Bring your classroom lessons to life through the City of Inventors, Town of Dreamers exhibit, where students explore Naugatuck's rise from a small manufacturing village to a hub of industrial innovation. This exhibit teaches students how local ingenuity, industry, and generosity shaped the town and connects these themes to broader historical trends.

The City of Inventors, Town of Dreamers exhibit, housed in the historic Tuttle House, offers a dynamic way for students to understand Naugatuck’s history. Students will learn about:

• Yankee Ingenuity – In the late 1700s and early 1800s, small shops in Naugatuck produced everyday items like needles, combs, and buttons, distributed by traveling peddlers.

• The Growth of Small Factories – By the mid-1800s, clockmaking and other industries thrived. Naugatuck became known for producing Salem Bridge Clocks, which introduced innovative manufacturing techniques, including the use of interchangeable parts.

• The Rise of the Rubber Industry – The Civil War increased the demand for rubber products, transforming Naugatuck into the first rubber town in America. By the 1880s, local factories produced thousands of boots and shoes each day, cementing the town’s industrial importance.

• Manufacturing and Innovation – Naugatuck became home to diverse industries, from malleable iron and chemical production to the invention of the safety pin by the Risdon Manufacturing Company. Charles Goodyear’s invention of vulcanized rubber further elevated the town’s prominence.

• Railroad Expansion and Wealth – The construction of a railroad line in 1849 connected Naugatuck’s manufacturers to global markets, bringing both wealth and opportunity to the town. Wealthy industrialists built mansions overlooking the valley, and their philanthropic contributions—like the Whittemore Library and local schools—continue to benefit the community today.

Through this exhibit, students will explore the ingenuity and entrepreneurship that drove Naugatuck’s success, the impact of industrialization on everyday life, and the enduring legacy of generosity from the town’s early benefactors. The Tuttle House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, provides the perfect backdrop for these stories, offering an authentic setting where history comes alive.