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
Mission Statement adopted November 2020
The Museum is open June through October, Thursdays & Sundays, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
The Museum will be closed for the holidays from December 23rd to January 1st, and will reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2025
The Museum will be closed for the holidays from December 23rd to January 1st, and will reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2025
The Museum is open to the public from noon - 4 p.m. Thursdays & Sundays from June through October. Throughout the year, the Museum is also open by appointment. Call 860-873-3944 or email us to schedule a time to visit, tour, or conduct research!
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Over 60 years of Local History
 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. Thursdays & Sundays from June through October. We are also open by appointment throughout the year. We hold events all through the year. Call 860-873-3944 or email us to schedule a time to visit, tour, or conduct research! 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!
2024 EHHS Scholarship Awarded Brian Evarts, Museum Trustee, presents the 2024 East Haddam Historical Society scholarship to Susanna Zhang
The East Haddam Historical Society is happy to announce the 2024 East Haddam Historical Society Scholarship has been awarded to Susanna Zhang. The scholarship is awarded annually to a student who shows an interest in, and understanding of, the importance of history.
Community service is an important component of the scholarship; Susanna has completed hundreds of hours during her high school career. She completed AP U.S. History and Women's Studies and is Valedictorian. Congratulations Susanna! Previous recipients: 2023 Katrina Tozier, 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. |
Now is a great time to sign up or renew your membership!
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.
2025 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.
Historic Buildings of Little Haddam
Presentation by Dr. Karl Stofko Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM 
Did you know that sections of Town Street, East Haddam-Colchester Turnpike, and Orchard Road were once known as Little Haddam? Dr. Karl Stofko, Town Historian, will describe the homes and businesses of Little Haddam, an area that begins at Two Wrasslin' Cats and stretches past the Turnpike. He will delight you with old and new photos of the buildings and will share stories of the residents that occupied them. Pictured here is the Samuel Emmon's Tavern on Town Street, originally built in 1690.
Dr. Stofko's presentations are always well-attended and seats fill up fast! Alaska Travelogue by Dena Leidke
Sunday, February 16th at 2:00 PM 
Dena Leidke, former East Haddam teacher and Historical Society volunteer, will share an educational travelogue of her three-month road trip throughout Alaska, with stories, photos, and historical anecdotes. Dena's adventures began in Connecticut, took her across the continent, and up into Alaska. Along the way she encountered historic buildings and stories of adventure. Join in her fascinating journey to the 49th state!
Zippy the Pinhead, Nancy, and the story of Ernie Bushmiller with Cartoonist & Author Bill Griffith
Sunday, March 23rd at 2:00 PM
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