Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Museum Of Connecticut History - Discover the State's Heritage
The Museum Of Connecticut History has been dedicated to preserving and showcasing the state's political, military, and industrial heritage since 1910. Our mission is to educate the public through extensive collections, including original manuscripts like the 1662 Royal Charter and U.S. Constitution, as well as artifacts from Connecticut's industrial pioneers. We offer free public access to permanent and rotating exhibits, including the renowned Colt Firearms Collection and Mitchelson Coin Collection, which highlight Connecticut's national contributions. Our educational programs, such as Connecticut Invents! and A Connecticut Sampler, engage students through hands-on learning about state history.Located in the historic State Library and Supreme Court building in Hartford, we provide self-guided tours, group visit coordination, and outreach initiatives to connect communities with Connecticut's legacy. With over a century of service, we remain committed to fostering historical understanding through accessible resources and curated exhibits that trace the state's evolution from colonial times to the modern era.
Services
Historical Exhibits
Educational Programs
Group Tours
Virtual Tours
Artifact Donations
Details
- Year established: 1910
Highlights and features
- We offer free admission to world-class historical collections spanning 300+ years of Connecticut history.
- Our educational programs align with state curriculum standards for hands-on student engagement.
- We house rare artifacts like the 1662 Royal Charter and Colt firearms manufacturing legacy.
- Our staff provides expert-led orientation for group visits and classroom outreach programs.
- We maintain one of the finest public collections of American coins in the world.
Services
Historical Exhibits
Our museum features permanent and rotating exhibits tracing Connecticut's political, military, and industrial history from colonial times to today. Highlights include original Revolutionary-era documents, the Colt Firearms Collection, and the Mitchelson Coin Collection containing rare American coins. Visitors explore Connecticut's role in national events through artifacts like Civil War uniforms, suffrage banners, and industrial manufacturing innovations.
Educational Programs
We offer curriculum-aligned programs for students in grades 3-12, including Connecticut Invents! and A Connecticut Sampler. These hands-on sessions explore Connecticut's industrial innovations, political milestones, and military contributions through interactive activities and artifact demonstrations. Programs accommodate up to 25 students per session with optional staff-led orientation for group visits.
Group Tours
We coordinate self-guided tours for school groups, civic organizations, and historical societies. Group leaders can schedule visits Monday-Friday 9am-4pm or Saturdays 9am-2pm. Our staff provides orientation materials and can assist with combined tours of the State Capitol building when requested in advance through our education curator.
Virtual Tours
Digital access to key collections and exhibits is available through our virtual tour platform. Features include high-resolution images of historical documents, interactive timelines of Connecticut's industrial development, and 360-degree views of major artifacts like the Charter Oak memorabilia and Colt revolver prototypes.
Artifact Donations
We accept historic objects related to Connecticut's political, military, or industrial history through our donation program. Potential donors should contact museum staff to discuss collection scope and preservation requirements. Accepted items become part of our permanent archives for public educational use and historical research.
People
Patrick Smith
Education Curator
Patrick Smith coordinates educational programs and group visits at the Museum Of Connecticut History. He develops curriculum-aligned content for school outreach initiatives and manages scheduling for classroom programs like Connecticut Invents! and A Connecticut Sampler.
Questions
What are the museum's operating hours?
We're open Monday-Friday 10am-4pm. Closed weekends, state holidays, and major federal holidays.
Is admission to the museum free?
Yes, all exhibits and public programs are offered at no charge to visitors.
Can school groups schedule guided tours?
We offer self-guided tours with optional staff orientation. Contact our Education Curator for group scheduling.
What special collections are currently on display?
Featured exhibits include the Colt Firearms Collection, Mitchelson Coin Collection, and Connecticut's original 1662 Royal Charter.
Do you offer virtual access to exhibits?
Yes, our website provides digital access to select collections and virtual tour options for remote learning.
