Architectural Walking Tours Now Available Through Mattatuck Museum

WATERBURY — Self-guided audio walking tours of downtown Waterbury architecture are now available at the Mattatuck Museum Arts & History Center.

Created by Main Street Waterbury’s Design Committee, each of the eight tours consists of an MP3 audio guide and map. Tours may be picked up at the museum’s reception desk and borrowed free of charge.

Dating from the 19th Century to the beginning of the 21st Century, Waterbury’s architecture is magnificent, with buildings designed by the country’s foremost architects. The buildings are best seen on foot, and eight tours have been created to guide walkers on distinct architectural adventures each focusing on a specific type of architecture or location. Tours spotlight religious buildings, East Main Street, Exchange Place and Bank Street, the Grand Street Commercial District, Cass Gilbert and the City Beautiful, single family homes, and the Green.

Each tour takes between 20 and 40 minutes.

The tours were created by the Main Street Waterbury’s Design Committee and written by art historian Raechel Guest. Narrated by such Waterbury notables as Jay Anthony of St John’s Episcopal Church, Bryan Kimmelman and Alissa Cordeiro of Shakesperience Productions, Tom Chute of WATR Radio, and Cathy Conti of The Timex Museum, the downtown architecture tours were made possible by a grant from the Connecticut Community Foundation.

For more information call Main Street Waterbury at 203-757-0701 or the Mattatuck Museum Arts & History Center at 203-753-0381 extension 11.