Andover, Connecticut

Historical Society

Tolland, Connecticut

Historic House

Bolton, Connecticut

Historical Society

Coventry, Connecticut

Historical Society

The Society continues to participate in local history studies with the Coventry schools. The Society recognizes the need to teach children to understand the importance of preserving history. As they grow older, we hope they will continue to be active participants in the preservation of our history. Coventry Colonial Camp, cosponsored with the Antiquarian & Landmarks Society, is a one-week day camp held in July for youngsters in the 5th, 6th, and 7th grades. All Coventry Historical Society sites, as well as the Hale Homestead, are used for this program. The Society also works with the Girl Scouts as they open the Brick School House to the public on special occasions throughout the year to acquaint the public with school life in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Tolland, Connecticut

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

The first Daniel Benton built this house in 1720; The oldest house remaining in Tolland, it was occupied by members of his family until 1932. It is the oldest house museum open to the public in Tolland County.

Storrs, Connecticut

Historical Society

Tolland, Connecticut

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

An architecturally beautiful 1822 courthouse with the upstairs courtroom restored and ready for court to convene. Exhibits related to the courts in Tolland County and other county institutions.

Coventry, Connecticut

History, Historic House

'The Root House was built 1845 at the corner of Church and Lemon Streets by Hannah and William Root, early settlers of Marietta. Mr. Root was one of Marietta's earliest merchants and its first druggist. He was the first merchant to receive a shipment of goods on the Western and Atlantic Railroad.

Coventry, Connecticut

History, Historic House

The Strong-Porter House; the early 18th Century farmhouse of Nathan Hale's maternal ancestors. This museum, with its various outbuildings, features exhibits on local history

Coventry, Connecticut

History, Historic House

Often called the Parsonage House, this was the home of Joseph Huntington, the noted scholar who graduated from Yale College.

Storrs, Connecticut

Art, Culture, History, Library, University

The William Benton Museum of Art, situated at the heart of the University of Connecticut campus at Storrs, has a permanent collection of more than 6,000 works of art dating from the 15th to the 21st century including significant works by Kathe Kollwitz, Reginald Marsh, Mary Cassatt, Ernest Lawson, Childe Hassam, Rembrandt Peale, Maurice Prendergast, Gustav Klimt and Georges Braque.

Columbia, Connecticut

Historical Society

Storrs, Connecticut

Archaeology, Natural History

Tolland, Connecticut

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

Begun in the 1700s as a colonial inn, this house was enlarged and embellished in the 1880s in the Victorian style. The carriage house, three-story tower, and gingerbread trim were added, and the simple colonial exterior took on the ornate three-color dress seen today. Feeling more like a home than a museum, it is filled with family heirlooms and simple treasures because three generations of the Hicks family lived here, starting in 1845.

Coventry, Connecticut

General, History, Historic House

The Nathan Hale Homestead was the home of the family of State Hero, Nathan Hale. Constructed in 1776, the current house is the second dwelling built on the property. Nathan’s father, Richard Hale, was a prosperous livestock farmer and built the house for his large family. Ardent patriots, six of Richard’s eight sons served in the patriot army. One son, Capt. Nathan Hale was caught and hanged as a spy at age 21 by the British in September of 1776. He is famous for his alleged last words, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” Following the American Revolution, three Hale sons died from wounds received in the war. Their widows and children moved to the family homestead, so that an average of 12-20 people lived in the house at any one time.

Tolland, Connecticut

History

A stone jail build in 1856 and operated until 1968. The attached 1893 jailer's home displays furniture and collections depicting Tolland life and work in late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Coventry, Connecticut

Storrs, Connecticut

Art, Children's, Culture, Library, Specialized

The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry is one of America’s hidden treasures—a superb collection of over 2,500 puppets from all over the world; an archive of books, manuscripts, posters, drawings, audio-visual materials and photographs all covering the history of puppetry. It is also the new home of the Puppeteers of America’s Audio-Visual Collection: the largest collection of videotapes, films, and other media about puppetry in the United States.

Tolland, Connecticut

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

THREE MUSEUMS AND MUCH MORE: OUR MISSION is the aim of the Society to promote community awareness of local history.