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 several crafts and activities for children and caregivers to work on together. These drop-in programs are great for children of all ages. No registration is required.

On Sunday, join us for a family story time. Cozy up with beanbags and enjoy a reading of a book all about creativity and innovation. Then, families will be challenged to embrace their own inventive spirit by getting crafty in the Inspire Center. These drop-in programs are great for children under the age of 10. No registration required.

Free First Weekend is 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. These kits are sponsored by Berkshire Bank.

• 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.
• May – June: Tune into History
  Music has made us move and groove across cultures and centuries here in Connecticut! Families will examine music from various cultures that call our state their home and then make their own songs, dances, and more to express their own identities.
• July – August: Fun at the Fair
  Did you know that Connecticut was home to one of the most popular summertime fairs in the entire country? Learn all about these fun fairground traditions here in CT by exploring items from our collection. Using inspiration from history, families will create their own fair exhibitions, try out carnival games, and more!
• September – October: Transportation Exploration
  Even in our small state, people need transportation, especially when the seasons start to change like now! Families will explore how different peoples throughout Connecticut history got around by making their own vehicles and charting maps across our state’s landscape.

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.