New Haven Museum and Historical Society facts for kids
| Established | 1862 |
|---|---|
| Location | 114 Whitney Avenue New Haven, Connecticut |
| Type | Historical |
The New Haven Museum and Historical Society is a cool place in New Haven, Connecticut. It started way back in 1862! Its main job is to keep and share the amazing history of the New Haven area.
The museum has a huge collection of interesting things. You can see art, old photos, furniture, and many other items from New Haven's past. They also often have fun programs and special exhibits for visitors.
Contents
Discover New Haven's History
The New Haven Museum helps you explore the rich history of the city. You can find exhibits about New Haven itself and important events like the story of La Amistad. There are also displays of local art and beautiful decorative items.
Famous Connections and Collections
The museum holds collections linked to many famous people and companies. You can learn about Eli Whitney, who invented the cotton gin, and the Winchester gun factory. There are also items connected to Yale University, the beautiful East Rock area, and even Noah Webster, who created the dictionary. You might even find things related to Benedict Arnold!
Learning Through History
The museum offers special educational programs. These programs are interactive, meaning you get to participate and learn by doing. They help you understand local history in a fun and engaging way.
Explore the Whitney Research Library
The Whitney Research Library is part of the museum. It's like a giant treasure chest of information about the New Haven area. It has old papers, records, and documents from the very first settlers up to today.
What You Can Find in the Library
- Rare Books: Very old and special books.
- Manuscript Collections: Over 300 collections of handwritten papers, including personal letters and business records.
- Maps: Old maps that show how New Haven has changed over time.
- Architectural Drawings: About 4,000 drawings of buildings and structures.
- Photographs: A huge collection of about 75,000 old photos.
- Family History: Materials to help you research your own family's history, like old records and census information.
The Museum Building
The museum's current building was built in 1929. It was designed by an architect named J. Frederick Kelly. The building has a special style called Colonial Revival, which looks like older colonial homes.
Pieces of New Haven's Past
The building itself holds pieces from other old New Haven houses that were torn down. For example, you can see a beautiful mantelpiece and urns from the Nathan Smith house. There's even a mantelpiece from the house where Benedict Arnold once lived!
The Ingersoll Room
Inside the museum, you can visit the Ingersoll Room. This room is decorated with furniture and portraits from the 1700s and 1800s. It shows what the home and life of the Ingersoll family, a well-known New Haven family, might have looked like.
