Museums and Galleries
Connecticut museums & galleries offer fine art, science, children's exhibits
Connecticut's museums and galleries have a wide range of wonderful offerings. Major art museums includes the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, host to paintings of the Hudson River School; the Bruce Museum in Greenwich; and the Florence Griswold Museum in East Lyme, a historic colony of American Impressionists. Places like the Rose Cottage and the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum are a blend of museum and historic home. The Connecticut Science Center in Hartford is an up-to-the-minute presenter of topics in science. The state has many wonderful children's museums in every region. And don't forget the Barnum Museum of circus lore in Bridgeport.
37 listings
Hartford, CT
Mark Twain House & Museum
351 Farmington Avenue 860-247-0998Step into the home of the author who created “The Gilded Age”
Walk in the rooms and hallways where Samuel Clemens walked and reconnect to the author who gave us Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and other beloved characters. At the Mark Twain House & Museum, daily tours take you through the richly decorated rooms of this lovingly restored Victorian home, which Clemens said was the site of the happiest years of his life. The museum’s collection of 16,000 artifacts includes period furniture, paintings, photos, first editions, and books by other authors with notes from Clemens in the margins. Rotating special exhibits and talks on everything from the Gilded Age to abolitionists make the National Historic Landmark a must for history and literature buffs. There’s an extensive museum store and a cafe serving food from local vendors.
Essex, CT
Connecticut River Museum
67 Main Street, Steamboat Dock 860-767-8269River museum’s exhibits, murals — and sailing excursions — educate and entertain
Explore art, history, and the environment — and have a fun time doing it — at the CT River Museum, celebrating its 50th anniversary. Permanent exhibits explore the River’s history from Indigenous peoples through the 20th century, and illustrate its environmental impact and importance in the region for water power, quarrying and the fishing industry. A vertical mural of the river winds up and down three floors of a Museum stairwell. Changing exhibits on the third floor explore art, history, and the environment. Day and sunset cruises are also offered aboard the Onrust, a re-creation of a 1614 vessel; and the RiverQuest, a 64-foot eco-tour boat. Learn about the River’s wildlife, observe bald eagles, or just enjoy a quiet sunset cruise. On Thursday evenings in July and August, live music is provided dockside.
Darien, CT
The Mather Homestead
19 Stephen Mather Road 203-202-7602The Mather Homestead, Darien’s only National Historic Landmark, is a beautifully preserved 1778 home with a rich American story spanning more than two centuries. Built during the Revolutionary War, the home was designed to keep the Mather family safe from Tory raids. Deacon Joseph Mather, son of the influential patriot preacher Reverend Moses Mather, lived here with his wife and their eleven children. In 1906, Stephen Tyng Mather, borax entrepreneur and first director of the National Park Service, occupied the home as his summer residence and added the beautiful gardens that continue to grace the property. Today, guided tours (Monday through Friday) tell the Mather family story and bring American history to life, from the Revolutionary era through the early 2000s, when the home was entrusted to The Mather Homestead Foundation.
Waterbury, CT
Mattatuck Museum
144 West Main Street 203-753-0381Exhibits chronicle the industrial history of the Naugatuck Valley as well as its social, architectural and cultural past. Period settings, decorative arts, furniture, 19th- and 20th-century art, changing exhibits. Cafe, museum shop.
Hours: Monday-Closed, Tuesday-Saturday: 11am -5pm, Sunday: 11am - 4pm
General admission: Adults- $20, Seniors $16, Students $13, Ages 6-18 $11, Museums for All $3, FREE: Members, Waterbury Public students, Ages 5 and under
Information: www.mattmuseum.org
Willimantic, CT
Windham Textile and History Museum
411 Main Street 860-456-2178Museum preserves the textile industry of southern New England at the height of the Industrial Revolution. Exhibits include thread factory floor, rooms from a workers rowhouse and owner’s mansion. Hours: Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Guided tours Sunday at 3 p.m. Admission: Adults, $7; seniors and students, $5. Information: www.millmuseum.org/
Wethersfield, CT
Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum
211 Main Street 860-529-0612This museum consists of three houses, each built in the 18th century. Two are now National Historic Landmarks, with each furnished to represent a different period in American history. In 1781, on this site, Washington and his partners planned their strategy that led to the American victory at Yorktown. Tours begin every hour on the hour up until 3 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $6, seniors, $5, students, $2.50.
Canterbury, CT
Prudence Crandall Museum
Junction Routes 14 and 169 860-546-7800The Prudence Crandall Museum is a collection of objects, from clothing to books and more, from the life and times of Prudence Crandall, a female abolitionist teacher whose legacy is left here. See a full description on our Historic Homes & Sites page.
Ivoryton, CT
Museum of the Fife and Drum
Highland Terrace at 63 North Main Street 860-767-2237Exhibits focus on the fife and drum, not only as an important symbol of American patriotism during the Revolutionary period, but as an integral part of military strategy in the 17th and 18th centuries. The museum is a visual and musical history of America on parade, from the Revolutionary War to the present. Theme displays feature drums, fifes, military swords, music, uniforms, medals, awards and photographs. Hours: June 30 through Labor Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.; third weekend of July and fourth weekend of August reserved for private activities. Admission; Adults, $5; youth age 12-17, $4; seniors, $3; children under age 12, free.
Hartford, CT
Museum of Connecticut History
231 Capitol Avenue 860-566-3056Historic documents, including Connecticut's Royal Charter, are just part of the exhibit material in this museum. Special exhibits feature Colt firearms, Connecticut's Governors and changing exhibits. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Closed on state holidays Admission: free. Information: www.museumofcthistory.org/
East Windsor, CT
Connecticut Trolley Museum
58 North Road (Route 140) 860-627-6540Three-mile round trip ride on antique trolleys. Tour the Visitor's Center display and stationary trolleys. Gift shop, deli and cafe. Hours: Charters only from January through March; April to Memorial Day, Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 1-4 p.m.; Memorial Day to Labor Day, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; Sundays in October, Pumpkin Patch rides Admission: Adults, $8.50; seniors, $7.50; children age 2-12, $5.50. Information: www.ct-trolley.org.
Windsor, CT
Luddy/Taylor Connecticut Valley Tobacco Museum
Northwest Park, 135 Lang Rd. 860-285-1888Displays of artifacts and history of "Tobacco Valley." Tobacco curing shed houses exhibits of early and modern equipment. Other facility exhibits photographs, writings, and other documents. Hours: March-mid-December, Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, noon-4 p.m. and by appointment Admission: Free. Information: www.tobaccohistsoc.org/
Danbury, CT
Danbury Railway Museum
120 White Street and Patriot Drive 203-778-8337Check out this historic station building and railway yard, on your own with a brochure, or with a tour guide. The historic splendor of this antique place tells a story of how railways changed America, and features unique artifacts. See a full description on ourHistoric Homes & Sites page.
Fairfield, CT
Connecticut Audubon Birdcraft Museum & Sanctuary
314 Unquowa Road 203-259-0416Historic museum highlights natural history of the state with dioramas, wildlife exhibits, and dinosaur footprints. Adjacent 6-acre sanctuary with trails.
Hours: Open Monday-Friday, 9am - 5pm. The six-acre Birdcraft Sanctuary is open daily, year-round, from dawn to dusk.
Kent, CT
Sloane-Stanley Museum and Kent Furnace
31 Kent Cornwall Road (Route 7) 860-927-3849This museum features a collection of woodworking tools, dating from the 17th century. The ruins of the Kent Furnace, in use through the 19th century are also found on the grounds.
Hours: Open May-October, Friday thru Sunday 10am - 4pm.
Admission: Adults $8, Seniors $6, Ages 6-17 $5, 5 & Under Free.
Bristol, CT
Carousel Museum of New England
95 Riverside Avenue 860-585-5411One of two branches of this unique museum. Exhibits feature antique carousel horses, miniature carousels, and a historic carving shop. Exhibits represent the finest pieces of antique carousel art in existence. The Bristol Center for Arts and Culture features three galleries that include fine art exhibits. The Museum of Fire History displays fire department and firehouse memorabilia. Gift shop. Hours: March-December, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon- 5 p.m.; open during local school holidays. Admission: Adults, $6; seniors, $4.50, children age 4-14, $3.50; children age 1-2, $2. Information: www.thecarouselmuseum.org/
East Haven, CT
Shore Line Trolley Museum
17 River Street 203-467-6927The first half of the twentieth century comes to life throughout this large trolley yard and trolley system. Discover the stories behind painted trolleys, check out trolley equipment, and marvel at photos of days long past. See a full description on our Historic Homes & Sites page.
Hamden, CT
Eli Whitney Museum
915 Whitney Avenue 203-777-1833Museum focusing on Eli Whitney's life, his inventions and his legacy. In addition to historic exhibits, the museum also holds a water learning lab and outdoor study areas. The barn, built in 1816, is the site of special events throughout the year.
Fall/Winter Hours: From Labor Day to Memorial Day - Saturdays 10am - 3pm and Sunday 10am - 3pm.
Spring/Summer Hours: From Memorial Day to Labor Day - Saturdays & Sundays 11am - 4pm. Water Learning Lab is open on the weekends from May through October.
Admission: There is no charge for admission. There is a fee of $5-$18 to build Walk In Projects.
New Haven, CT
Connecticut Children's Museum
22 Wall Street 203-562-5437Interactive, innovative and inclusive museum with eight rooms of hands-on exhibits, observation bee hive, the Great Green Room from Goodnight Moon, and a pint-size post office.
Hours: Saturday & Sunday, Noon - 5pm. Admission is $10.
New Haven, CT
Yale Center for British Art
1080 Chapel Street 203-432-2800The YCBA houses the largest collection of British art outside the United Kingdom, encompassing works in a range of media from the Elizabethan period to the present day. It offers exhibitions and programs year-round, including lectures, concerts, films, symposia, tours, and family events.
New Britain, CT
New Britain Industrial Museum
185 Main Street 860-832-8654This history of manufacturing in Central Connecticut is detailed in this museum, featuring exhibits of products made in the region over the past 200 years. Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 2-5 p.m.; Wednesdays. noon-5 p.m. Admission: free. Information: www.nbim.org/
Niantic, CT
Niantic Children's Museum
409 Main Street 860-691-1111Interactive hands-on exhibits for the entire family. Don’t miss our Long Island Sound Marinelife Tank, Parent Pockets, a self guided tour of the Museum and Kidsville, an entire kid-sized town. Themes include arts and science, health and history. Have fun while learning. Explore the Discovery Room, see live animals and say hello to Richter the Red Tailed Boa Constrictor.
Hours: Open Tuesday thru Saturday 9:30am - 4:30pm and Sundays Noon - 4:30pm. Admission is $10 per person (Children under 1 year Free). Group rates available in advance.
Manchester, CT
Old Manchester Museum
126 Cedar Street 860-647-9983Local historical artifacts including Pitkin Glass Works, Cheney Brothers Silk Mills, Bon Ami Soap Co., military memorial. Manchester Sports Hall of Fame, research and genealogy library, gift shop. Hours: Weekends, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: Adults, $2; children age 16 and younger, free. Information: http://bit.ly/SPcftr
Stamford, CT
Stamford Museum & Nature Center
39 Scofieldtown Road 203-977-6521Stamford Museum & Nature Center is a place of nature expressed in art and art expressed in nature. The Knoblock Family Farmhouse is an indoor gathering space for the cold months, where children’s programs like What’s For Dinner? and Family Farm Fridays will happen. The Bendel Mansion, built in the 1920s, is now a historic home and gardens that visitors may tour. Heckscher Farm is a 10-acre learning site about rural and farm life. The institution has a nature center and nature trails, an otter pond, an observatory and planetarium, and wheelchair-accessible trails through the woods. Learning opportunities and celebrations take place all year, for all ages. - Trail Map (PDF)
Admission: Adults $14, Seniors $12, Students 18+ with ID $10; Ages 4-17 $8. Free admission for children 3 & under or those who present a transit bus pass or transfer.
Bristol, CT
Imagine Nation Children's Museum
1 Pleasant Street 860-314-1400This science museum for kids age 2 to 10 is packed with fun exhibits that allow children to dig into science projects and experiments of all kinds. Some activities that will fascinate children are the Sandsational Sand Pendulum; the Gravity Well; the Tuning Fork Table; a construction zone; Dolls of the World; and Waterplay. Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Admission: $4 per person.
Middletown, CT
Kidcity Children's Museum
119 Washington Street 860-347-0495Whimsical, one-of-a-kind rooms filled with hands-on play and learning, for kids ages 1 to 8 and their grown-ups. Hours: Sunday-Tuesday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: $8 per person. Information: www.kidcitymuseum.com
Ledyard, CT
Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center
110 Pequot Trail 860-396-6910Permanent exhibits on the Native and natural history of southern New England include a cool descent into a glacial crevasse from 18,000 years ago. Walk through a 1550 Pequot Village. Interactive computer programs, films providing additional information and interpretation of the exhibits. Two research libraries, one for children. Museum store and restaurant.
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 9am - 5pm.
Admission: Adults $22, Seniors & Students with ID $17, Youths 6-17 $13, Children under 6 Free.
Hartford, CT
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
77 Forest Street 860-522-9258Listed as a National Historic Landmark and a stop on the Connecticut Freedom Trail as well as on the Connecticut Women’s Heritage Trail, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center is a treasure trove of collections that illuminate the life of and issues that stirred the famous abolitionist author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Rotating exhibits deal with the life of slaves and the role of women. Collections include paintings (some by the author), memorabilia inspired by “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” the dining table where the book was written, decorative arts, rare manuscripts, drawings and household furnishings from the Beecher and Stowe families. In all, 228,000 items illustrate the lives and times of Stowe and her family. Interactive tours of her Victorian Gothic cottage leave visitors inspired.
Bridgeport, CT
The Barnum Museum
820 Main Street 203-331-1104Dedicated to the life of circus imnpresario Phineas Taylor Barnum and those who were influenced by his presence in their lives. 1892 building houses exhibits including a miniature circus model, ancient mummy, historic costumes, Tom Thumb carriages. Museum store. Hours: Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission: Adults, $8; seniors over age 65 and and children age 4 to 17, $5; students, $5. Information: www.barnum-museum.org.
Cheshire, CT
Barker Character, Comic & Cartoon Museum
1188 Highland Ave. (Route 10) 203-699-3822Over 80,000 items including toys and character collectibles from 1873 to present; Western, TV and advertising collectibles; cartoon memorabilia; official musuem for Celebriducks, the California Raisin and Gumby; sculpture gallery. Hours:Wednesday through Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Admission: Adults, $5; children age 2 to 12, $3.
New London, CT
Lyman Allyn Art Museum
625 Williams Street 860-443-2545Eighteenth-, 19th- and 20th-century art and decorative arts, American Impressionist paintings, contemporary American art, changing exhibits. Outdoor Children's Art Park.
Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday, 10am - 5pm, Sundays 1-5pm.
Admission: Adults $12, Seniors $9, Active Military $7, Students $5, Children 11 & Under Free. Members and New London residents are also Free.
Storrs, CT
Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry
Weaver Road (off Route 44) 860-486-4605Collection of more than 2,000 puppets from the world over. Each exhibition features a different view of the variety of styles and periods in puppetry. Hours: Friday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m. or by appointment Admission: Free; donations accepted. Information: www.bimp.uconn.edu/
Washington, CT
Institute for American Indian Studies
38 Curtis Rd.(off Route 199) 860-868-0518The Institute for American Indian Studies Museum and Research Center features Native American art and artifacts from 10,000 years ago to present day, hiking trails, outdoor gardens, changing exhibits, and a 16th-century Algonkian village. Explore what life was like in Connecticut 1,000 years ago, sit in a dugout canoe, use replicated tools, and see a full wall mural depicting village life. Information: www.iaismuseum.org.
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.
Cost: Adults, $10; seniors, $8; children age 3-12, $6
Hartford, CT
Connecticut Science Center
250 Columbus Blvd. 860-724-3623A visit to the Center is a high-impact learning experience in a green, clean, bright, and stimulating environment. Adults and children alike will find entertainment and educational value in hands-on, engaging, and exciting exhibits and programs that emphasize current science and science you can use every day. Open year-round. Hours Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: Adults, $21.95; seniors above age 65, $19.95; youth ages 3 to 17, $14.95. Information: www.ctsciencecenter.org
Norwich, CT
Slater Memorial Museum and Converse Art Gallery
Norwich Free Academy - 108 Crescent Street 860-887-2506Set on the campus of Norwich Free Academy in Norwich CT, this unique museum was founded by philanthropist William A. Slater more than a century ago. Housed in a stunning architectural treasure designed by architect Stephen C. Earle. The museum offers a diverse collection of fine and decorative arts, replicas of great Greek and Roman sculpture, historical artifacts, and ethnographic material spanning five continents and 35 centuries. Exhibits rotate regularly. See film screenings, discussions, book signings, and other events. An interpreter-guided tour is free with admission. The Museum shop is filled with unique gifts, including fine art prints and reproductions, the works of Connecticut artisans, and other items. Open year round, Tuesday-Sunday.
Mystic, CT
Mystic Seaport Museum of America and the Sea
75 Greenmanville Avenue 860-572-0711Mystic Seaport is a maritime museum that preserves artifacts of America’s seafaring past. The Seaport’s grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River and include a re-created 19th-century coastal village, a working shipyard, and formal exhibit halls. The Seaport is home to more than 500 historic watercraft, including four National Historic Landmark vessels, most notably the 1841 whale ship Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship still in existence. The Seaport is a great adventure for families. It hosts many seasonal celebrations, along with exhibits and festivals related to seafaring life, such as the annual sea music festival and a lobster fest. A gift shop on the grounds has many high-quality products, from books and maps to toys and home décor, all with a seafaring theme. Open year-round.
Old Lyme, CT
Florence Griswold Museum
96 Lyme Street 860-434-5542In the early 20th century, Florence Griswold’s boarding house in Old Lyme was the hub of one of the most important summer art colonies in America. The colony attracted artists Henry Ward Ranger, Childe Hassam, and Willard Metcalf and others who were in the vanguard of the Tonalist and Impressionist movements. Today, visitors see the boarding house and much of the work of these American Impressionists, an adjacent gallery building with rotating exhibits, and extensive gardens. Special programs are offered in summer and holiday seasons.
Greenwich, CT
Bruce Museum
One Museum Drive 203-869-0376Explore the world through the lenses of art, science and natural history at the magnificent Bruce Museum. The museum’s vast and growing collections include minerals, fossils, history, art, textiles, science, animals and ethnology. Visitors, through docent-led or self-guided audio tours on their phones, can marvel at dinosaur tracks or mounted extinct species like passenger pigeons or become lost in the paintings of Childe Hassam, the sculpture of Auguste Rodin or the photography of Henri Cartier-Bresson. Decorative arts include French art glass, art pottery and Staffordshire puzzle pipes. There are ladies’ gowns and accessories from the 19th century, crystals and meteorites, shells from around the world and so much more.