Connecticut Museum of Culture and History

10/15/2026

¡Viva la vida! Have you reserved your tickets yet? Our annual Dia de Mu***os Community Celebration is next Saturday, October 24 @ 11 am - 4 pm, hosted in partnership with the Spanish Community of Wallingford and artist Carlos Hernández Chávez.

Featuring mariachi music and folk dance performances, face painting, crafts, community-made ofrendas on display, food and goods for sale, and more. Celebrate life with Connecticut's Mexican community and experience the traditions this vibrant holiday firsthand!

Space is limited! Tickets are free and required for entry. Get tickets for the morning or afternoon blocks, available at https://conta.cc/4sgG1Pl

10/07/2026

Before this jacket became part of the Connecticut Museum’s collection, it was part of fashion history.

In the 1990s, Hartford entrepreneur Anthony Griffin and artist Ellis Echevarria created Heaven or Hell, a streetwear brand that put Hartford fashion on the national stage. The brand was worn by artists including members of the Wu-Tang Clan and Jay-Z, and Griffin never lost his connection to Hartford.

But Griffin’s clothing was about more than fashion. Inspired by the idea that we all have choices, he created designs intended to remind people to shape their own futures. The jacket in our collection represents Hartford entrepreneurship, hip-hop culture, creativity, and Griffin’s commitment to his community.

Today, Griffin’s story lives on through objects like this jacket, recently added to the Connecticut Museum’s collection and currently featured in the exhibition, "Drawn Here: Stories from Hartford's North End."

But preserving history doesn’t end there.

Your Annual Fund gift helps us care for over 4 million objects in our collection and ensure that their stories endure.

Help us preserve the pieces of Connecticut history that tell us who we are.

Give today: https://2512.blackbaudhosting.com/2512/Annual-Fund

10/06/2026

The Museum is pleased to welcome two new members to our Board of Trustees: John Bourdeaux, President and CEO of AdvanceCT, and Christopher F. Droney, former judge on the United States Court of Appeals and former United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut. They bring their respective backgrounds in civic law, public service, and nonprofit economic development to the Museum’s mission-driven Board.

Read the full release on our website: https://conta.cc/4ATqdpF

09/30/2026

Last week we reflected on a milestone 200th year at our 2025 Annual Meeting, followed by a panel discussion featuring the graphic artists of our special exhibition, "Drawn Here: Stories from Hartford's North End." Thank you to those who attended the event!

Special thanks to the artists for sharing their stories and experiences, and to Catherine Shen, host of CT Public's "Where We Live," for moderating the panel.

"Drawn Here: Stories from Hartford's North End" is on view through January 17, 2027. https://www.connecticutmuseum.org/exhibition/drawn-here-stories-from-hartfords-north-end/

09/16/2026

Go behind the scenes with our Dangremond Museum Studies interns Abigail and Eden, who developed "Taking the Reigns," an exhibition about horse theft during the American Revolution, now on view in the Connecticut Museum's Nawrot Nook. View the video they filmed and produced below!

Our Dangremond Museum Studies interns spent the summer gaining hands-on experience across various departments at the Museum. Special thanks to David W. Dangremond for making this internship possible.

Created in Summer 2026 as part of the Dangremond Museum Studies Int...

09/15/2026

The Connecticut Museum is hiring for a Chief Strategy and Programs Officer!

Join our dedicated staff as a leader of a 200-year-old organization, focusing on mission-related strategy, administration, and management.

Apply by October 2! Learn more about this position and how to apply: https://www.connecticutmuseum.org/job-internship/chief-strategy-and-programs-officer/

09/14/2026

Apply for the Legends and Lore Grant Marker Program by October 12! Share your town or community's story with a grant-funded roadside marker.
The Connecticut Museum has partnered with the William G. Pomeroy Foundation to feature Connecticut cultural heritage on roadside markers at sites across the state through the Legends & Lore® program. Whether it is a tale, a figure of importance, or a celebration.
Learn all about this program and how you and your community can get involved through the recent virtual presentation hosted by the Museum. Full video linked below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hBO0gyWbwo

Learn more: https://www.connecticutmuseum.org/cchap/legends/

Have you considered a roadside marker to recognize your community’s...

09/11/2026

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The Connecticut Museum is honored to host a virtual presentation on September 23 @ 7 - 8 pm, with Noah Rauch, Senior Vice President, Education & Public Programs at The National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

The National September 11 Memorial and Museum draws millions of visitors each year – from individuals directly impacted by 9/11 to an entire generation with no lived memory of the attacks. Connecting with such diverse audiences requires constant thought about how history is conveyed, memory is maintained, and stories are shared.

Rauch will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the institution’s development and design, the inherent complexity of conveying such a challenging history, and how the stories, themes, and legacy of the attacks continue to be shared in this milestone year with audiences from around the world.

Free and open to the public! Get free tickets to receive the Zoom link at: https://www.connecticutmuseum.org/event/balancing-memory-and-history/

Memberships $150+ now include ROAM, offering free or discounted admission at participating museums across the US. Join Today!

09/10/2026

Liyuan Classical Dance is one of the oldest dance traditions in the world. You can explore the collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, which has some of the earliest depictions of Liyuan dancers in the world! You can also join our Smithsonian Affiliate, The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History (in Hartford, CT) on September 19 at 2-4pm for an immersive dance workshop exploring the elegance and enduring style of Chinese Classical Dance, taught by choreographer Kaili Chen, founder and director of Li Garden Dance Company.

Learn more: https://www.connecticutmuseum.org/event/liyuandanceworkshop/

📷: Courtesy The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History; Collections of the National Museum of Asian Art

Music: By Quanzhou Nanyin Music Ensemble

09/04/2026

Looking for free and fun activities for the long weekend? Join us this Saturday for "Art is Revolutionary" and "Made to Last: The Songs We Sing."

Combine imagination and history as you create a one-of-a-kind work of art inspired by the Revolutionary War in our "Art is Revolutionary" program from 11 am - 2 pm. General Admission and the program are FREE.

Also, don't miss "Made to Last: The Songs We Sing." In this conversation, folklorist and Derek Piotr will share his work collecting over 1,500 audio recordings worldwide that preserve ballads, hymns, tales, poems, children’s songs, and interviews from the “non-singer” -- someone with no background in musical performance who can nevertheless relate a song or folkloric memory. The program runs from 1 - 2 pm and is FREE, with pre-registration required.

For more information and to register:
https://www.connecticutmuseum.org/do-learn/upcoming-events/

A special thank you to Beacon Bank for sponsoring First Free Weekends!