Image credit: “May Beth,” artist unknown, ca. 1920. This watercolor painting features a bell buoy in the foreground and will be displayed in the Rhythm of the River exhibit. 

Rhythm of the River: Music and Memory Along the Connecticut
July 30, 2026 – October 11, 2026

For thousands of years, the Connecticut River has been a musical space. This exhibition explores the sounds that have shaped life along the water—from Indigenous drumming traditions and maritime work songs to steamboat-era entertainment and contemporary environmental soundscapes. The story of these rhythms is expressed through original art, photographs, sheet music, sound recordings, and more. Through our musician-in-residence Ben Cosgrove and contemporary sound artists, hear how the river continues to inspire musical creation today. Listen to hydrophone recordings revealing the Connecticut River’s living acoustic environment—a soundscape shaped by ecological change and human presence.

Explore displays of musical instruments and other objects, such as steam whistles and dinner chimes that were used on the luxurious steamboats that took passengers on excursions up and down the River. Visitors even have the opportunity to personally contribute to the sounds of the River! Come experience hands-on displays and digital experiences where visitors can add to the rhythm of the Connecticut River.

From ancient rhythms to modern compositions, music reveals our changing relationship with this waterway. Don’t miss this exciting special exhibit!

This exhibit has been made possible through the generous support of The Robert F. Schumann Foundation and Connecticut Water.