Travel Connecticut

Introduction

Connecticut is home to a number of museums that will delight lovers of art and history. Here are some of my favorites:

Mystic Seaport Museum

• Mystic Seaport Museum is a museum of maritime history located in Mystic, Connecticut.

• Founded in 1929, it is one of the largest maritime museums in the world and contains over 40 acres of land that include over 60 historic buildings from New England's early days.

• The museum hosts a variety of exhibits on whaling, sailing ships, shipbuilding and more!

The Barnum Museum

The Barnum Museum is one of the best places to visit in Connecticut. It's located just outside of Hartford and features a wide range of exhibits, including the world's largest collection of circus memorabilia.

The museum is open from Tuesday through Saturday, with admission costing $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12.

The museum is home to more than 200 artifacts that were owned by P.T. Barnum himself, including an elephant named Jumbo—the biggest attraction at his infamous circus in 1882—and an elephant skeleton named Sampson (which was later put on display in New York City). You can also see some other pieces from Barnum's collection: stuffed animals, models from his shows, costumes worn by performers (including dwarf Tom Thumb), photographs taken during performances over 100 years ago...the list goes on! There are even life-size dioramas depicting scenes from specific acts like "Elephant Surprising a Group."

Wadsworth Atheneum

The Wadsworth Atheneum, a museum in downtown Hartford, Connecticut, is known for its extensive collection of American art. The building itself was designed by renowned architect Cass Gilbert (who also designed the U.S. Supreme Court) and houses more than 40,000 pieces of art spanning from Colonial times through the early 20th century.

The Wadsworth Atheneum has been around since 1842 and is one of the oldest museums in America. It's also home to one of the largest collections of 19th-century paintings on display anywhere in New England—including works by Charles Willson Peale and Gilbert Stuart—along with sculptures by Harriet Hosmer and Augustus Saint-Gaudens that were commissioned by William Wade II himself!

The Museum hosts all kinds of events throughout each year: exhibitions featuring new artists' work; lectures on topics ranging from architecture history to contemporary fashion design; classes like "Origami Cranes" or "Tie-Dyeing"; tours highlighting different parts of their vast collection; plus special holiday celebrations like Saint Nicholas Day where kids can meet Santa Claus face-to-face...the list goes on! The museum also has an annual membership program called “Friends With Benefits” which allows members access into certain areas within it for free if they purchase tickets online ahead of time (otherwise there may be added fees).

Yale Center for British Art

The Yale Center for British Art is located in New Haven, Connecticut. It has a special exhibition called "Paintings and Drawings from the Collection." This exhibition features works by artists including John Constable, J. M. W. Turner, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed on Mondays). Admission fees are $15 for adults and $8 for students with valid student ID cards; children under 12 are free when they're accompanied by a paying adult (one child per paying adult). Parking at the garage next door costs $10 per day or $40 per week; there's also street parking available nearby if you're willing to walk a few blocks with your luggage in tow!

Visitors should note that there aren't any bathrooms inside the museum itself—you'll have to use facilities at another building across campus instead.

Neuberger Museum of Art

Founded in 1955, the Neuberger Museum of Art is located on the campus of SUNY Purchase. The museum was an outgrowth of a collection donated to SUNY Purchase by Louis Neuberger and his wife Lisa. The collection includes over 5,000 objects that range from ancient Chinese art to contemporary artworks.

The permanent exhibition galleries include works by Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol among others. The sculpture garden features large-scale sculptures including works by Sol LeWitt and Louise Bourgeois

Mark Twain House and Museum

The Mark Twain House and Museum is located in Hartford, Connecticut. The museum is open from mid-April through early December, Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.; closed on Mondays except holidays, including Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Admission is $25 for adults, $20 for seniors (65+), $14 for students with valid ID and teachers with valid ID; children under 5 are free of charge.

The museum houses the private home where Samuel Clemens lived until 1891, as well as artifacts belonging to Samuel Clemens himself or related to his life or work—including letters written by him while he was living at the house—and other items connected with Twain's family members: his wife Olivia Langdon Clemens; their son Langdon Clemens; Olivia's half-sister Susan Crane; Susan's husband Benjamin Franklin Butler (who served under General Ulysse Grant during the Civil War); Olivia's sister Pamela ALCOTT NIMMO; Pamela’s husband James Thomas Fields Sr.; Pamela’s son James Thomas Fields Jr.; Samuel’s brother Orion Clemens (1825–1905); Orion’s son Joseph Webster Paine Martin (1859–1938).

Florence Griswold Museum

The Florence Griswold Museum is a great way to learn about the history of art in New England. It's located in Essex, Connecticut, which was the birthplace of several artists who became famous for their paintings throughout the 1800s. The museum has exhibits on these artists' lives and works. There are also special events held throughout the year, like concerts and lectures by scholars from around the world. They even have a gift shop where you can buy books about art or prints from your favorite paintings!

The museum is open every day except Monday; its hours vary depending on what month it is but usually run from 9am-5pm during summer months (June through September) and 10am-4pm during other months. Admission costs $8 per person (children under 12 years old are free). To get there by car: take Route I-95 North until you see Exit 41A; turn right onto Riverside Avenue; follow this road until it ends at Railroad Street; turn left onto Railroad Street then make another left onto Cedar Street; finally make another left onto South Main Street where you'll find parking available behind City Hall (just make sure not to park any closer than 300 feet away from fire hydrants).

Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, located on the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation in Ledyard, is a beautifully designed museum that houses a collection of Native American artifacts and artworks. The museum was formed to preserve the history and culture of one of Connecticut's oldest tribes. It’s also one of the most visited museums in all of New England!

The museum was opened in 2004 after years of planning by tribal members and state officials to create an authentic experience for visitors from all over the world who come here looking for information about what life was like before European settlers arrived on this continent centuries ago. Visitors can tour through five different galleries full of artifacts from ancient times until today: Native Americans; Colonial Era; Domestic Life Before 1800; Tribal History (1600–1800); Modern Day Artwork & Culture (1970s+).

The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center

The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center is a museum dedicated to the life and work of Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Located in Hartford, Connecticut, it is a branch of the New York-based National Park Service. The center offers guided tours that explore the history and legacy of slavery in America through a combination of artworks and interactive exhibits.

Yale University Art Gallery

The Yale University Art Gallery is a fine art museum on the campus of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. The museum's collection oversees around 26,000 works of art that range from ancient and medieval to contemporary pieces. Undergraduates and graduate students at Yale University use the museum for their research and studies on art history, curatorship, conservation science, and other related fields.

It was founded in 1832 as the first university art museum in America. The architect Charles Bullfinch designed its building which opened to the public in January 1894. It was renamed after Paul Mellon funded an expansion project that unified all six buildings into one structure called "The Paul Mellon Arts Center."

There are many wonderful museums to visit in Connecticut.

• The Connecticut State Museum of Natural History is a great place to start. It has exhibits on geology, paleontology, and biology.

• The Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London is also a must-visit museum. It has many historical paintings from the 17th century up through the 20th century that are worth seeing for anyone interested in art history or American history.

• The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art has a number of pieces by famous artists like Picasso and Renoir as well as works by well-known contemporary artists such as Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol.

Conclusion

As you can see, Connecticut is a state with many museums to visit. Whether you’re interested in art or history, there are plenty of options for your next vacation. The museums listed above are just a few examples of what this state has to offer; there are many others that have been left out due to space limitations!