Canterbury Female Boarding School

Canterbury Female Boarding School was a residential educational facility in Connecticut founded to teach African American girls in 1831. The main structure displays Federal-style architecture with symmetrical windows, wooden siding, and a centered entrance, now housing the Prudence Crandall Museum.

Prudence Crandall established this institution in 1831 as the first school in the United States exclusively for African American girls. The school faced intense local hostility that ultimately forced it to close and marked a turning point in debates over educational equality.

The school served as a place where African American girls could pursue education during a time of severe legal and social restrictions. Attending meant defying local prejudice and becoming part of a bold statement about equal access to learning.

The building now operates as a museum with exhibits featuring educational materials and artifacts from the 19th century. Visitors can walk through the historic rooms to understand the daily life and education that took place here.

Around 24 African American students traveled from multiple states to attend classes here, a fact often overlooked in popular histories of education. Their determination to learn in the face of community opposition made the school a place of quiet resistance.

Inception: October 1831

GPS coordinates: 41.69813,-71.97161

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:46