Connecticut River Museum (CRM)

Museum programs The Connecticut River museum is situated on a riverfront property in essex, Connecticut upon which are three historic buildings housing exhibition galleries, a research library, a museum shop, meeting/education program space and administrative offices. Along our bulkhead riverfront are docks to which are moored three vessels. We serve a broad and diverse audience numbering 31,000 in 2024, by providing unique programs on land, online and on The water. The museum offers a robust array of exhibitions and public programs throughout The year inspired by our collection, The River's storied history and our location. Inside our historic museum building (built in 1878 as a warehouse and store serving The Steamboat trade between hartford and new york until 1931) are two permanent galleries which include fine art, artifacts, and interactive displays. On The first floor visitors enjoy a working replica of The first submarine, The turtle, wherein visitors may experience close quarters and The idea of being submerged. The second floor explores The industrial revolution and Steamboat era. Special exhibitions on our third floor explore maritime history, enviromental issues, and fine art engagingvisitors of all ages.tell stories about The River that may be unfamiliar but nonetheless engaging for visitors of all ages. In 2024, The museum curatored "getting there" which explored navigation before gps. With hands-on elements and fine-art, this exhibitreceived an award of merit from The Connecticut league of museums. Outside on our lawns and docks, visitors may attend numerous events such as The burning of The ships (remembering The british raid on essex in 1814); conquer The current (a 10 -mile paddle race from haddam to essex); trees in The rigging a town-wide holiday celebration; and, live musical programs such as shanties and sails and thursdays on The Dock. The museum is staffed by full-time and part- time professionals, plus seasonal boat crew, and is governed by up to 23 trustees. In addition upwards of 40 additional volunteers provide dedicated service across a broad array of needed skills.

Educational programs education is central to The museum's mission. The stories of The natural Connecticut River and The people who have lived on or near it for millennia are told not only in permanent and changing gallery exhibitions but also through abundant educational programming. In our meeting spaces we host a year-long series of lectures and book signings on topics across a broad spectrum, but with The Connecticut River valley and rivers in general as a unifying theme. K-12 students from across The state make use of curriculum aligned with state and next gen standard that support classroom teaching in art, history, language arts, math and science. Regular programs for children and families were offered monthly and during The school vacations. The museum also serves students across The spectrum, home school familes , and offers summer camps for kids aged 5-12. Crm provides scholarships to allow underserved student populations to attend educational programs at no cost. Adult programming consists of talks, lectures, symposia, panel discussions, and tours; docent-led tours of The permenent collections; specialty exhibition tours; docent-led tours for adult/college groups; exhibition openings and member-only previews.

Waterfront programs: on The River The museum has a fixed pier as well as floating docks to which are moored three vessels: a 30-passenger recreation of adriaen block's 17th century vessel of trade and exploration called The onrust; a 50-passenger research vessel called riverquest; and a 24'aluminum work boat used in educational programing, enviromental study and waterfront utility. The museum secured ownership of onrust in 2021 and provides narrated excursions on The River in-season. In 2022, The museum acquired riverquest which operates a full summer season of narrated River trips and a winter trip schedule for watching american bald eagles and other bird life. The museum offers several themed cruises per year onboard riverquest and onrust for celebratory occasions such as mother's day, father's day, and halloween. Our vessels are well-utilized to provide opportunities for leisure and learning, having served about 10,000 passengers.

Other program services The museum conducts two major events each year which are imaginatively created and multi-purposed. These events not only bolster financial support, but also reinforce public engagement and build on The strong relationship that exists between The museum and our local and wider community.