Programs for Children and Families at the Connecticut Museum

Join us for one of our many youth and family programs offered at the Connecticut Museum. Visit our calendar to see what family programs are coming up soon at the museum!

Inspire Center

Every Saturday and Sunday families can explore, create, and invent in the Inspire Center! Using inspiration from Curtis Veeder, a Connecticut inventor, and the unique objects in the Connecticut Museum’s collection, the Inspire Center brings history and problem-solving together in this hands-on, creative space designed for visitors of all ages! Visit the Inspire Center page for more information.

Inspire Center made possible thanks to generous support from the Gawlicki Family Foundation.

Free First Weekend Family Programs

On the first weekend of every month, the Connecticut Museum offers free admission to the museum exhibits and Inspire Center. On Saturday, join us for a fun free family program. These drop-in family programs are typically scheduled from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm and involve a craft or activity for children and caregivers to work on together. Free First Weekend Family Programs are designed to be open ended and are usually appropriate for children ages 4 and up. No registration is required.

These programs are made possible through the generous support of Berkshire Bank.

Family Activity Kits

Family activity kits are available for pick up during all open hours and are included with the cost of admission. No need to reserve them in advance, simply pick them up during your visit! Each kit will include historic background information, images of items in the Connecticut Museum collection, and hands-on activities to complete at home. The themes and activities will change every other month.

• November – December: Fall Fashion
  When the weather changes, so does our wardrobe here in Connecticut! Learn about different ways that people have adapted to our state’s chill environment throughout history. Families will look closely at clothing from the Museum’s collection, design their own fall outfits, make paper crafted clothing, and more!
• January – February: Spectacular Storytellers
  Whether it is through sketch or soliloquy, Connecticans have told tales in all sorts of ways throughout history! Families will explore the lives of African American storytellers from our state and learn to create unique plays, books, and artwork to tell their own stories.
• March – April: Women Behind the Blueprints
  From machines that we use every day to ideas that help our communities grow, women in CT have been at the forefront of innovation! Engage with the stories of women from across our state to inspire your own engineering excellence. In this kit families will create their own inventions from household items and come up with creative ways to help their communities.

History To Go Bags

Learn, create, and explore! History To Go Bags are a great way to experience hands-on, educational fun! These family activity kits include historical background information, activity instructions, necessary supplies, and a road trip map to sites throughout the state! Click here for more information and to place your order!

School Vacation Programs

Join us during your school’s summer or winter break for a vacation program for kids and families. Check out our upcoming events page for more information.

Planning Your Visit

Strollers are welcome in the museum. Please see our visitor’s map for more information about the location of the accessible entrance and elevators to help you easily move around the museum.

There is a family restroom with a baby-changing station on the first floor, directly behind the Welcome Desk. There are women’s and men’s restrooms as well.

Our gift shop has a selection of kid-friendly souvenirs for sale, as well as snacks and beverages. Please note that food and beverages are not allowed in exhibit spaces. There are fast food and area restaurants close to the museum, please ask at the Welcome Desk for recommendations.

We ask that parents and caregivers take an active role in their children’s behavior during their visit to ensure that everyone has an enjoyable experience.  Help prepare your kids for their visit by reviewing good museum manners before or during your visit.

• Remember to use walking feet in a museum.
• There are lots of fun things that we can touch and play with in the exhibits, but there are also things, like historic artifacts, that we can’t touch because we could damage or break the artifacts.
• Please help us keep our historic artifacts safe by keeping food and drinks out of the exhibits. Food and drink can be consumed outdoors on the picnic tables, in the Auditorium Lobby, or in the Veeder Living Room.