Summer 2025 is the fourth season of Farmington Historical Society’s “The Odyssey of the Amistad: A Trail to Freedom,” its walking tour. The tour is being launched on its voyage through the quaint streets of historical Farmington, Connecticut, on Saturdays in June and will retell the tales of the fantastic story of the Amistad Mende throughout September 2025.

Our tale begins as the freed Mende are on route to Farmington in early March 1841, after they had won their unprecedented and landmark court case, setting them free from the shackles of sure and impending bondage, after their escape and trek on the Amistad schooner. This trial was America’s first Civil Rights case!

Come check us out this summer as we walk in the footsteps of the Mende men and children from Sierra Leone,  retracing their lives of danger, mystery, survival and love; the love that was found in the abolitionist village of Farmington 1841.

Now, not all of the villagers were happy about the arrival of the Mende, but as a whole, the visitors were welcomed and embraced.  In fact, the Mende didn’t just sit around and expect hand-outs from the Farmington villagers, they took part in getting themselves back home to Africa. You will see what I mean by that when you visit us this summer.

Further, let us tell you the story about how the townspeople provided opportunities for the Mende to excel in life. They managed to maneuver in this new land, with different people and a whole new language. The Mende proved to be more than worthy guests to their hosts here in Farmington. Our comprehensive tour experience demonstrates that during their stay in town, the Mende earned the respect of the white citizens of the village by exhibiting great intelligence, compassion and loyalty. I like calling the saga, “a love story for the Ages,” because fate took two groups of very different people and threw them together, forcing them to interact during very difficult circumstances and times. I believe that we would be better off as a people, if we analyze and learn from this history of cooperation, unity and compassion for our fellow man. Odyssey of the Amistad…tells the whole story, and what a beautiful story it is.

One of the elements of our storytelling that makes the “Odyssey” so impactful is that we are presenting the story through the eyes of the Mende. When you come on our tour you will gain access to the main and pivotal characters of the Mende themselves. You walk in their footsteps, hear their stories and meet other black men and women from Farmington’s  storied history along the way. The good and bad of our tale is mimicked in the relating to the Mende on the trail, up close.

Among the portrayals, you will meet Fannie Freeman and Governor Peter Freeman, as well as a team of storytellers that illustrate the tales and times of town life in the mid to late 1800s. You will see what the social and political climate was like back then too. It’s fascinating how history repeats itself, in good ways and ways that continue to stretch our imaginations, fortitude, and will.

As you follow the Mende’s trail to freedom and learn about their everyday life here in the village, you will also be able to stop, think, and examine the role of women and children in the late 19^th century, too.

To access your very own opportunity for our Odyssey of the Amistad mission, please note, the ninety-minute tour experience begins with a thirty-minute opening presentation or narration in the First Church of Christ, 1652 sanctuary, at 75 Main Street, Farmington.  This is where we set up and spin the tales that outline the perilous plot of our Amistad Mende heroes, destined to make their marks in history. Make sure you have adequate hydration, a hat, and comfortable shoes to make the journey happen as we embark on the tree-lined streets of the village. Armed with a colorful brochure, a map, and one of our knowledgeable and expert tour guides, you will begin to see the Trail to Freedom unfold! You are going to hear some stories about the village that you’ve never heard. We want you to enjoy your experience so much that you come back or tell your friends about The Odyssey of the Amistad: A Trail to Freedom!

For tickets please order here or find Eventbrite in the Events page on our website https://fhs-ct.org/.

For further reading:

The Amistad: A Detailed Timeline, National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/subjects/travelamistad/upload/Timeline_Detailed.pdf

Marcus Rediker, Amistad Rebellion: An Atlantic Odyssey of Slavery and Freedom (2012) https://www.marcusrediker.com/books/the-amistad-rebellion/