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Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm

New Canaan Museum & Historical Society

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New Canaan Museum & Historical Society

The New Canaan Museum & Historical Society is a cultural institution that focuses on preservation, modernism, education and community. St. Henry B.
(1)

Since our founding in 1889, the New Canaan Historical Society has carried out its mission “to bring together and arrange the historical events of the town of New Canaan, the genealogies of the families who have lived in the town, to form a library and to collect relics and curiosities, to form a museum.”

To this day we accomplish that by promoting historic preservation, aiding researchers, maintaining museums and historical sites, mounting exhibitions, holding educational events and tours, and building an awareness and appreciation of our Town’s rich past. Our founders included the descendants of some of New Canaan’s first families — among them Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Lockwood, Charles R. Abbott, Alexander Law, S.Y. John, James and Edwin Hoyt, Lucius Monroe Sr., Francis E, Weed, Mr. & Mrs. Rogers, and Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Silliman. Today the Society welcomes all members — descendants of early settlers and more recent arrivals included. At our headquarters, in the 1825 Town House, the Society maintains a research library of more than 3,500 volumes, along with scores of manuscripts, deeds, newspapers, photographs and other documents dating to the colonial era. The New Canaan Historical Society is open to everyone. We welcome you as a guest and invite you to become a member: http://www.nchistory.org/get-involved

10/23/2026

Happy Friday, New Canaan! Can you guess what this object is?
For this week’s From the Vault Friday, we’re exploring the goffering iron.

A goffering iron — sometimes called an Italian iron — was a type of curling iron used to press ribbons, lace, and ruffles into clothing; an essential fashion detail through many historical periods. It was an especially popular laundry tool from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, when the iron could be used to decorate bonnets, baby clothes, cuffs, starched collars, and more. Like many home appliances of the time, this iron would have been heated on a fireplace. This is a two-piece iron. The rod could be laid to warm up on coals or in a fire, and once inserted back into its stand, would warm the rest of the iron up hot enough to allow ribbons, cloth, and lace to run along the curved edge and take shape.

This item is on view on the second floor of the Hanford-Silliman house for visitors, as well as with our digital tour guide. Join the story: click the link in our bio or visit nchistory.org to discover our free virtual tour.

10/21/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended yesterday's Lunch & Learn and to Dr. Scott Moore for a fascinating presentation on witchcraft and witch trials in colonial America, featuring research from his book "The Witch of Pungo: Grace Sherwood in Virginia History and Legend"!

Our next Lunch & Learn will be on Tuesday, November 10th with Vanessa Wood who will explore the life and work of her second cousin, artist Augusta Simon, a lifelong New Canaan resident. Register on our website or at the link in bio.

10/20/2026

We have a lot of exciting upcoming events planned that you won't want to miss! From an interactive celebration of The Beatles to Election Day activities that are fun for the whole family, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Learn more and register on our website or at the link in bio. We hope to see you there!

10/09/2026

Happy Friday, New Canaan!
For this week’s From the Vault Friday, we have a Neapolitan Mandolin.

Joe Sweet Jr. (“Mr. Music” to those who knew him) donated this piece in July of 1994. The tag on this mandolin describes it as a lady’s instrument, belonging to the musicians on Mr. Sweet’s mother’s side. Known as a “potato bug” or Neapolitan mandolin, the bowl-back design originally developed in Italy around the mid-20th century, becoming a popular instrument for entertainers and street musicians. Some historians consider this period the “Golden Age of Mandolins”, in part because many European immigrants took the instrument with them to the United States, and others founded entire mandolin orchestras based on the instrument’s popularity. The nickname “potato bug” mandolin actually came from American musicians, who noted the instrument’s resemblance to the Colorado potato beetle’s striped design.

While this piece is beautiful, it remains stored in our climate controlled vault for its preservation. However, with our digital tour guide, items like this are more visible than ever. Join the story by giving the link in our bio a try, and discover virtual tours, digitised items, and so much more.

10/06/2026

Happy Tuesday, New Canaan! Can you imagine what kind of dolls would own this furniture?
For this week’s Tuesday Treasure, we’re exploring Tynietoy Dollhouse Furniture.

The company Tynietoy (active from the 1920s to 1950s), was founded by Marion Perkins and Amey Vernon, who were inspired by the then popular colonial revival movement to create chic and modern dollhouse furniture. They felt oftentimes designs were too dated and childish, so their company sought to modernise and elevate the industry by introducing simple, well-constructed designs into the dollhouse market. These pieces all feature hand-painted upholstery, painted by local art students at the Rhode Island School of Design. These high-end pieces of art Tynietoy produced were not just suitable for many American toy-rooms, they became sought-after collectables in many homes.

This piece is on view on the second floor of the Hanford-Silliman house for visitors, as well as with our digital tour guide. Join the story by giving the QR code a try to discover virtual tours, digitised items, and so much more.

10/02/2026

Happy Friday New Canaan!
For this week’s From the Vault Friday, we have a Scrimshaw Powder Horn.

Powder horns were used to store and carry gun powder. The chain and hooked shape of the horn made them easy to cary over a soldier’s shoulder, and the horn itself was light-weight, cheap, and non-sparking, making them safe all-natural containers for highly flammable gunpowder. The both ends would have had a stopper or lid attached, which would only have been removed to refill the horn, or transfer gun powder through the smaller end into the cartridge of a gun.

Scrimshaw is a term associated with the whaling industry, and refers to the decorative design carved into the horn. The word Scrimshaw can be either a noun, referring to the physical object and its design, or as a verb, referring to the process of making the object. The beautiful and intricate variety of carvings on this horn tell stories about the fishing industry, indigenous hunting practices, and the revolutionary war. It even includes the name Matthew Smith written in capitals along one end.

While this item is beautiful, its fragility and historical value means it remains stored in our climate controlled vault. However, with our digital tour guide, these items are more visible than ever. Join the story by giving the QR code a try and discover virtual tours, digitised items, and so much more.

09/24/2026

Join us on Tuesday November 3rd for our annual Election Day Family Fun. We will be welcoming Chez Lenard back to the campus for his amazing gourmet hot dogs and all the treats that come with it. Also we will have games and crafts. This is not just for kids - all hungry adults are most welcome!! Rain or shine. Kids get to vote too!! Trivia contest for adults. You could win a free membership for a year!

To register, click on the QR code.

09/18/2026

Happy Friday New Canaan!
For this weeks From the Vault Friday, we have our mid 19th century cornhusk doll.

Originally made by and for various Indigenous communities across the Americas, these dolls originally functioned as many dolls do in society: as a combination of toys, teaching tools, and prised gifts. By the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, cornhusk dolls became more popular among lower class white American families as accessible, sustainable toys. By the late nineteenth century, the doll had evolved in white American cultures to become decorative folk art objects, highlighting European style, design, and fashion. This doll is an exemplary and rare piece from that period.

08/12/2026

Join NCM&HS employees Antonia and Oliver in their Inaugural Book Group meeting on Thursday September 17th at 3:00pm at the Museum.

They have selected The Ice Storm by former New Canaan resident, Rick Moody. The story is a darkly funny, unsettling novel about two affluent families in New Canaan over Thanksgiving weekend in 1973. The book is available on Amazon or at the New Canaan Libary. Beverages will be served.

There will be much to discuss! How has our town changed, what remains the same? Visit nchistory.org/events to register.

07/11/2026

At a festive Spring party, President Tom Ferguson presented the mighty Rotary Club of New Canaan gavel to incoming President Charlie McCool! Thank you Tom, for a wonderful year highlighted by the club’s highest ever grant donations to local non-profits from a spectacular LobsterFest 2025. As we prepare for an exciting LobsterFest 2026 at Waveny House with live music, we are grateful to Charlie McCool for his leadership. Go to links in bio for info on LobsterFest and becoming a Rotarian.

Address

13 Oenoke Rdg
New Canaan, CT
06840

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm

Website

http://www.nchistory.org/

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