Connecticut Attractions Guide

Central

Dinosaur State Park - One of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America. Beneath a geodesic dome, you will find an exceptional display of early Jurassic fossil tracks that were made 200 million years ago. Surrounding the Exhibit Center are more than two miles of nature trails and the Dinosaur State Park Arboretum.

Gillette Castle - Unique fieldstone castle was home to legendary stage actor, William Gillette. The 184 acre park is situated on a hill overlooking the Connecticut River. Gillette, best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on stage, designed his house with intricately carved locks and elaborate wood doors. The grounds have extensive hiking trails and picnic spots.

New Britain Museum Of American Art - Over 5,000 American works of art from 1740 to the present. Works include Benton, Cassatt, Church, Cole, LeWitt, Sargent, Stuart, Whistler, and Wyeth; changing exhibitions. Gift shop.

Hill Stead Museum - This house museum contains some of the world's finest French Impressionist masterpieces which are still displayed amidst the furnishings of their original collector. The enchanting home is surrounded by extensive grounds and a sunken garden, open to the public daily for recreation and quiet contemplation.

New Britain Youth Museum - Farm and exotic animals, wildlife, trail system, pond, weather station, and gardens; changing exhibits on science, natural history, geology, and agriculture.

Lutz Children's Museum - Explore and join in special activities. The museum also features hand-on exhibits, live animals, picnic area and more.

International Skating Center Of Connecticut - The International Skating Center of Connecticut is a world-class, twin rink skating facility designed to meet the needs of first time competitors and Olympic Champions alike. Olympic Gold Medalists Ekaterina Gordeeva and Viktor Petrenko headline a growing list of international skating champions who train at ISCC. Visitors welcome to watch Olympic figure skaters' workout sessions.

The New England Air Museum - The New England Air Museum is the largest aviation museum in the Northeast, with more than 70 aircraft dating from 1909 to modern jets.

Connecticut River Museum - Today Steamboat Dock is home to the Connecticut River Museum where the Connecticut River Valley story is told through year round changing exhibitions, activities and programs. One of the most popular Museum exhibits is a full scale working reproduction of the first submarine, the American Turtle, invented by David Bushnell in 1776.

Lyman Allyn Art Museum - This museum is housed in a handsome Neo-Classical building overlooking the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Here, paintings by Willard Metcalf, William Chadwick and other members of the Mystic and Old Lyme art colonies are displayed along with important works from the Tonalist and Hudson River schools that led into impressionism.

Old State House - Oldest State House in the nation. Completed in 1796, Charles Bulfinch-designed National Historic Landmark. Tourists from around the world, school children, neighborhood and civic groups, corporations and public officials can enjoy the restored rooms, educational programs and special events at the Old State.

Harriet Beecher Stowe House - A tour of the Stowe House provides an intimate glimpse into the life of the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. The Day House offers magnificent interiors with changing exhibits and a research library. Visitors will enjoy the Center's tranquil surroundings, accented with historical Victorian gardens.

Vintage Radio & Communications Museum - See displays of radio, television, motion picture and telephone equipment, as well as vintage advertising and memorabilia.

The Mark Twain House - Step back to the Gilded Age during guided tours of the 19-room, Tiffany decorated mansion where Mark Twain wrote and raised his family from 1874 to 1891. During this productive period, Twain created such classics of American literature as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur?s Court.

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Ride - The steam train will take you through some of the most beautiful country in the state. You will find forests and streams, beautiful vistas and nostalgic towns, and some gorgeous views of the Connecticut River. The riverboat will take you for a relaxing and informative ride up the beautiful Connecticut River, from Deep River to East Haddam.

Old New Gate Prison & Copper Mine - Abandoned tunnels of one of New England's first copper mines (1707) were used by Colony, later State of Connecticut as a prison between 1773-1827. Remains of prison, exhibits, mine tunnels, spectacular views, picnic area, hiking trails.

Goodspeed Opera House - Nationally acclaimed musicals performed in a historic Victorian theater overlooking the Connecticut River.

Eastern

Uss Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum - Board the world?s first nuclear-powered submarine. Museum recounts history of the U.S. Submarine Force. Working periscopes, mini-subs, mini-theaters. Gift shop, picnic area.

Children's Museum Of Southeastern Connecticut - An interactive, hands-on, educational opportunity for the children. Don't miss Nursery Rhyme Land for toddlers and Kidsville, an entire kids-size town where young imaginations soar. The Discovery Room and outdoor Garden will delight scientists ages 6 and up. Would-be builders may create wonders in the CAN-STRUCT building exhibit.

The Submarine Force Museum - The Submarine Force Museum is home of Historic Ship NAUTILUS (SSN 571), the first nuclear-powered submarine and is also the United States Navy's official submarine museum.

Mystic Aquarium - Explore the new Mystic Aquarium and embark upon an exciting adventure that will take you from shallow sunlit seas to the dark reaches of the deep ocean. A journey that will forever change your view of our ocean planet.

Prudence Crandall House Museum - The site of New England's first academy for black girls established by Prudence Crandall, 1833-1834. The Museum, includes three period rooms, changing exhibits on a variety of themes, a small research library available by appointment for in-house study, and a museum gift shop.

Route 169 - - Consider everything you know about New England -- spectacular autumn color, historic buildings, charming cities -- and you will have an idea of what you will find on Connecticut Route 169.

Florence Griswold Museum - Here is a collection of important American paintings on the walls of an house -- an architectural treasure itself -- where the artists lived and worked, in a setting much the same today as it was at the turn of the century. Here, too, is the repository of the area's history, collected in the archives and artifacts of the Lyme Historical Society.

Captain Bob's Thimble Island Tours - Tour this fables archipelage, where Captain Kidd hid from his British pursuers. On the boat ride you will hear many, many stories, legends and history on a lively, 45 minute narrated tour.

Mystic Seaport - Take part in all three Mystic Seaport adventures - the bustling 19th-century village of tall ships and historic buildings, exhibit galleries brimming with the culture of seafaring lives, and a unique shipyard where the nearly lost art of wooden shipbuilding endures - to find out how the sea has touched you, your family and our nation.

Mashantucket Pequot Museum And Research Center - Multi-sensory dioramas and exhibits of eastern woodland and Mashantucket Pequot life. Films and videos, interactive programs, archival materials, ethnographic and archaeological collections, and commissioned works of art and traditional crafts by Native artisans are featured in the exhibits.

Northwestern

American Clock & Watch Museum - Peruse the world's finest colelction of American clocks. Housed in an 1801 mansion with period garden.

The Aldrich Museum Of Contemporary Art - Quarterly exhibitions, outstanding sculpture garden. Works inlcude paintings, photography, sculpture, and mixed media.

Danbury Museum And Historical Society - Situated in downtown Danbury, the museum preserves the John and Mary Rider House (c. 1785), the Dodd Hat Shop (c. 1790), the Marian Anderson Studio, and the Charles Ives Birthplace. Huntington Hall, a modern exhibit building, contains the museum offices and a research library.

The New England Carousel Museum - One of the nation's largest collections of historic carousel art. A constantly changing panorama of priceless figurines and memorabilia create a fantasy world filled with spectacular images poised in flight, frozen in time. Hand carved by European and American craftsmen, many over a century ago, silent steeds offer an inspiring insight to the era and the artisans who created them.

Institute For American Indian Studies - Artifacts and art from 10,000 years ago to the present; indoor longhouse exhibit, changing exhibits, gift shop. Outdoor simulated archaeological site, native plant trails, replica of a 17th-century Algonkian village, garden and rock shelter.

Lake Compounce - Lake Compounce is the oldest amusement park in the United States, operating continuously since 1846.

The Brookfield Craft Center - National profile school for fine craftsmanship with gallery, gift and book store. Housed Colonial vintage restored mill overlooking the Still River at Halfway Falls.

Golden Age Of Trucking Museum - Exhibition facility containing one of the rarest collections of antique trucks known to exist. Extensive toy collection, antique boats, fishing equipment, baseball memorabilia. Children's interactive area, indoor picnic area, gift shop.

Military Museum Of Southern New England - Life-size interior dioramas with military vehicles and equipment. Large collection of models and dioramas depicting World War II scenes. Outdoor exhibits of tanks and heavy material.

Timexpo? Museum - Timexpo? The Timex Museum tells the story of Timex and its heritage dating back to the 1850's. A Time Tunnel leads to ancient mysteries. Magnificent timepieces, hands-on activities and much more.

Danbury Railway Museum - Vintage locomotives and other rolling stock in railroad yard. Restored 1903 Union Station with model railroads, displays, giftshop, and rides.

Glebe House & Gertrude Jekyll Garden - Experience the Glebe House Museum and The Gertrude Jekyll Garden -- birthplace of the Episcopal Church in the New World and graced by the only extant American garden planned by England's most venerated designer. Set in the picturesque Litchfield Hills in historic Woodbury's village center, the Glebe House Museum offers the visitor a glimpse of Revolutionary War era Connecticut.

The Mattatuck Museum - A treasure house of collections focusing on over three centuries of the heritage of the region and the master artists of Connecticut. The museum houses a 300 seat performing arts center, art studio classroom, and research library.

Flanders Nature Center - The mission of Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust is to promote the understanding and appreciation of nature, and supports the conservation, preservation, and management of the natural resources. The center offers hiking trails, seasonal farm and garden programs, Christmas tree farm and more.

Quassy Amusement Park - Quassy sits on the south shore of Lake Quassapaug. On its twenty plus acres, it boasts of twenty-five rides including The Frog Hopper, The Big Flush Water Coaster, a four abreast merry-go-round, thrill rides as well as rides for the very young. A sandy beach provides swimming in a clean, spring-fed lake.

Lime Rock Park - Professional and amateur road racing, car shows and auto festivals.

Railroad Museum Of New England - The Railroad Museum of New England and the Naugatuck Railroad offers an entertaining, scenic train ride along the Naugatuck River from the historic Thomaston, Connecticut train station. The museum features an extensive collection of locomotives of all types, passenger cars, freight cars, and cabooses.

Southcentral

The Barker Character, Comic & Cartoon Museum - The museum is a regular world of comic strip, cartoon, western, TV and advertising character memorabilia. In fact it has mementos from just about every major and minor studio and famous toy manufacturer.

Peabody Museum Of Natural History - Step into the world?s cultures through outstanding exhibits on Ancient Egypt, and the peoples of Mesoamerica, the Andes, the Pacific, the Great Plains and the Northwest Coast.

The Eli Whitney Museum - One of America's premier inventors. The Museum has two permanent exhibits, Inventing Change and The Gilbert Gallery which are open year round. From November to January see the Annual Toy Train exhibition in which visitors may run as many as four separate train lines on a 30 x 15 foot layout. Also displays and activities on aeromodeling.

The Yale Center For British Art - The Yale Center for British Art houses the most comprehensive collection of English paintings, prints, drawings, rare books, and sculpture outside Great Britain. Given to Yale University by Paul Mellon, Class of 1929, the Center's resources illustrate British life and culture from the 16th century to the present.

Yale University Art Gallery - A tour of the Yale Art Gallery will take you through outstanding collections of Egyptian, Etruscan, and Greek art, early Italian panel paintings, European, Asian and African art from many cultures, impressionist, modernist, and contemporary paintings and sculpture as well as changing selections from over 30,000 master prints, drawings, and photographs.

Hammonasset Beach State Park - A visit to Hammonasset Beach State Park, is more than just another day at the beach. Connecticut's largest shoreline park offers over 2 miles of beach to enjoy swimming, strolling along the boardwalk, or just relaxing in the sun and surf.

Shubert Performing Arts Center - The Shubert presents a wide array of programs to a diverse community including the best of Broadway, dance, cabaret and family entertainment.

Southwestern

New Canaan Nature Center - New Canaan Nature Center, an environmental education center and sanctuary, offers easy trails, hands-on exhibits, animals, gardens; natural science, horticulture, preschool, school and camp programs.

Bush Holley Historic Site - 18th-century home later became a boarding house for Connecticut's first art colony. Features early American fine furniture and American Improessionist art.

Housatonic Museum Of Art - The Museum has one of the most significant collections of any two-year college in the country and includes works by master artists such as Rodin, Picasso, Matisse, Miro and Chagall. Both art enthusiasts and casual observers have the rare opportunity to engage daily with original works of art and artifacts on continuous display throughout the College and campus grounds.

The Barnum Museum - Only museum dedicated to depicting the extraordinary life of P. T. Barnum and the enormous influence he had on 19th century America.

Bruce Museum - Over the past 90 years the Bruce Museum has developed a collection of approximately 15,000 objects, with holdings in fine and decorative arts, natural science and anthropology.

Bridgeport Discovery Museum - Keep small hands and young minds busy at the Discovery Museum. Hands-on exhibits, planetarium, and virtual basketball.

Stepping Stones Museum For Children - Stepping Stones Museum for Children is a hands-on learning environment for children ages 10 and under. The museum is home to five interactive exhibit areas, and also offers educational workshops, performances, and school tours.

The Lockwood Mathews Mansion Museum - One of the earliest and finest surviving Second Empire Style country houses ever built in the United States. Exhibits center on the material, artistic, and social aspects of the Victorian era.

The Maritime Aquarium - The Aquarium features more than 1,000 marine animals native to the Sound and its watershed. Tanks portray successive levels of life in the Sound, from shallow tidal areas filled with oysters, sea horses, lobsters and small fish to the 110,000-gallon Open Ocean tank with 9-foot sharks, bluefish, striped bass, rays and other creatures found in the Sound and the ocean beyond.

Beardsley Zoo - 52 acres dedicated to wild and wonderful animals of North and South America.

Stamford Museum & Nature Center - 118 acres; includes New England working farm, country store, woodland trails, picnic area. Nature?s playground, live pond life exhibit, boardwalk with seating niches along a stream. Seven galleries exhibit fine art, Americana and much more.

Sheffield Island Lighthouse And Nature Trail - Picturesque boat ride to the 3-acre park with picnic area and 1868 lighthouse. The ten room lighthouse showcases period furniture, and offers a chance to see what life was like for the families of 19th century light keepers. A viewing platform on the nature trail allows visitors to see a variety of wildlife including nesting herons and other birds.