Top Things to do in Connecticut
Top Hotels in Connecticut
What to do and see in Connecticut, United States: The Best History Museums
Connecticut is a study in attraction and contrast. In one small state, you’ll find miles of sandy oceanfront shoreline, acres of forested hiking trails, and world-class museums, art and theater. Here family-friendly adventure parks and aquariums are just minutes from dynamic casino resorts and quaint, historic small towns — offering experiences that range from culinary to cultural, luxurious to laid-back. It’s the perfect place to unwind and recharge, all at the same time.
Restaurants in Connecticut
1. Danbury Museum & Historical Society
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 30 reviews
The Danbury Museum & Historical Society Authority acquires, preserves, exhibits, and interprets Danbury's past. Situated in downtown Danbury, the museum preserves the John and Mary rider House 9c.1785), the Dodd Hat Shop (c. 1790), the Marian Anderson Studio, the old King Street Schoolhouse, the Little Red Schoolhouse and the Charles Ives Birthplace. Huntington Hall, a modern exhibit building contains the museum offices and a research library. The Danbury Museum and Historical Society has evolved out of efforts to preserve endangered historic properties. One of the City's oldest structures, the Rider House on Main Street, would have been demolished in 1941 to make way for a gas station had it not been for the intervention of concerned citizens (including the Mary Wooster DAR Chapter). After raising money to purchase this property, these citizens found the Danbury Historical and Arts Center. A merger, in 1947, between the Scott-Fanton Museum and the Danbury Historical and Arts Center, saw the creation of the Danbury Scott Fanton Museum & Historical Society Inc. During the 1950's and 60's, the museum acquired the John Dodd Shop, the Ward House, the Charles Ives birthplace, two one room schoolhouses and erected Huntington Hall, where many of its exhibits have been displayed. In 2004, theMuseum was thrilled to add the Marian Anderson Studio to its collection. Famed opera singer Marian Anderson lived in danbury for over 50 years. It was moved to the Main Street campus of the museum in 1999. Restoration of the studio was completed in early 2004. 2006 saw the merger of the Danbury Scott Fanton Museum with the City of Danbury and a new entity was born on July 1, 2008 . . . the Danbury Museum and Historical Society Authority. Tours of the historic buildings on our Main Street campus are available on Saturdays only from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the winter season. Check our website regularly for updates, news and events or to sign up for our email newsletter.
Reviewed By bpayne76 - Danbury, United States
Very nice place to research local history. They have done an excellent job to make the museum attractive and informative.
2. The Wood Memorial Library & Museum
3. Willimantic Textile & History Museum
4. USS Nautilus
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 139 reviews
Reviewed By roselover440
I have taken my grandchildren here and they all enjoyed it very much. It is a treasure that not all residents of CT even know of. Great museum and the self-guided tour of the submarine is very worthwhile and informative.
5. Genius Museum at Nature's Art Village
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Have you ever wondered how newspapers were printed in the 19th century or how a steam-engine could power a boat? Then step through the gates of time into The Genius Museum at Nature’s Art Village and enter a village of progress! Take a historic walk and discover a timeless town displaying the rapid transformation of American technology over two centuries.
6. Mystic Seaport Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,309 reviews
Mystic Seaport Museum is the nation's leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, America's oldest commercial ship and the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum's grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, CT and include a recreated 19th-century coastal village, a working shipyard, formal exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. Mystic Seaport Museum is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT.
7. Captain Nathaniel B. Palmer House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
A National Historic Landmark located within walking distance to Stonington Borough. This 14-room Victorian Mansion built in 1852 gives visitors a fascinating view into mid-century shipbuilding, international trade, family life, and more. Captain Palmer is credited with sighting Antarctica. Visitors are welcome to stroll the entire property, tour the home, and climb the steps into the cupola for a spectacular view. Only $5 for adults; $3 for kids 17 and under. Open Fridays & Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Reviewed By Seaside447595
The friendly and knowledgeable tour guide will tell you everything about everything in the house filled with history of a Captain who at 21 and on a small boat claims to have found Antarctica and his competitive younger siblings and some of their family who inhabited the house - a couple of nefarious ones too! The tour guide made this tour compelling and interesting for all ages including my two teens. Don’t forget to ask about the spirit who may still inhabit the house. And make sure you take a selfie with the large penguin that greets you by the front door.
8. Connecticut Historical Society
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 60 reviews
Founded in 1825, the Connecticut Historical Society (CHS) is a non-profit museum, library, research and education center that strives to inspire and foster a life-long interest in history through research assistance, exhibitions, tours and programs for all ages. The colorful and interactive "Making Connecticut" exhibit is filled with more than 500 historic objects, images, and documents telling the story of Connecticut from the 1500s through today.
Reviewed By kzsull01 - Windsor, United States
We have visited the Connecticut Historical Society (CHS) Museum in Hartford, Connecticut multiple times, most recently on Saturday, December 28, 2019 and have always enjoyed it. Both the permanent and special exhibits in this museum have consistently been nice representations of Connecticut’s history. This time we particularly liked the special exhibits. Although we only were able to spend about an hour and a half at the museum this time, we estimate that it would take at least three hours to see this museum and appreciate all that it has to offer. Admission into this museum is free on the first Saturday of the month but museum passes may be available at your local library for free admission on other days. Special Exhibits: ‘War/Maps Mystery: Dutch Mapmaker Bernard Romans and the American Revolution’. This exhibit is relatively small, being in one gallery, but gives a very interesting story about Bernard Romans, a surveyor, cartographer, engineer and naturalist, whose maps contributed significantly to European exploration and Colonial settlement. It reveals much about life in America, the printing business, slave ownership and the upheaval of revolution. His life has many different facets, being a Dutchman who explores North America, who works for the British in the French and Indian War. British officers use his maps while fighting in the American Revolution but he joins the Patriots and is captured by the British and disappears at sea while being a prisoner of war. Multiple topics are very nicely illustrated including his Dutch exploration, surveying for the British, mapping the Floridas, maps for the Revolution, his service in the Continental Army and proposing an attack on Fort Ticonderoga as well as information on Connecticut and the new United States. This exhibit was definitely quite interesting and worth seeing. The maps in this exhibit are of historical significance and are nicely preserved. ‘Pieces of American History – Connecticut Quilts’: This exhibit was well laid out and nicely presented how quilts reveal pieces of history, changes in the global and local economy, education and politics and the bonds of family, community and memory. Beautifully well preserved quilts, textiles, and articles of clothing with nicely documented detailed write-ups descripting them are on display in multiple galleries and provide a nice representation of quilts and textiles in general. The exhibit showed the practical household need that quilts fulfill but also how they express personal artistry, emotion and belief, representing many aspects of American home life. The question: ‘What is a quilt? Is addressed and several different topics are nicely presented depicting the history of quilts over different timeframes. These topics include quilts in the New Republic (1790 – 1825) showing the connections between family histories; the impact of the Industrial Revolution (1780 -1860) and the Cotton Gin (1794) on quilt making; and ‘Romanticism and Quilts’ (1825 – 1860), embracing imagination, emotion, nature, religion and an idealized vision of history with details on historic revivalism, fancy and sentimentality with respect to quilts. Also, the period of the Civil War (1861 – 1865), which showed how women expressed patriotism in the quilts that they made; and the quilts with respect to Post-Civil War Industrialization (1865 – 1900) and the Gilded Age, the Centennial (1876) and the 20th Century (1900s) were illustrated. This was an excellent exhibit, definitely educational and worth seeing. There were some very beautiful well preserved quilts and articles of clothing on display. The exhibit reveals many different interesting aspects of the history of quilts and we highly recommend it. Permanent Exhibits: The permanent exhibit, ‘Making Connecticut’, took a broad look at Connecticut’s history including its people, their lives and work, and changes in the world around them. It gave a comprehensive history of Connecticut starting from the native Quinnetukut settlers, whom Connecticut was named after, through to the present time. The ‘Making Connecticut’ Exhibit was broken down into multiple sections based on time period which included several smaller exhibits with many objects and other artifacts on display with very informative supporting write-ups, interactives and videos explaining them. The time periods included Colonial Life (1687 – 1774), the American Revolution (1775 – 1783), the Civil War, WWI and WWII and the building of modern life (1945 to today). The exhibits included items made in Connecticut and details about the factors impacting technological advances in Connecticut within each time period. The permanent collection of American Inn and Tavern Signs was also very interesting and unique. The outside grounds of the museum were well maintained, beautifully landscaped and nice for picnicking when the weather gets warmer. There was also plenty of free parking on the museum’s grounds. This museum was worth visiting for a very comprehensive history of Connecticut. There was a lot to see in this museum and it may take more than one visit to absorb and appreciate all it has to offer, including enjoying the changing special exhibits and changes in the permanent exhibits.
9. The Mark Twain House & Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,622 reviews
The Mark Twain House & Museum, a National Historic Landmark in Hartford, Connecticut, was the home of America's greatest author, Samuel Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain) and his family from 1874 to 1891. It is also where Twain lived when he wrote his most important works, including Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Prince and The Pauper and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. A stunning example of Picturesque Gothic architecture, the 25-room home features a dramatic grand hall, a lush glass conservatory, a grand library and the handsome billiard room where Twain wrote his famous books. The Webster Bank Museum Center at The Mark Twain House & Museum offers visitors an opportunity to learn more about Mark Twain, his family, the historic house, and the author's legacy. This state-of-the-art facility houses our ticket desk; the Aetna Gallery with a permanent exhibition on Twain's life and work; a rotating exhibition hall, The Hartford Financial Services Theatre, showing a Ken Burns mini-documentary on Twain; classroom space; the lecture hall-style Lincoln Financial Auditorium; The Mark Twain Store; entertaining spaces like the soaring Hal Holbrook and the sunny second floor cafe/patio area.
Reviewed By christinerH1415MU
Located right in Hartford, but tucked away in it's own little area, the Mark Twain house is a must see if you are in the area. It's available only by prebooked tour, and they do book up ahead of time so purchase tickets before driving out there. The cost of an adult ticket is $20, which seemed a little pricey until we were on the tour, and it quickly became apparent the price is worth it. Our tour guide Brendan was phenomenal, his knowledge of the history of both Mark Twain and the house itself was unmatched. The house is rich in history and was very advanced for its time, including having one of the first residential telephones which is still there today. The tour takes about 60-90 minutes, and then plan an extra 20-30 for time at the museum and gift shop.
10. Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 403 reviews
Pequot Museum, located in an ancient cedar forest minutes away from Foxwoods Resort Casino, is the largest Native American museum in the world. REOPENING MAY 19TH!!
Reviewed By GregK1239 - Contoocook, United States
We went here for the first time on our recent trip to Foxwoods. We were all very impressed with the size and scope of the museum. The exhibits were all top quality, and the recreated village is spectacular. I would definitely recommend spending a few hours here if you are in the area.
