The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail was conceived two centuries ago as a canal to create trade and compete with Connecticut River business. Built in the 1820s at the end of the canal era by a consortium of New Haven businessmen, it only became successful when it was turned into a railroad in the 1850s. Beginning 30 years ago, as rail lost ground to trucking, most of the corridor was abandoned. Citizens up and down the right-of-way successfully lobbied for the line to be kept in the public domain for conversion to a trail. This walk will stroll the portion that connects the university to the town. Learn about the historic trail and the local neighborhoods it inhabits, connecting “town with gown” and New England economic and cultural history. The tour will last one hour and begin outside 17 Hillhouse by the canal ramp.