The popular state program Connecticut Summer at the Museum is returning for the 2023 summer season, enabling Connecticut children to receive free admission at more than 130 museums across the state during the summer months.
Governor Ned Lamont established the program in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as a way of providing children with engaging summer enrichment and learning experiences. It is funded through a $15 million investment in federal COVID-19 recovery funding Connecticut received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Under the program, from July 1, 2023, to September 4, 2023, Connecticut children aged 18 and under – plus one accompanying Connecticut adult – can receive free admission to any of the participating museums, including historic house museums, historic sites, historical societies, art museums, children’s museums, science centers, special-interest museums, natural history museums, university museums, arboretums/botanical gardens and zoos.
The full list of participating museums is available at www.CTSummerMuseums.com.
Some of the notable attractions include:
- Connecticut Science Center, Hartford
- Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, Bridgeport
- Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington
- Institute for American Indian Studies Museum & Research Center, Washington
- Kidcity Children’s Museum, Middletown
- Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, Norwalk
- Mystic Aquarium, Mystic
- Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic
- New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain
Hartford-Farmington Valley area museums that are participating include:
Hartford County
- 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm, Bloomfield
- American Clock & Watch Museum, Bristol
- Art Museum, University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford
- Avon Historical Society, Avon
- Bristol Historical Society, Bristol
- Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford
- Connecticut Landmarks, Hartford
- Connecticut Science Center, Hartford
- Connecticut Trolley Museum, East Windsor
- Farmington Historical Society, Farmington
- Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Hartford
- Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington
- Historical Society of Glastonbury, Glastonbury
- Imagine Nation, Bristol
- Lutz Children's Museum, Manchester
- Memorial Military Museum, Bristol
- New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain
- New Britain Youth Museum, New Britain
- New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks
- Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society, West Hartford
- Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine, East Granby
- Real Art Ways, Hartford
- Simsbury Historical Society, Simsbury
- Stanley-Whitman House, Farmington
- The Barnes Museum, Southington
- The Children's Museum, Inc., West Hartford
- The Connecticut Democracy Center, Hartford
- The Mark Twain House & Museum, Hartford
- The New England Carousel Museum, Bristol
- Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut, Windsor
- Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford
- Webb Deane Stevens Museum, Wethersfield
- Wethersfield Historical Society, Wethersfield
- Windsor Historical Society, Windsor
- Wood Memorial Library & Museum, South Windsor
The Connecticut Summer at the Museum program is being administered by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Office of the Arts and Connecticut Humanities in partnership with the Office of the Governor, Connecticut State Department of Education, Office of Early Childhood, and Office of Tourism.
While any museum in Connecticut can choose to participate in the program by offering free admission, eligible properties had an opportunity to apply for grant funding. More than 120 grants were awarded, calculated based on the applicant’s average revenue from children’s admissions over the same period for multiple years, plus a base award tied to operating budget. The minimum grant award is $1,000.
Participating museums have discretion to administer the Connecticut Summer at the Museum program to the best of their ability and according to their needs. Certain restrictions may apply, and capacity may be limited (e.g., limit to one adult per household, block-out dates, exclusions for special events, etc.). Connecticut residents should check each museum’s website to learn of any restrictions before visiting.
Anyone taking advantage of this program is encouraged to share their experiences on social media using the program hashtag, #CTSummerMuseums.
