The Yale University Art Gallery, founded in 1832, and with more than 100,000 pieces in its permanent collection, is the oldest university art museum in the country. The gallery offers an excellent overview of art history, ranging from ancient to modern. There is an exquisite collection of American paintings, and an extensive display of 20th-century European paintings. Classic objects from ancient Egypt and the Middle East, and treasures from the South Pacific and Far East are also on display. Guided tours, lectures, and family programs are all available. Admission is free.
Venture into Yale's exciting natural history museum. This is the only museum in Connecticut with fossil dinosaur material on permanent display. The Pulitzer Award winning "The Age of Reptiles" mural (a beautiful work of art in itself) depicts 300 million years of prehistory. Explore the cultures and history of peoples of the world through exhibits on Ancient Egypt, Mesoamerica, the Andes and the Great Plains, just to mention a few. It is best to visit during non-school hours.
Housed within a beautiful Colonial Revival-style building, the New Haven Museum is dedicated to preserving the rich past of the region. Visitors at the museum will be able to trace the region's origins as a sleepy seafaring village and its subsequent transformation into a thriving industrial and residential community through a diverse range of artifacts and exhibits. From local art, photographs and other extensive collections sourced from historic families and ancient New Haven homes, to vintage furniture and 18th and 19th-century artworks, the museum presents a comprehensive catalog of the city's heritage. The New Haven Museum is also home to the Whitney Research Library, which comprises of priceless manuscripts, rare books and other archival collections from the city's early settlement era.
Housed in two buildings at Southern Connecticut State University, the Ethnic Heritage Center houses exhibits, archives and educational programs throughout the year. Exhibits, artifacts and programs are possible through associations with other ethnic historical societies in New Haven and Connecticut. If you are interested in learning about the different cultures and people who make up the area, a trip to the Ethnic Heritage Center is the perfect way to do so.
Stony Creek Museum is a remarkable little attraction in Branford that celebrates rich local history. Visitors can learn the glorious history behind the pink granite that's found in the quarry nearby. Home to incredible collections of exhibits featuring mining objects, clothing, and apothecary, one can witness records, pictures, and other artifacts showing the granite used in iconic monuments such as the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and many other skyscrapers of Manhattan.
Built in 1785, the Allis-Bushnell House once served as the home of the Scranton and Bushnell families. The historic house has been lovingly restored by the Madison Historical Society and is maintained as a museum that chronicles life in Madison across five different eras. Inside, each room has been furnished to mimic the style of a different time period with antique furnishings, artwork and domestic implements that illustrate the lives of Madison's early residents. The long shed outside is the Annex where farm implements, fishing equipment, and other tools are on display. Another intriguing featureis the beautiful herb garden just behind the house. Visits to the house are permitted by prior appointment only and the rooms may be rented for meetings, parties and other private events. Plan a visit to the Allis-Bushnell House for a glimpse into Madison's past.
Home of the renown conservationist and businesswoman, Frances Osborne Kellogg, this grand Colonial Revival style mansion was built in 1840. Surrounding the majestic house are the formal gardens, awash in vibrant colors from spring through autumn when the flowers are in full bloom. Today, the Osborne Homestead is not only a popular house museum that showcases the life of its historic residents, but is also a member of the Connecticut Historic Gardens and the Connecticut Women's Heritage Trail. Guided tours of the house and gardens are organized for those who wish to delve into the life and work of the esteemed Frances Osborne Kellogg. Although the museum itself is open only from May through October, the groups are open year round from 9a to 4p Monday through Saturday, and from 12p to 4p on Sundays as well from May through October.
The 1750 Ogden House & Gardens served the Odgen family for nearly 125 years. Currently, managed by the Fairfield Historical Society, this historical house chronicles and displays documents and objects pertaining to that era. Its beautiful gardens further add to the splendor.
The Solomon Goffe House is a historic building that is an important landmark of the Meriden region. Erected in 1711, it is one of the foremost houses and is still intact and well-preserved. Included in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, it now serves as living museum.
Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium are located on the Farnam Garden, in the campus of Yale University. The facility is dedicated to education, research and public outreach. The Observatory and Planetarium are open to the public once a week, on Tuesday nights for two Planetarium shows that are held at 07:00 and 08:00 p.m. (April through October) and 06:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (November through March). Later, if the weather permits, the telescopes at the observatory will be set up for public viewing of the sky. Visitors can enjoy viewing planets, nebula and star clusters whatever interesting appears in the sky. The astronomy center has two telescopes, and a universe- simulation theater for visitors to enjoy and experience the outer space.
Stony Creek Museum is a remarkable little attraction in Branford that celebrates rich local history. Visitors can learn the glorious history behind the pink granite that's found in the quarry nearby. Home to incredible collections of exhibits featuring mining objects, clothing, and apothecary, one can witness records, pictures, and other artifacts showing the granite used in iconic monuments such as the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and many other skyscrapers of Manhattan.
The pioneer of neurosurgery, Harvey Cushing took his last breath on October 7, 1939, but his memory still lives on through The Cushing Center. Located within the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library of the Yale University, this center was established in 2010. The artifacts on display feature artworks by Cushing, over 15,000 journals and books personally collected by Cushing, drawers filled with apparatuses once used by him, and some personal paraphernalia. Guided tours around the center are conducted, check the website for further details.