Dear Friend,

The United States was founded 250 years ago along rivers like the Connecticut. These waterways carried people, ideas, trade, and hope—the promise of new beginnings, livelihoods built from the land and water, and communities where future generations could thrive. They powered early industry, connected communities, and shaped daily life in ways we are still uncovering. The River was central to America’s beginnings, and later, to some of its greatest challenges.

The Connecticut River’s story has ebbed and flowed through human history for some 12,000 years, carrying forward as America itself became a nation.

On a clear morning not long ago, I looked on as a juvenile bald eagle shared breakfast with three friends floating down the River on an ice floe. For generations, such a sight would have been unthinkable. The River that helped give rise to a nation had, at one point, been so polluted it was declared biologically dead. Nearly 60 years ago, actress Katherine Hepburn called the Connecticut River “the world’s most beautifully landscaped cesspool.”

And yet, here it is—not just alive, but beautiful and beloved.

During the River’s darkest days, communities came together—students, summer campers, boaters, anglers, and people just like you—to will into existence through collective action landmark protections like the Clean Water Act. By raising awareness, bold environmental action led to extraordinary transformation. The River rebounded. Bald eagles returned. Fish populations recovered.

In 2012, the River earned national recognition as America’s first National Blueway, a powerful testament to what is possible when people come together to protect, and restore a vital natural resource. Today, the Connecticut River Museum is the only museum to tell the story of the Connecticut River—its history; its flora and fauna; its people; its decline and comeback; and its hopeful future.

But we can’t take the River for granted. New threats are emerging, such as PFAs (polyfluoroalkyl substances), a warming climate, and invasive species. The need to inspire citizens to become River champions is more important than ever. Your support of the Connecticut River Museum can make a crucial difference. Will you ensure this vital work to help preserve and educate the public about our shared River continues by making a gift?

At the Connecticut River Museum, we are dedicated to telling the full story of the Connecticut River: how it shaped early America, how industrialization transformed the landscape, and how determined action helped restore what was nearly lost. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and community engagement, we help visitors understand the connection between history and responsibility, and how past choices shape present and future outcomes.

The River did not heal itself. Its recovery happened because people cared enough to act—to change laws, habits, and expectations. In the same way, preserving the sharing of this story depends on committed supporters like you. Your gift makes it possible for students, families, and visitors to engage with this amazing story of recovery and learn how they can play an essential role in ensuring the River’s future.

America’s semiquincentennial anniversary is not just about celebrating where we’ve been. It’s about asking what kind of legacy we want to leave. Annual support from donors like you ensures that the lessons of the past remain relevant, and the next generation understands how collective action can make a lasting change.

This is a once-in-a-generation moment. As millions reflect on America’s founding, you have an opportunity to help ensure that the Connecticut River’s story reminds us not only what we’ve overcome, but also what we are capable of protecting for years and decades to come. Will you join us as a steward of this shared legacy by making a gift in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary?

Thank you for being part of this work and helping carry this story forward for the next 250 years and beyond.

With appreciation,

Elizabeth D. Kaeser
Executive Director

Special Information about Retirement Assets:

Donors aged 70 ½ or older may contribute up to $100,000 to charity from their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Such contributions may also qualify as required minimum distributions. Consider if the Connecticut River Museum should be included in your end-of-year retirement planning.

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If you would like to donate by mail, please send your check to:

Connecticut River Museum

67 Main Street

Essex, CT 06426

Please include in the memo: Spring Annual Appeal