Cultural Attractions

World-renowned museums, music, amazing architecture and more! With Connecticut’s Choice Hotels you’ll be a stone’s throw away from it all. Take a peek at the cultural attractions the state of Connecticut offers.

In River Valley

Wood Memorial Library
783 Main Street
South Windsor, CT   06074
860-289-1783

What better place to learn history than within a rich historical setting? This library and museum features Native American artifacts, mounted birds, rare American antique furniture, and specializes in the historical recounting of state and local history. Celebrate the ancestry of our land, and honor those who came before us, all at the Wood Memorial Library in historic Connecticut’s beautiful River Valley.

Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine
115 Newgate Road
East Granby, CT   06026
860-653-3563

This site was established in 1707 by American settlers as one of New England’s first copper mines. What was then the Colony of Connecticut used the subterranean tunnels as a prison starting in pre-Revolutionary years and lasting until 1827. Remains of the prison still exist, and visitors are invited to view with amazement the stone left-behinds of another era. After exploring the prison and mine tunnels, browse historic exhibits which recount the history of this culturally-rich Connecticut attraction.

Nathan Hale Schoolhouse
29 Main Street
East Haddam, CT   06423
860-873-3399

Remember the days of one-room schoolhouses? Probably not; after all, that was a while ago. But on your visit to Connecticut you can do the next best thing: use your imagination in an actual setting to revive the past. Your visit to this schoolhouse is made more impressive by the fact that you’ll be standing in the very same building where patriot spy and Connecticut’s state hero Nathan Hale taught in the 1770’s.

In Mystic Country

Nathan Hale Homestead
2299 South Street
Conventry, CT   06238
860-742-6917

Visit the family home of the name you’re bound to become familiar with on your trip to the beautiful and history-rich state of Connecticut. That name is Nathan Hale, a historically influential patriot spy who is hailed ubiquitously as Connecticut’s state hero. The home is filled with original furnishings and memorabilia, and the house and farm reflect the lifestyle of first generation American citizens. Catch a tour of the house and don’t miss the stunning outlay of the gardens.

Denison Homestead Museum – Pequotsepos Manor
120 Pequotsepos Road
Mystic, CT   06355
860-536-9248

Come down to the Denison Homestead Museum – Pequotsepos Manor to view some of the oldest structures still standing in America. Period rooms with origins dating back to 1717 grace this museum, and the most contemporary example of this décor is a room built in 1941. All rooms retain their original furnishings, which often include family heirlooms. The museum is open from mid-May to mid-October, so don’t miss this chance to gain indispensible insight into the roots of America.

Fort Trumbull State Park
90 Walbach Street
New London, CT   06320
860-444-7591

Visit one of Connecticut’s most riveting attractions, in one of its most beautiful regions. Here in Mystic country you’ll find one of the most intriguing attractions we know of in the state of Connecticut – that is, a 19th-century coastal defense fort, which lies intact on the banks of the Thames River. At this beautiful nature location guests may also embark on an interpretive nature walk, or engage in the time-honored sport of fishing.

In Litchfield Hills

General David Humphrey’s House
37 Elm Street
Ansonia, CT   06401
203-735-1908

Who was David Humphrey, and why should visitors to the vast cultural wonderland that is Connecticut allocate time to visiting his house? In response, we say that General Humphrey is one of our greatest connections to our all-important inception. The general was the aide to General Washington, otherwise known as George Washington, and went on to become the first US ambassador, a local manufacturer, and – who knew? – a poet. Visit his restored home and feel closer than ever to the roots from which America was birthed.

Connecticut Antique Machinery Association Museum
31 Kent-Cornwall Road
Kent, CT   06757
860-927-0050

Visitors to the state of Connecticut will want to make a stop at the Connecticut Antique Machinery Association Museum, which showcases the industrial and agricultural heritage of the country which Connecticut claims membership in – the United States of America. See a real-life gas and steam tractor, or marvel at an operating narrow gauge railroad. A sub-museum, the Museum of Mining and Mineral Science, is known to educationally foster the state’s rich mining and mineral heritage. .

In Greater New Haven

Henry Whitfield State Museum
248 Old Whitfield Street
Guilford, CT   06437
203-453-2457

When do you think the oldest house in Connecticut was built? Come to Henry Whitfield State Museum, and not only will you find out when it was built, you’ll get to see it up-close and personal as you never imagined before. Confront history with an iron imagination as you explore the wondrous past of this house, which was built as a minister’s home and town stronghold during the early colonial days and serves as one of America’s oldest remaining buildings.

Thomas Griswold House
171 Boston Street
Guilford, CT   06437
203-453-3176

Experience history like never before in Connecticut, a state whose rich past will eagerly serve as your connection to the days of history. Here at this saltbox-style colonial house, guests will be enticed by the lifestyle presented to them from not-so-many-hundred-years ago, yet which is so drastically different from the one we live today. House is complete with a restored blacksmith shop and Colonial garden, and plays host to changing exhibitions throughout its operational seasons.

Quinnipiack
Departs from Long Wharf Pier
New Haven, CT   06510
203-865-1737

Ahoy, mateys, and aboard we go! Set sail on a 91-foot gaff-rigged wooden schooner and experience what the original settlers would have experienced as they rode across the blue Atlantic Ocean’s waters towards – the edge of the earth? While aboard, learn about the ecology, culture, and the rich past of Long Island Sound. Three sailings per day make this attraction something you definitely won’t want to miss on your visit to Connecticut. Land, ho!

In Fairfield County

Norwalk Museum
41 N. Main Street
Norwalk, CT   06854
203-866-0202

Guests interested in the lives and cultures of the local people of Fairfield County should make a point of visiting the Norwalk Museum, which doubles as a culturally-informative educational venue and a sort of historical art gallery. Fine and decorative arts are on display, as well as artwork coming directly from the prestigious Silvermine Art Colony. Museum exhibits insightfully reflect the history of the location.

Black Rock Art Center
2838 Fairfield Avenue
Bridgeport, CT   06605
203-367-7917

This multi-cultural center is a display of other cultures’ art at its best. Divulge your -centrisms and join hands with the world in a celebration of diversity. Come together with your fellow friends and admire the artwork which has been produced at one of five culturally diverse organizations in residence. A theatre and café add somewhat to the allure of this Connecticut destination, and the Arts Learning Center is sure to educate and inspire.

Fairfield Historical Society Museum
636 Old Post Road
Fairfield, CT   06824
203-259-1598

Span over 350 years of human activity and civilization as it has sprouted and since thrived in the Fairfield County area. Learn about the very Connecticut region you find yourself visiting at the Fairfield Historical Society Museum, where you can enjoy exciting and informative exhibits on everything for local history to fine arts, from genealogy to other fine subjects. Exhibits are subject to change, as the museum houses many temporary exhibitions.

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