connecticut river museum

We finally went to the Connecticut River Museum last Saturday. What a pleasant surprise, this is a Very nice little museum. I think because of it's location we thought it was about Essex and the Connecticut River, but soon after entering we learned how wrong we were. The museum covers entire river, it's history and importance right up to the current time. And the location is fantastic right on the river with great views both up and down the river.

This museum as well as the town is located at the mouth of the Connecticut River.Very picturesque little town. the museum chronicles the events influencing towns and villages along the river the last 3 centuries. There is a pier and benches where you can look out over the water.At the time I was there there was a group of tiny sailboats,a sailing class going on and an individual barking instructions through a megaphone. Very relaxing.

We went here yesterday after seeing a write up about it and we enjoyed our visit. Many interesting exhibits about the Connecticut River through time and a very pretty location. Stop in if you are in the area !

This is a great little museum. Interesting for all ages. The dive bell for the young and the ship models for the adults. My favorite is actually the mural in the stairwell showing the history of the area.

Fun annual train show for Christmas plus other exhibits for adults .. and what a lovely setting. Essex is charming this time of year.

This museum was one of several items on our itinerary when we came to Essex, where we were staying just overnight. It is located just down the street from the shops and stores along Main Street and hence is very accessible.The gentlemen at the front desk formally greeted me and proactively asked me if I had a AAA membership, which entitled me to $1 off each adult admission. I did, and I thought this was a rather courteous thing for him to do.The museum is contained within one building that is located right on the Connecticut River, and consequently it has a great view of the waterway, the moored boats, and all the marine traffic passing by. The museum’s parking lot is not large—able to hold about 15 cars—so be advised in advance that depending on how popular a time it is that you go, you may encounter an issue with parking. We were there on July 4, and we had no problem at all.The museum is a two-story building with exhibits on both floors. The main area on the first floor has fewer items than the second floor, but it allows more room to physically get around, which is good if you’re visiting with children, especially younger ones. In particular they would probably enjoy the replica of a wooden submersible, which you can go into and press buttons and pull levers. (I’ve posted a picture of it.) There is a separate room on the first floor (in the NW corner) where you can see additional boating items. It’s wide open, and children once again will be able to stretch their legs. The museum also has public bathrooms and a gift shop.The museum’s collection includes things related to the naval history of the area, ship objects (e.g., wooden barrels, navigation items, tools used in shipbuilding, rope and tackle), yacht club paraphernalia, pictures and paintings, and a few models of boats. The collection is not extensive, but what they have is engaging and enjoyable. It is suggested that visitors enter the main exhibit area on the first floor (to the right of the front desk), work their way to the far (east) end of the room and then go up the stairs to the second floor. From there they make their way back to the other side of the building and then come back down to the first floor. The east stairwell has some nice views of the river (from windows), and the west stairwell has a beautiful carved, wooden eagle with an accompanying plaque of the names of the Connecticut River Founders. You can also walk the dock that surrounds the museum. How much time you take to examine each exhibit and read all the accompanying descriptions will determine how long your visit lasts. We took in everything in under an hour. It was a rainy day, and hence we did not spend much time at all outside on the dock. In better weather you would probably be much more inclined to take a more leisurely approach to what’s outside.Since we were visiting on July 4, we were not sure if the museum was open, and we happened to ask a Main Street merchant if it was. She immediately picked up the phone and called it to verify that it was, and then she highly recommended the museum to us. I largely concur with her assessment. It is certainly worth visiting if you’re in the area. The museum is part of the charm of Essex, as was the accommodating attitude of that merchant.

I love our museum of which I am a member. It enjoys a wonderful riverfront location on the Connecticut River and is located in the heart of picturesque Essex. The museum has a lovely large lawn and provides benches to enjoy a coffee while enjoying its exquisite river views and looking for eagles. Its a beautiful building with a nice mixture of temporary and permanent exhibitions which are just the right size for children so not too overwhelming for little ones. The recent purchase of the Samuel Lay house increases its appeal. Be sure to see the annual Train Show (November - December) which is a marvel for children and adults alike. The museum offers a variety of events year round including music, lectures, and classes. The museum also runs a wonderful children's camp during the summer with a variety of day programs. This museum is a jewel of Essex and of Connecticut. Be sure to visit.

We visited the Connecticut River Museum in October and were very impressed with everything the facility has to offer. At the time, only two of the three floors were open, as they were preparing for a new exhibit. The first floor was primarily dedicated to the role the Village of Essex played in the Revolutionary War; in addition to the development of the Turtle Submarine. There were also several interactive exhibits detailing the Battle of Essex, as well as a replica of the attack sub & numerous war artifacts. The second floor was focused on the role the Connecticut River has played in the growth of industry and commerce, and the associated environmental impact. There is an excellent video presentation here as well, which sets the tone for the exhibits. The museum also operates a schooner which cruises the Connecticut River twice daily between May and October. Here you can choose to be enlisted as part of the "deck crew" or just sit back and enjoy the ride. The Museum's grounds which are set on the picturesque river, are also a great place to enjoy a picnic lunch or to just sit, relax, and observe the river traffic. Overall a worthwhile stop where you can learn an awful lot about "The River" and its impact on the history of Connecticut.

On a rainy day we came across this amazing museum. The exhibits were well presented and extremely interesting. The three floors were packed with so much information, photography and models. Time sllipped by taliking to resident artist Steven Cryan and the staff and looking at all the exhibits and video. If you are anywhere near Essex or plan to be this is a must. They have done such a wonderful job to display and explain all of the exhibits.

We visited on a gorgeous September afternoon. The museum has very good exibits ranging from the geology and early settlement of the river valley to its use as a transportation corridor and commercial, industrial and recreational uses. There is also an excellent exhibit of the Turtle, the first ever attack submarine used in the Revolutionary war; and, the British attack on the Essex shipyards that supplied privateers during the war of 1812. We also booked a cruise on an original wooden schooner to sail up river enjoying the scienic beauty and seeing Osprey and Bald Eagles fishing. All in all, a fun way to spend a nice afternoon.

This is a really interesting museum with uncluttered displays and easy-to-read information. We knew little about the Connecticut River and feel we know a lot about it, and its history, after an hour or so touring all three floors, There are some "push-the-button-learn-more" opportunities, and an excellent video on the second floor. Art, artifacts, and a replica of the original turtle submarine that is quite extraordinary. The gift shop is very nice, as well. The museum is situated right on the river so the views are great and the grounds are lovely. We quite enjoyed it and recommend it highly.

This museum requires in- depth viewing if it is of interest. A lot to digest but you can get a good feel with a half hour visit. Right on the water, very well done.

The features of the museum were interesting; it a small, doable museum, in a short time. What we enjoyed the most was the sunset sail on a beautiful September night on the Connecticut River. Highlight of tht night was an annual "massing of the starlings":- hundreds of thousands of small birds swarming together at sunset over a nearby island- a great part of the sail Take binoculars! It only happens in mid-September!

There is an interesting wall mural stretching over three floors that explains the history around the Connecticut River. There are interesting pictures and audio clips. The replica of the turtle submarine - which you can climb into - is especially interesting. Cameras are allowed.It isn't very big but worth visiting once.

The museum is tiny, but chock-full of historical information and artifacts. Highlights are the "turtle" or first-ever submarine and the stairway mural that maps all 410 miles of the CT river. I learned a lot and found the place quite interesting, though it's probably worth mentioning that I am not originally from CT. Much of the information was therefore new to me. The major downside when we visited was that the entire 3rd floor was closed for remodeling. This they informed us only after we had paid our admission, which was annoying. If you plan to do the museum during the 2014 summer, ask whether the entire museum is open before paying! Important note - to see and take in everything in only took us about an hour, maybe an hour and a half, tops.