Step Back in Time at 8 Danbury Museums

American artist Maira Kalman once said, “A visit to a museum is a search for beauty, truth, and meaning in our lives,” encouraging people to “go as often as you can.” If you follow her advice, Danbury is the place to do it. The city has several fascinating museums that offer a glimpse into our past. We encourage you to step back in time at these excellent local museums.

Danbury Railway Museum

Housed in the former Danbury Union Station, the Danbury Railway Museum celebrates the local area’s history as a rail transport hub. Visitors can marvel at historic trains, including Budd Rail diesel cars, a former New Haven Railroad class caboose, and passenger cars dating back to the 1920s. There are also fascinating train artifacts on-site, including railroad timetables, photographs of trains at work, and books documenting railway history. Visit between April and November to ride the Railyard Local. Special Pumpkin Patch and Santa trains also run during the holiday seasons.

Location: 120 White St., Danbury.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Cost: $7 admission, free for children under 3, with train rides charged extra.

Danbury Museum and Historical Society

Danbury Museum and Historical Society is four museums in one. John & Mary Rider House, John Dodd Hat Shop, Marian Anderson Studio, and Little Red Schoolhouse conveniently share a campus. Each building features artifacts relevant to the site. As you pour over them, you’ll learn more about Danbury’s role in the Revolutionary War, its historic hatting industry, early schooling, and one of the city’s most beloved operatic talents. Feel free to explore the museum at your leisure, take a self-guided tour by scanning the QR code outside Huntington Hall, or book a guided tour on Friday or Saturday.

Location: 43 Main St., Danbury.
Hours: Noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
Cost: Free.

Brookfield Museum and Historical Society

Brookfield Museum and Historical Society aims to preserve the history of this Connecticut town, located around 12 minutes northeast of Danbury. It welcomes visitors to browse the museum and library. There’s also a research center on-site with a fascinating collection of maps, deeds, newspapers, photographs, and old tax records from the Brookfield area. Make sure you stop to admire the gardens before you leave.

Location: 165 Whisconier Road, Brookfield.
Hours: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Cost: Free, but donations are welcome.

Keeler Tavern Museum

The Keeler Tavern Museum protects the historic Keeler Tavern and helps visitors understand its significance to the community of Ridgefield, which is located about 20 minutes south of Danbury. The museum shares the history of the tavern and town through memorabilia from the Keeler, Resseguie, and Gilbert families. Historic furnishings, an original engraving of the Battle of Ridgefield, and the first T. Keeler’s Inn sign are among the museum’s treasures. The walled gardens, which are always free for the public, are some of the area’s best.

Location: 152 Main St., Ridgefield.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Cost: $15 for adults, $12 for seniors aged 65+, and $5 for children aged 18 and under, students, teachers, and veterans. Ticket prices include a guided tour, the Carriage Barn exhibits, and gardens and grounds access. $5 exhibit-only tickets are also available.

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

While delving into centuries-old history is exciting, some local museums offer a glimpse into the more recent past. Local collector and fashion designer Larry Aldrich founded The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, also in Ridgefield, in 1964. It’s Connecticut’s only contemporary art museum and the oldest in the country. It hosts exhibitions rather than displaying a permanent collection, so there’s always something new to see. While some feature current artists, others showcase works from the mid-to-late 20th century. Seeing the evolution of art through its diverse pieces is fascinating for anyone interested in this visual medium.

Location: 258 Main St., Ridgefield.
Hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Monday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Cost: $15 for adults, $9 for seniors aged 60+ and students, and free for museum members, teachers, children under 13, and military families. The museum also opens free to everyone on the third Saturday of each month.

Northrop House Museum

Experience how one of Sherman’s most prominent families lived at the building that is now the Northrop House Museum, located 25 minutes north of Danbury. David Northrop Jr., a representative in the state legislature, built the property in 1829. He lived here with his father, David Northrop, Sherman’s first town clerk, and later his son, David Ward Northrop. The youngest Northrop became Secretary of State and the mayor and postmaster of Middletown. See the second-floor ballroom and the cow barn before following in the Northrops’ footsteps on the walking track.

Location: 10 Route 37 Center, Sherman.
Hours: By appointment, May through October.
Cost: Free.

The Old Store Museum and Gift Shop

Even before Sherman was a recognized town, it had The Old Store. David Northrop Jr. built the store before 1802 for the area’s growing population. It was subsequently traded until the Herman Historical Society purchased it in 1998 and transformed it into a museum. There may be no more fitting place to tell the story of Sherman’s history. Browse the Native American artifacts and old photos documenting the town’s evolution. The on-site gift shop maintains the site’s retail tradition.

Location: 10 Route 37 Center, Sherman.
Hours: Noon to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, April through December.
Cost: Free.

Wilton Historical Society

For your final history fix, drive to Wilton, which is around 30 minutes south of Danbury. It’s home to the Wilton Historical Society, which features six historic sites. Betts-Sturgis-Blackmar House and Sloan-Raymond-Fitch House are properties that belonged to notable Wilton residents. You can also see the Burn Barn Gallery, Abbott Barn, a blacksmith shop, and a two-seat privy. Kids will love the opportunity to touch everything in the interactive “Just Like Grandma Used to Make” display.

Location: 224 Danbury Road, Wilton.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday during the Great Trains Holiday Show.
Cost: Free.

These are the museums the Meadowland GMC team revisits time and time, but we’d love to know about you. Have we missed any of your favorites around Danbury? Contact us or visit our Carmel dealership to let us know.

Photo Credit: Steam Loco, Danbury Railway Museum, Connecticut. by Roland Turner is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0

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