Brookfield Historical Society Inc [CT]

Description

The Brookfield Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the history of the Brookfield, Connecticut, and the Parish of Newbury. The society owns and operates a local history museum, historical research center, and the Gurski's Forge building.

The society offers guided tours, exhibits, special presentations, and research resources. The website offers visitor information, a history of Brookfield, information regarding upcoming events, and information regarding the historical resources available for visitors.

The Killingly Historic Society and Killingly Historical Center [CT]

Description

The Killingly Historic Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Killingly and Windham Counties, Connecticut. To this end, the society operates a historical center which includes a local history museum and research libraries devoted to local family biographies, genealogical information, and general area history. Museum highlights include an English Naval cannon.

The society offers exhibits and genealogical research assistance. Research assistance requires payment. The website offers historical photographs.

New Milford Historical Society and Museum [CT]

Description

The New Milford Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of New Milford, CT. To that end, the society operates a local history museum with collections including antique toys, an 18th-century cooking hearth, paintings by Woldemar Neufeld (born 1909), and the 1815 Knapp House and its furnishings. The museum is located within four historic structures—a residence, bank, store, and schoolhouse.

The society offers exhibits, period rooms, and learning boxes (traveling trunks) for rental. Admission to the historic schoolhouse is by appointment only.

Connecticut Landmarks [CT]

Description

Connecticut Landmarks was founded in 1936 as the Antiquarian & Landmarks Society. Today, Connecticut Landmarks owns and operates a statewide network of 12 historic house museums, which cover three centuries of New England history. Each museum takes visitors through a specific period in history and also provides exhibits on local history.

Connecticut Landmarks offers tours of its 12 historic properties, as well as educational programs and special events. The website offers visitor information, brief histories of all properties, information regarding educational programs for children and adults, as well as an events calendar.

Fort Trumbull State Park [CT]

Description

Visitors to the site can receive an interactive history lesson at the visitor's center, or just walk the Fort and ramparts for a view of the Thames River. The fort contains informative markers and displays, a touchable cannon and artillery crew display, and gun emplacements. The fort interior features 19th-century restored living quarters, a mock laboratory, and a 1950s era office furnished to resemble a research and development lab at the facility. The visitor center contains state-of-the-art multimedia theaters, computer touch-screen interactive exhibits, 3-D models, and extensive graphics and text panels. The center depicts over 225 years of military history and technological advances from the Revolutionary War to the Cold War. Some of the main display themes include the September 6, 1781 attack by the British under the command of Benedict Arnold, the U-boat menace during World War II, and the anti-submarine efforts during the Cold War.

A second website for the site, maintained by the Friends of Fort Trumbull, can be found here.

The site offers short films, exhibits, tours, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Barnum Museum [CT]

Description

The Barnum Museum presents the history of Bridgeport, Connecticut, particularly as related to the life of P. T. Barnum (1810-1891), the force behind one of the United States' primary circus enterprises. Exhibit topics include an Egyptian mummy, 19th-century Bridgeport life, the American tour of Swedish opera star Jenny Lind (1820-1887), and the life of Tom Thumb (died 1883). The museum also contains a 1,000-square-foot carved circus model and a reconstruction of one of Barnum's libraries, including the original furnishings.

The museum offers lectures, self-guided tours, guided tours, concerts, lectures, teacher workshops, a slide presentation, interactive educational programming in compliance with state educational standards, and an outreach slide presentation about the life of P. T. Barnum.

Monroe Historical Society [CT]

Description

The Monroe Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Monroe, Connecticut. The society operates the 1790 East Village-Barn Schoolhouse, which contains hornbooks (primers attached to a panel and covered with a thin sheet of horn), readers, and desks built to period appearance.

The school may be used for classes. The society also offers hands-on activity sessions such as churning butter, book binding, and candle dipping. The website offers instructions on using a drop spindle and recipes for both historical snacks and natural dye solutions.

Isham-Terry House [CT]

Description

The Isham-Terry House is a time capsule of genteel life in turn-of-the century Hartford. Dr. Oliver Isham bought the 1854 Italianate Villa in 1896. Here he had his physician's office and lived with his sisters Julia and Charlotte. Julia and Charlotte occupied the house until the 1970s, defying the urban renewal juggernaut that demolished so many historic homes. The sisters made so few changes and modernizations to the house that crossing its threshold today is like stepping back in time. Room after room is filled with objects of historical and family significance: ornate gaslight fixtures; stained-glass windows; rare books and paintings; Connecticut-made clocks; and memorabilia from Hartford High School, the Ishams' alma mater. Even Dr. Isham's office, with surgical instruments and medicines, was left undisturbed. Dr. Isham also possessed a rare collection of early Connecticut automobile memorabilia.

The house offers exhibits and tours.

History Center of Stamford [CT]

Description

The History Center of Stamford presents the history of Stamford, Connecticut. To this end, the society operates a research library, archives, an exhibition gallery, and the circa 1765 Hoyt Barnum House. This residence was home to the children or grandchildren of Stamford's founders. Furnishings date to the 17th and 18th centuries.

The center offers exhibits, library access, and period rooms. The Hoyt Barnum House is open by appointment. The website offers a selection of historical images and a virtual tour of the Hoyt Barnum House.