Memorial Day weekend events: History center reopening, train stories, veteran remembrances
May 19, 2026 | By Waterbury Roundabout
A Memorial Day ceremony is planned for Monday, May 25, at Hope Cemetery led by members of the Waterbury American Legion Post 59. The Waterbury Historical Society's Ghost Walk presentation on Revolutionary War soldiers immediately follows. File photo by Lisa Scagliotti
The Waterbury Historical Society, Revitalizing Waterbury and the American Legion Post 59 will present the various programs from Saturday through Monday, May 23-25.
The weekend begins with Saturday’s reopening of the Waterbury History Center at 11 a.m. The center, located in the municipal complex at 28 N. Main St., has been closed for the past six months for multiple exhibit updates and improvements. The celebration will include refreshments, guest speakers, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and a raffle featuring prizes donated by local businesses. The History Center will be open Saturday and again on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
At the Waterbury Train Station on Saturday and Sunday, the focus will be on Waterbury’s railroad history. The Visitors Center will welcome guests Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon, and a special presentation on local train history will take place on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Revitalizing Waterbury’s Community Ambassadors will be available throughout the weekend to greet visitors and answer questions.
On Monday, Memorial Day events will take place at Hope Cemetery behind the Waterbury Congregational Church. The annual remembrance ceremony hosted by the American Legion and Waterbury Historical Society will be held at 11 a.m.
Immediately following, historical society guides will lead the annual Ghost Walk – a special tour through the graveyard with stops at five gravesites to share the stories of Revolutionary War veterans buried in Waterbury.
This year’s program is presented with special recognition of the 250th anniversary of the United States and will highlight the lives and service of some of Waterbury’s earliest residents.
All weekend events are free, family-friendly, and will be held rain or shine. Organizers of the Ghost Walk suggest attendees bring lawn chairs to use during those presentations.
More information is online at waterburyhistoricalsociety.org and at discoverwaterbury.com/calendar. Note: The Waterbury History Center’s weekday hours resume on May 26, coinciding with the municipal office’s 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. schedule (closed Thursdays).