Merritt Parkway Exhibit Celebrates the Merritt's 70th Birthday

Born of a need that resonates today, hailed for its beauty and its bridges, the “Queen of Parkways” opened 70 years ago on June 29th, 1938. Growing traffic congestion on the Post Road led to clamors for an alternate or expanded road. The Merritt was the answer to this problem, and to the unemployment woes of the Great Depression. The project also generated controversy, scandal, and a criminal case.

The State Library’s new web exhibit at http://www.cslib.org/merritt explores the history, construction, and controversy surrounding this unique Connecticut roadway. Using materials from the Library and Archives collections, the exhibit covers the story of the Merritt from planning and funding to opening and preservation. Visit www.cslib.org/merritt

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