Your day begins with a home-style breakfast at 'Nita's at 28 North Street. Built in 1920, this building has been home to many of Willimantic's finest eateries. We recommend one of Nita's delicious specials!
After breakfast head down Main Street to the Windham Textile & History Museum (The Mill Museum) at 411 Main Street. Located in the former headquarters of the American Thread Company, the museum preserves and interprets the history of textiles, textile arts and the textile industry, with special emphasis on the experiences of the craftspeople, industrial workers, manufacturers, inventors, designers, and consumers. No trip to the Mill Museum is complete without browsing in their Gift Shop. (Guided Tours Available.)
It's almost time for lunch!
Before you head off to find a snack be sure to visit Windham Mills State Heritage Park across the street from the museum. This riverfront pocket park is tucked in a sunny spot between Windham Mills building #2 and the Windham Garden on the Bridge. This is a restful place to watch the river roll by or discover the handsome granite structures in the mill complex.
Your lunch options are plentiful. As you make your way up Main Street some of your choices include:
Now that you're well fed we recommend a walk over Willimantic's Historic Footbridge. A landmark since 1906, the 635 foot-long footbridge connects the city's commercial core with a residential area to the south. It is the only such structure east of the Mississippi to span sidewalks, vehicle traffic, an active railroad and a river. Before you come back, be sure to take a look across the street to admire the historic Willimantic Elk's Lodge built in 1928.
Now that you've stretched your legs, head back to your car and head to 55 Bridge Street for a visit to the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum. Their collection includes locomotives and rolling stock, as well as vintage railroad buildings and a six-stall roundhouse reconstructed on the original foundation.
There's more to see but we bet that you may be getting a bit tired. We hope you had a great experience and are already planning your next trip to Willimantic's Downtown.
