Connecticut River Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1975 |
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| Location | Essex, Connecticut, USA |
| Type | Maritime museum |
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Steamboat Dock Site
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| Location | Main Street, Essex, Connecticut |
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| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | 1813 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003768 |
| Added to NRHP | April 1, 1982 |
The Connecticut River Museum is a special place in Essex, Connecticut. It teaches people all about the Connecticut River. You can learn about its history, the boats that sailed on it, and the amazing nature around it. It's a great spot to explore the river's past and present.
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Discover the Connecticut River Museum
The Connecticut River Museum is an educational and cultural center. It focuses on the river's environment and its history with boats and sailing. The museum is located right on Steamboat Dock in Essex.
A Historic Home
The museum building itself is very old and special. It's a restored warehouse from 1878. This warehouse was once used for steamboats. It is now the only one of its kind left on the river. Because of its history, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum first opened its doors to visitors in 1975. Connecticut Governor Ella Grasso was its first official member.
The museum's first collection came from the Wadsworth Atheneum. This art museum in Hartford, Connecticut loaned many items. These included nautical artwork, tools for navigation, and other items related to the sea.
What You Can See Inside
The museum has three floors full of interesting things. The main floor and the third floor often have new exhibits. These exhibits change over time, so there's always something new to see.
The second floor has a permanent exhibit. This display is all about shipbuilding. You can see old maps and models of steamboats. There are also exhibits about the different kinds of fish that live in the Connecticut River.
The Amazing Turtle Submarine
One of the museum's most exciting items is a full-size copy of the Turtle. This was the very first American submarine! It was built right in Essex in 1776. The Turtle was used during the American Revolution against the British. It's amazing to see a replica of such an important piece of history.
More to Explore
The museum property also includes a boathouse. Here, you can learn even more about boats. There is also a research library. This library is a great place to find information about the river's history.
In 1995, the museum received a special gift. Bill and Victoria Winterer donated a piece of land. This land is about one acre and is located in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. It is now a waterfront park. The museum manages this park for everyone to enjoy.
A Museum's Resilience
In 2011, the museum experienced a fire. This caused damage to parts of the building. However, the museum worked hard to rebuild. They repaired the damaged sections and continued their mission.
See also
