Windham Area Museums, Culture & Art
While you are in town please visit our other interesting cultural partners!
Download a copy of our Windham Brochure
CT Eastern Railroad Museum
55 Bridge St, Willimantic, CT
Sat 10-4, Sun 12-4
860-456-9999
Adults $7, kids 8-12 $3, under 8 free
The Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum is located off Bridge Street in downtown Willimantic, CT, on the original site of the Columbia Junction Freight Yard. Our collection includes locomotives and rolling stock, as well as vintage railroad buildings and a six-stall roundhouse reconstructed on the original foundation. Visitors can receive a guided tour of the museum and kids of all ages can operate a replica 1850's-style pump car along a section of rail that once was part of the New Haven Railroad's "Air Line".
Jillson House Museum
Windham Historical Society
627 Main St, Willimantic, CT
First Sat 1-4
860-456-1666
Admission Free
Visit an early 1800's beautiful stone home with working colonial period kitchen, herb garden and family living quarters. Exhibits are interactive and change throughout the year. We preserve the history and genealogy of Windham, CT.
Windham Textile & History Museum
The Windham Textile and History Museum located in the historic former headquarters of the American Thread Company in Willimantic, CT, houses a museum, a library, and an archive. Through its exhibits, programs, and collections, the Museum preserves and interprets the history of textiles and how that industry shaped our country from the colonial period to today.
Windham Theatre Guild
779 Main St, Willimantic, CT
Days & times of show vary
860-423-2245
Admission fees vary
The Windham Theatre Guild is a non-profit volunteer organization that has been producing quality community theatre since 1985. Hundreds of community volunteers join us each year as we strive to offer live theatrical and musical productions and education in the performing arts. Each year, the Guild produces five to six Main Stage productions ranging from comedies to dramadies, to murder mysteries to musicals. Over the years, the WTG has also produced Shakespeare, dramas, plays by local playwrights and youth theatre productions.
Swift Water Artisans
866 Main St, Willimantic, CT
Thur & Fri 12-5, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4
860-456-8548
Admission is free but you won't leave without a gift!
We are a member-owned cooperative located in the heart of Downtown Willimantic, CT. Our gift store carries a wide array of goods. Pottery, Jewelry, clothing, prints, fine art, and photography are but some of the things we make. Swift Waters artists are imaginative and skilled. You will find something for everyone
on your list with a visit to our store. Because Swift Waters
Artisans personally operate the store you will always find
an artist available to assist.
Akus Gallery at ECSU
83 Windham St, Willimantic, CT
Mon & Wed 12-4, Tue, Thur, Fri 12-7, Sat 11-3
860-465-4659
Free Admission
The Akus Art Gallery at Eastern Connecticut State University exhibits the works of established and emerging artists, as well as the creativity of Eastern students and faculty members. The gallery also manages the University’s permanent collection. Appealing to a diverse audience, the gallery is committed to works that reflect the human condition and the world around us while inspiring our visitors. The gallery's permanent art collection focuses on contemporary art produced by artists with a connection to New England.
3rd Thursday Street Fest
Main St, Downtown Willimantic
Third Thursdays 6-9 PM, May-Oct
860-450-0918
info@willimanticstreetfest.com
Free Admission
Thousands of people from far and wide will stroll along Main Street in Willimantic amid a background of musical, theatrical, visual, and olfactory delights. There are bands and jugglers to entertain you as you meander through the fest. Five stages simultaneously host a wide variety of music and entertainment while over 100 local and regional crafters and vendors showcase the wealth of goods produced in Connecticut. Willimantic's diversity really shines through in the delicious authentic international cuisine. Enjoy locally produced artwork, beer, music, and soda.
Free children's activities abound! Photo:Harrison Judd
Thread City Classical Dance
25 Meadow St, Willimantic, CT
Varying hours for classes
959-929-2514
Tuition varies
Thread City Classical Dance is 501(c)3 parent-run studio in Willimantic. We believe there is value in studying any art for its own sake. We welcome all sizes, shapes, abilities, and ambitions. As a parent-run school, we will always work to keep our costs low so that the greatest number of students may avail themselves of the opportunity to experience the vitality of dance.
Leffingwell House Museum
348 Washington Street, Norwich, CT
Sat 11-3, July-August, Sun 12-3
Info@leffingwellhousemuseum.org
860-889-9440
Adults $7, kids 8-12 $3, under 8 free
The Leffingwell House Museum was first built in 1675 and served as a pre-revolutionary tavern. By 1765 the house was elevated to an elegant home. The house currently is filled with artifacts dating back to 1659 all the way through the Civil War that highlight the architectural evolution.
Nathan Hale Homestead
Nathan Hale is largely considered the Hero of Connecticut. Considered a true Connecticut landmark, the family home of Nathan Hale is open from dusk to dawn with tours on the hour. Tours highlight how the house and farm reflect the lives of first-generation Americans.
The Mark Twain House & Museum
351 Farmington Ave, Hartford, CT
Open Daily 10-4:30, reservations recommended
860-247-0998
The Mark Twain House & Museum was the home to Mark Twain who lived and wrote on this property from 1874 until 1891. This home is a twenty-five room Victorian mansion which features the interior design by Louis Comfort Tiffany.
Hempsted House
Built in 1678, Joshua Hempsted lived in this home for 50 years where he described everyday life as an early American. His house was home to nine generations of Hempsted's. New London worked to keep this property safe and there are other buildings along the street
that have been preserved such as a 18th-century style stone
house across the street.
Roseland Cottage Museum
556 Rte. 169, Woodstock, CT
Jun 1-Oct 15: Wed-Sun 11-4
roselandcottage@historicnewengland.org
860-928-4074
The Roseland Cottage Museum was built in 1846. During the time the most fashionable style was Gothic Revival which is largely evident in the house. The Henry C. Bowen family used this home during the summers. grounds include a formal parterre garden and garden house.
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
Harriet Beecher Stowe's Victorian Era home has now been turned into both a national historic landmark and a landmark that can be found on the Connecticut Freedom Trail. The museum highlights the life of Stowe and her family, and the struggles of their times.
Gillette Castle State Park and Mansion
67 River Road, East Haddam, CT
Thu-Sun 10-5
860-222-7850
This historic castle was home to the Gillette family who was famous at the time for his career in acting. His home houses multiple historic elements and his obsession with trains and the railroad is evident though the halls of his historic home.
Ashbel Woodward House Museum
387 Route 32, Franklin, CT
May-October, 1st Sat of month, 11-3
sites.google.com/site/ashbelwoodwardmuseum.
860-642-1988
This 19th century home features a look into a county doctor's home. Franklin's historical collections and genealogy library. Living history events are held in the spring and fall.
Scotland Highland Festival
Waldo Homestead, 96 Waldo Home St, Scotland, CT06268
Sunday of Columbus Day Weekend, 9-4
860-882-8060
Differing rates
The Highland Games are held on the Sunday of the Columbus Day Weekend and include a bagpipe competition, dancing competition, food trucks with Scottish food, highland camp, cattle, harp competition, Fiddlers competition, swordplay, Bonnie Knees competition and several concerts. Parking is off premises so please check out our website.
Lebanon Historical Society
856 Trumbull Highway, Lebanon, CT06249
Wed-Sat 12-4 pm
860-642-6579
Admission Free
Since the Museum opened, the Society has expanded its campus with a combination of historic, reproduction and modern buildings.
The object and archival collections have grown to include materials with a strong Lebanon history. Most of the collections have been donated by local families. While the collection includes a few objects that date to Lebanon’s colonial and Revolutionary War period, most date between the mid-1800 and the mid-1900s. These collections form the basis for gallery exhibits and historic buildings’ furnishings.
Mansfield Historical Society
954 Storrs Rd, Mansfield, CT 06268
Sat-Sun 1:30-4:30 pm
860-429-6675
$5 admission
Preserving the history of Mansfield. Please visit our museum for interesting local stories as well as educational programs and exhibits. We are located in the historic town hall.
Eastern Art Museum
83 Windham St, Willimantic, CT
Days & times of shows vary
860-465*4659
Free Admission
In the Art Gallery at Eastern Connecticut State University, we fully embrace an expansive perspective of the Arts and its crucial role in the educational environment. We take pride in our richly diverse schedule of exhibitions which include the works of International, National and Regional Artists, in addition to that of our Students and Faculty. Likewise, our on-going program of lectures, presentations and interviews explores not only the Arts, but also current events and world ranging interests and issues that extend across the range of academic majors and disciplines.
The Dinosaur Place
1650 Hartford-New London Tpk, Oakdale, CT 06370
Open every day
860-443-4367
Variable admission fees
Forty life-size dinosaurs scattered throughout a park plus a playground and splash pad. Family fun for everyone. Visit the Genius Museum and the Mini-Golf as well as shop at the many boutiques.
Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry
1 Royce Circle, Suite 101B, Mansfield, CT
Wed-Fri 11-5, Sat-Sun 11-7
860-486-8580
Free Admission
The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry is a unique resource for understanding the past, present, and future of puppets and material performance. The Ballard Institute presents exhibitions, performances, workshops, forums, and online resources about puppetry around the world; its collection of over 3,000 puppets and its archival resources offer further insights into puppet history.
Jorgensen Center For The Performing Arts
2132 Hillside Rd #3104, Storrs, CT
Varying performances
860-486-4226
Varying Admission Rates
Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts is the largest college-based presenting program in New England. Each season, Jorgensen events attract more than 70,000 students, faculty and staff from the University of Connecticut, as well as residents from Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Jorgensen presents 25-30 nationally and internationally acclaimed artists and ensembles annually, ranging from classical music to world music and dance, classical and contemporary dance, comedy, family programming and contemporary entertainment.
Connecticut Repertory Theatre
820 Bolton Rd #1127, Storrs, CT
Varying hours for performances
860-486-2113
Admission varies
Connecticut Repertory Theatre is the producing arm of the University of Connecticut’s Department of Dramatic Arts. Productions are directed, designed by, and cast with visiting professional artists, faculty members, and the department’s most advanced student artists. CRT presents a wide range of material including premieres, contemporary plays, classics of the American musical theatre, and great works from the canon of world drama presented with both traditional and experimental points of view. CRT is also the performance outlet for the Department of Dramatic Art’s internationally acclaimed Puppet Arts program, the only degree-conferring puppetry program of its kind in the United States.