Danbury Museum & Historical Society, Connecticut, United States
5.0 (30 reviews) Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Ranking #4 in Danbury History Museums
A fascinating trip into Danbury’s past
The Danbury Museum & Historical Society Authority acquires, preserves, exhibits, and interprets Danbury's past. Situated in downtown Danbury, the museum preserves the John and Mary rider House 9c.1785), the Dodd Hat Shop (c. 1790), the Marian Anderson Studio, the old King Street Schoolhouse, the Little Red Schoolhouse and the Charles Ives Birthplace. Huntington Hall, a modern exhibit building contains the museum offices and a research library. The Danbury Museum and Historical Society has evolved out of efforts to preserve endangered historic properties. One of the City's oldest structures, the Rider House on Main Street, would have been demolished in 1941 to make way for a gas station had it not been for the intervention of concerned citizens (including the Mary Wooster DAR Chapter). After raising money to purchase this property, these citizens found the Danbury Historical and Arts Center. A merger, in 1947, between the Scott-Fanton Museum and the Danbury Historical and Arts Center, saw the creation of the Danbury Scott Fanton Museum & Historical Society Inc. During the 1950's and 60's, the museum acquired the John Dodd Shop, the Ward House, the Charles Ives birthplace, two one room schoolhouses and erected Huntington Hall, where many of its exhibits have been displayed. In 2004, theMuseum was thrilled to add the Marian Anderson Studio to its collection. Famed opera singer Marian Anderson lived in danbury for over 50 years. It was moved to the Main Street campus of the museum in 1999. Restoration of the studio was completed in early 2004. 2006 saw the merger of the Danbury Scott Fanton Museum with the City of Danbury and a new entity was born on July 1, 2008 . . . the Danbury Museum and Historical Society Authority. Tours of the historic buildings on our Main Street campus are available on Saturdays only from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the winter season. Check our website regularly for updates, news and events or to sign up for our email newsletter.
Address
43 Main St, Danbury, CT 06810-8011
Mobile
Website
http://www.danburymuseum.org
Working hours
Monday : 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday : 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday : 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday : 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday : 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday : 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday :
Current local date and time now
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 15:11
User Ratings
5.0 based on (30 reviews)
Reviews
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5TheGranddad 5:00 PM Aug 17, 2016
Surprisingly Interesting
The main house is OK but nothing special. But the history of the area’s hatting industry and Marian Anderson’s Studio and history make it worth a visit. Also sponsors a number of activities.
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4Christenthia L 5:00 PM Dec 22, 2019
Informative and interesting
This was certainly one of the most interesting tours I’ve done lately. Learning about how things were done 2 centuries ago was somewhat appalling yet admirable. There were four houses (structures) featured and we visited each one and heard a story on what happened there. I am almost ashamed to admit that I never knew that felt (used for making hats) was originally sourced from animal fur; primarily rabbits and beavers in this case. Each opening with a door counted as a ‘room’, and men and women ate separately at dinner time. At the classroom, all students ranging toddlers to age 12 all sat in the same room ( boys on one side and girls on the other) with the younger ones up front and the older ones seated to the back of the room - These are just a few teasers of how the olden days differed. It was fascinating to get a peek inside the historical presence of the old Danbury. Marian Anderson has a whole studio (her actual recording studio) dedicated to her memory. Our host, a high school senior, was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The cookies and tea and the end of the tour were welcome treats.
