Connecticut Museum of Culture and History facts for kids
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| Established | 1825 |
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| Location | 1 Elizabeth Street, Hartford, Connecticut, United States |
| Type | History museum, library, archive, education center |
| Public transit access | Connecticut Transit Hartford
11 Simsbury-Granby Express 72 Asylum Ave |
The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History (CMCH) is a special place in Hartford, Connecticut. It used to be called the Connecticut Historical Society. This museum is a private, non-profit group. It acts as the official state historical society for Connecticut. It was started in 1825. This makes it one of the oldest historical societies in the United States!
The CMCH is more than just a museum. It's also a library, an archive, and an education center. Anyone can visit it. Inside, you'll find a huge collection. There are 270,000 artifacts and pictures. Plus, there are over 100,000 books and pamphlets. It even has one of the biggest collections of old clothes and fabrics in New England. It was known as the Connecticut Historical Society until 2023.
Contents
A Look Back: The Museum's History
Starting a Historical Society
In 1825, some people in Connecticut had a great idea. They wanted to save important historical items. People like Thomas Robbins and John Trumbull signed a request. They asked the Connecticut General Assembly (the state's government) to help. The General Assembly agreed!
This led to the creation of the Connecticut Historical Society. Its goal was to collect things important to Connecticut's history. It also aimed to collect items important to the history of the United States. The first leaders included Trumbull, Day, Robbins, and others.
Finding a Home in Hartford
Hartford was becoming an important city in the 1820s. So, the society decided to hold its first meetings there. After a busy start, the society became quiet for a while. It wasn't until 1839 that new interest brought it back to life.
The CMCH found its first official home. It was in a room above a store. This store was located at 124 Main Street in Hartford.
New Ideas and Growth
A person named Henry Barnard helped the society grow. He was an educationalist, meaning he focused on education. He suggested that people from all over the state should join. He also encouraged a magazine about history and genealogy (family history). He found speakers to give talks across Connecticut.
As the museum's collections grew, it needed more space. In 1843, the historical society moved. It found a room in the new Wadsworth Athenaeum. By 1844, the collections were much bigger. They included 250 bound newspapers and 6,000 pamphlets. There were also many old writings, coins, portraits, and furniture.
The First Librarian
New leaders were chosen, including David D. Field. The CMCH then hired Thomas Robbins. He became its first librarian. He was chosen because he had a huge book collection. He was also an expert in old things, known as an antiquarian.
Under Robbins, the new museum space was open six days a week. Visitors could take tours and learn about the objects. Some early items included a chest from William Brewster. There was also a tavern sign from General Israel Putnam. Another item was a bloodstained vest worn by Colonel William Ledyard. He wore it during the Battle of Groton Heights.
After Robbins passed away in 1856, other historians helped. James Hammond Trumbull and Charles J. Hoadly gave talks. They also published their research. In 1870, Ellen D. Larned became the first woman elected to the organization.
A Bigger Home for Growing Collections
In 1893, Albert Carlos Bates became a full-time librarian. Under his leadership, the number of members doubled. The museum's income grew five times larger. The collection also got much bigger.
To hold all these new items, the CMCH bought a house. It was on Elizabeth Street in Hartford. This house used to belong to an inventor named Curtis Veeder. The building was changed between the 1950s and 1970s. It was made to hold book stacks, exhibit rooms, an auditorium, and a reading room.
In the early 2000s, there were plans for a new museum. Famous designers Bruce Mau and Frank Gehry were going to help. It would be near Trinity College. But the project didn't happen because there wasn't enough money. From 2003 to 2007, the CMCH also helped run the Old State House. They created a special exhibit there called "History Is All Around Us."
What You Can See: Exhibits
The museum has some exhibits that are always there. "Making Connecticut" tells the story of Connecticut's history. Another permanent exhibit shows "Inn & Tavern Signs."
There are also special galleries for temporary exhibits. These change over time. Some recent topics have included the American School for the Deaf. Others focused on women and needlework (sewing). There was also an exhibit about the Kellogg brothers' lithography (printing) firm. Other topics included women's basketball and the Amistad ship. You could also learn about the history of cleanliness. There were exhibits on the Civil War and Eliphalet Chapin. He was an 18th-century furniture maker.
See also
- Albert Carlos Bates, librarian 1893–1940
- George C. F. Williams, president 1919–1922,1926–1934
- Newton C. Brainard, president 1953–1963
