LAST CHANCE "A Land of Opportunity? Community-Building in 19th Century Ridgefield" Exhibit

August 1 – September 18, 2021 · Thurs. – Sun. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Mon. 5 to 8 p.m.
Carriage Barn

“A Land of Opportunity?” showcases photography of Ridgefield residents taken by Joseph Hartmann in the late 1800s. The photos illustrate aspects of life for Ridgefield’s Italian immigrants as they found and made their place within the Ridgefield community. The exhibit demonstrates how Hartmann, himself a German immigrant, documented compelling aspects of local immigration stories through his photography, emphasizing the importance of diversity in a thriving community and the centrality of immigration to the American experience.

After exploring the exhibit, visitors are encouraged to participate in our companion community sourced exhibit, “What’s your family’s origin story?” Visitors will be prompted to write a detail from their own “origin story” onto a card and pin it to a display which will stand alongside Hartmann’s photography. These bits of narrative can be anonymous or signed. Visitors are encouraged to share details from their own lives, or details from earlier generations of family members, that provide a snapshot of their origins: stories of immigration, voluntary or forced; stories of emigration; stories of indigeneity; and more. All details will be catalogued and added to KTM&HC’s archival collection for future generations to read.  

Access to all KTM&HC exhibits is included in the price of site admission. Visitors interested in only viewing the exhibits can purchase a special discounted pass.

Click here to register.