Sarah Pierce's Female Academy followed in 1792, one of the country's first institutions dedicated to educating young women. Both buildings still stand on South Street, run today by the Litchfield Historical Society. When the mills and factories of the 19th century bypassed the hill town, Litchfield turned into a summer resort instead, and the Colonial and Colonial Revival houses built during that era — rather than any surviving industry — are what draw visitors to the green today.

Getting there

Litchfield is a drive-to destination: US-202 runs east-west through Bantam and the town center, CT-63 runs north-south through the green, and CT-118 connects the green to CT-8 on the Harwinton line. There is no passenger rail in town — service ended in 1930 — and the nearest Metro-North branch, the Waterbury Branch, has rail service suspended for station construction from July 2026 through May 2027, with buses substituting in the meantime. For now, Litchfield is a drive-only destination.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Litchfield?
By car: US-202 runs east-west through Bantam and the town center, CT-63 runs north-south through the green, and CT-118 connects to CT-8 on the Harwinton line. There's no passenger rail in Litchfield, and the nearest Metro-North branch (Waterbury) has service suspended for construction through May 2027, so plan on driving.
What was the Litchfield Law School?
Founded by Tapping Reeve in 1784, it was the first law school in the United States. The Tapping Reeve House and Law School building, on South Street, is now a free museum run by the Litchfield Historical Society.
What is Bantam?
Bantam is a borough within the town of Litchfield — in fact, Litchfield's original name was Bantam township before it incorporated in 1719. Arethusa Farm's dairy store, cafe, and restaurant are located there today.
Is Topsmead State Forest free to visit?
Yes. The former Chase family estate is open daily, 8 a.m. to sunset, at no charge, with free tours of the 1925 English Tudor Revival cottage on the second and fourth weekends from June through October.
Where should I eat in Litchfield?
West Street Grill has faced the green since 1990. In the Bantam section, Arethusa Farm runs both a mano, a daytime bakery cafe, and al tavolo, its dinner-only, dairy-to-table restaurant — call ahead, since al tavolo does not open for lunch.

Some booking links on this page earn Ethos a commission at no extra cost to you.

Connected pages

Shared history

Same region