b'By deepening appreciation of the Rivers history and inspiring itsIn addition, from its small beginnings, the Connecticut River Museum stewardship, the Connecticut River Museum encourages apprecia- today:tion of the treasure that is the River now and its thoughtful steward- Presents a wide range of exhibits, educational programs, publica-ship by future generations.tions, and special events that attract, engage, and inform visitors of From its beginning, the Museum has played an important role inall ages;collecting and protecting manuscripts, books, art, and artifacts ofOperates a museum and library to recognized professional standards;regional significance. Among them, they reflect the stories of Con-necticut River lifefrom the indigenous peoples who have livedPreserves and maintains public access to its landmark buildings, along the River for thousands of years to the array of present-day in- wharf, and park;habitants. Exhibits invite Visitors to learn about our riverine culture of shipbuilding and boatbuilding, fishing, commerce, naval history,Collects, preserves, and provides public access to significant histor-and recreation. ical artifacts pertaining to the River, its history, and people;The Museums historic buildings on Steamboat Dock provide a spec- Collaborates with and supports other regional organizations and tacular waterfront venue for Museum functions. Some 25,000 peo- communities with like interests and missions.ple from all 50 states and many different countries tour the Museum each year; over 900 households are active members.With numerous solid accomplishments already on the record, the Connecticut River Museum now faces a future filled with opportunity. In 2012, the Museum purchased the historic Samuel Lay House prop- Strong community support, generous Donors and Volunteers, a ded-erty, which adjoins our waterfront campus. Shortly after, a successfulicated professional Staff, and a committed Board are in place. This capital campaign allowed us to convert the carriage house on theputs us in position to deepen and strengthen our service to a broad Lay property to a climate-controlled collections storage facility; tospectrum of Visitors, using our five-year Strategic Plan as a blueprint replace the dilapidated bulkhead along the Museums waterfront;for these efforts.and to purchase a 24-foot aluminum boat that enabled on-the-river educational programs. The Covid 19 pandemic along with social and racial justice issues have shined new light on how institutions such as ours understand and For several years now, Onrust, a re-creation of the vessel under theshare history. As we move forward, the Connecticut River Museum command of Dutch explorer Adriaen Block when he sailed into thewill ensure that diversity and inclusion are high on our list of priorities. Connecticut River in 1614, has launched from our docks on a regular schedule of River tours. Now too RiverQuest, an eco-tour cruiser thatIn 2024, we will mark the 50th Anniversary of the fateful lunch that allows expansion of educational experiences directly on the River, willlaunched us into being. We look forward to celebrating our past be available from our docks. Both vessels are exceptional resources. and embracing our future. Indeed, we enter the next phase of our existence eager to share with our many constituenciestourists, stu-dents, scholars, and othersan ever deeper understanding of the rich and multi-faceted history of the Connecticut River and its people.5'