Welcome to the East Haddam Historical Society & Museum, illuminating local history since 1962!
The East Haddam Historical Society illuminates and preserves the stories of the people and places that shape our community.
Mission Statement adopted November 2020 The Museum is open to the public from noon - 4 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays from June through October. Throughout the year, the Museum is also open by appointment. Call 860-873-3944 or email to schedule a time to visit, tour, or conduct research!
Join us at Upcoming Events!
We hold events all through the year. |
Over 60 years of Local HistoryThe East Haddam Historical Society (EHHS) aspires to become the prominent heritage, cultural, and social center of East Haddam.
Vision Statement adopted June 2021
Entrance on side of building
The East Haddam Historical Society, founded over 60 years ago, has been at this Town Street location for 11 years; it's just around the corner from Gillette Castle, right on the Route 82 corridor. The museum has a fine collection of local and Lower Connecticut River Valley historical objects, and prides itself on its kid-friendliness.
Among the highlights of the museum are a display of the Moodus Mills, Wangunk artifacts dating to 1300 B.C., a photographic exhibit of the building of the East Haddam Swing Bridge, and an extraordinary collection of world-renowned local artist W. Langdon Kihn's work. The Museum is open to the public from noon - 4 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays from June through October. We are also open by appointment throughout the year. We hold events all through the year. Please contact us via email or phone 860-873-3944 with any questions. Membership DriveAs a membership-driven organization, the East Haddam Historical Society relies upon your membership for funding. The Society both wants and needs your continued support so we can continue to research, archive, and tell the stories of East Haddam’s past and present.
For your convenience, you can submit your membership online, or you may complete the downloadable membership form and mail it along with your check. *** Please renew your membership ***
The Board of Trustees deeply appreciates the continued support of all our members!
Applications for the Fifth Annual EHHS Scholarship Award announcedFifth Annual EHHS Scholarship Award announced
The East Haddam Historical Society is happy to announce the 5th annual EHHS Scholarship Award. This is an award given to a Nathan Hale-Ray High School senior who will be attending an institution of higher learning in the next year. The applicant should show an interest in and understanding of the importance of history and/or service to the community of East Haddam. The East Haddam Historical Society illuminates and preserves the stories of the people and places that shape our community. The history of East Haddam and the lower Connecticut Valley has had a significant impact on our state, our region, and the world. Supporting students who show an understanding of the importance of learning from history and how to apply those lessons makes our community stronger. The application will be available to students on the high school Naviance web page. Previous recipients: 2022 Juliana Cazassa, 2021 Aidan Behilo, 2020 Kaitlin Apgar, 2019 Alexander Gerrish. Saving Land, Saving HistoryIf you love to hike the open space preserves or just want to know more about the history and nature of your town then you won’t want to miss the beautiful and informative films in our documentary series Saving Land, Saving History. These videos, a collaboration between the East Haddam Historical Society and the East Haddam Land Trust, highlight the fascinating ties between the preservation of land and local history.
The Museum's natural history exhibit includes access to the Saving Land, Saving History videos. |
East Haddam Historical Society Profile releasedA mini-documentary by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Ken Simon on local history in the 1960s and the formation of the East Haddam Historical Society, this well-researched documentary features vintage footage of East Haddam and contemporary interviews with townspeople who remember those early days and local pioneers.
2024 Upcoming EventsAll events take place at the Museum unless otherwise stated. Events are open to the public and free to members and children under twelve, except as noted. Suggested donation from non-members is $5 for regular events.
School Vacation Dreamcatcher WorkshopTuesday, April 9th from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Ages 6 - 9 Create your own Dreamcatcher! All materials will be provided. Enjoy this activity, led by two former teachers, during school vacation. The workshop is limited to 20 children ages 6 - 9. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the entire activity.
Location: East Haddam Historical Society, 264 Town St., East Haddam Suggested donation of $5.00 per child Please call the Museum at 860-873-3944 to reserve your space Wangunk Monument CeremonySaturday April 13, 2024 at 2 p.m.
The East Haddam Cemetery Committee will dedicate a new granite monument in memory of 8 Wangunk Native Americans who are buried at the Mt. Parnassus Cemetery on Smith Road in East Haddam.
The Wangunks were buried at the cemetery between 1774 and 1887 when the town began keeping burial records. The original small marble markers at each grave site have been stolen. The sole surviving marker has been placed at the East Haddam Historical Society & Museum for preservation. Red Oak - Wangunk Elder Gary O'Neil of East Hampton will conduct a traditional Native American Ceremony, and local Municipal Historian Dr. Karl Stofko will present a short history on these East Haddam Wangunk residents. Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony. All are welcome! The Life and Times of Adriaen Block, a Dutch Explorer, Mapmaker, and Fur TraderSunday, April 28, 2024 at 2 p.m.
Mark your calendar for this fascinating presentation by Historical Society member Dr. Johan Varekamp, professor emeritus at Wesleyan University. Block Island was named after Adriaen Block. He made four voyages from Holland to the Americas, which led to Dutch settlements along the Hudson River (with New Amsterdam) and along the Connecticut River. He built the first European boat in the Americas (the Onrust) that he sailed across Long Island Sound up the Connecticut River, past East Haddam.
Yoga at the Museum with Colleen AlexanderMondays at 7 p.m., and Thursdays at 9 a.m.
Yoga at the Museum, led by Colleen Alexander, includes seated meditation, gentle warm-ups, and engaging flow with holds to build strength and connect body and mind. Colleen is a certified yoga and meditation teacher, a Reiki practitioner, a published author, and lives on a nonprofit animal sanctuary farm in East Haddam with her husband Sean.
We now offer 2 yoga class options:
The classes are appropriate for all levels. Note: April 11th 9 a.m. class will be held at Adam Cara Sanctuary Farm, 29 Ray Hill Road, East Haddam. To purchase tickets for Monday classes, click here. To purchase tickets for Thursday classes, click here. |