The Connecticut Department of Transportation commissioned this series of signs to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the founding of the State of Connecticut.

 

Each sign highlights a unique Connecticut story from the Revolutionary era, told through a historic Connecticut object. A canteen recalls a soldier’s service, while a homespun rug recalls domestic labor; a political pamphlet argues for independence, while a British broadside warns of treason; a battlefield sketch shows the war, while a veteran’s emancipation contract makes freedom real. These signs and dozens more — which will be installed at Department of Transportation sites across the state — reflect how Connecticans of all stripes helped to give the American Revolution its shape.

 

The featured objects come primarily from museums, archives, and historical societies in Connecticut; the series also includes compelling Connecticut artifacts from special collections across the United States. The signs were produced by Connecticut State Historian Andy Horowitz on behalf of the Connecticut Semiquincentennial Commission. Printed in the colors of the Connecticut flag, the signs were designed by students working in the Design Center Studio at the University of Connecticut.