Permanent Exhibits

On The Great River

This exhibit explores the history of the Connecticut River from Native American communities through the early nineteenth century.

LEARN MORE

The River That Connects Us

Created over millions of years by nature’s greatest forces, the Connecticut Valley is rich in essential resources. The Central Valley is fertile: trees cover the hillsides, stone lay deep in the earth and along the fall line swift streams tumble […]

LEARN MORE

The Vertical Gallery

Artist Russell Buckingham created a unique “vertical mural” of the Connecticut River in 2009. This folk art inspired mural winds up (and down) the three floors in the museum’s eastern stairwell and covers all 410 miles of the Connecticut River. […]

LEARN MORE

Annual Exhibits

Steve Cryan’s Holiday Train Show

Artist and train enthusiast Steve Cryan unveils a new model train layout every fall, signaling the holiday season at the Connecticut River Museum. Each year his intricate miniature world of trains enthralls the crowds of people who make a visit […]

LEARN MORE

The Eagles of Essex

January through March The return of the American Bald Eagle to the Connecticut River is a sign of a healthy River. While lakes and rivers up north freeze over, tidal waters of the lower River keep the waters open during […]

LEARN MORE

Special Exhibits

Watercraft at Work

Watercraft at Work March 23 – May 14, 2023 Watercraft at Work showcases over 25 works of art from the Museum’s collections that depict vessels at work on the Connecticut River. From River-built schooners and sloops that carried stone and […]

LEARN MORE

Water/Ways

Water/Ways | June 3, 2023  – August 13, 2023 Water/Ways explores the relationship between people and water. From above, Earth appears as a water planet with more than 71 percent of its surface covered with this vital resource for life. Water […]

LEARN MORE

Waterways of the Connecticut River Valley: A Jerry Weiss Exhibit

Waterways of the Connecticut River Valley August 29 – October 8, 2023 Plein air paintings of the Connecticut River Valley by Jerry Weiss For nearly thirty years, Jerry Weiss has recorded the dynamic landscape of the Connecticut River Valley. Since […]

LEARN MORE

PAST EXHIBITS

Book Now