The Children’s Museum is a non-profit educational institution that strives to inspire life-long learning among children and their caregivers by providing experiential learning programs covering STEAM, health, nature and the environment. Founded in 1927 as a one-room natural history museum in The Pond House at Elizabeth Park in Hartford, The Children’s Museum is the fifth oldest children’s museum in the nation.
The Museum moved to its current location at 180 Mohegan Drive in 2022, serving as a temporary site while we plan for our long-term future. From 1958 to 2022, The Children’s Museum was located at 950 Trout Brook Drive. Over the decades, the Museum has grown into a dynamic institution, home to several key components, including:
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The highly respected science-curriculum-based Children’s Museum Preschool, established in 1946;
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Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton, established in 1948, which became part of The Children’s Museum in 1973;
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The Wildlife Sanctuary, opened in 1981;
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Sophisticated in-school and on-site educational programs aligned with Connecticut’s curricular standards;
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The museum itself, offering hands-on, minds-open, child-centered interactive activities.
Together, these elements make The Children’s Museum a stimulating and unique resource in the region, fostering the development of curious, confident, and innovative children—laying the foundation for their future success. As a result, The Children’s Museum continues to be a valued asset and partner within the community.
By agreement with the State of Connecticut, Roaring Brook Nature Center utilizes 165 acres of the adjacent State Wildlife Refuge as an outdoor classroom, maintaining hiking trails, bluebird boxes, and wildlife habitats. Many areas of the Nature Center are accessible to wheeled vehicles, including Mer’s Native Plant Butterfly Garden, the Native Plant Bird Garden, the Vernal Pool Observation Deck and trails, the Animal Senses and Geology Gardens, and animal rescue enclosures.
The Museum offers a wide range of educational and outreach programming to schools and community organizations throughout the state, as well as teacher training focused on inquiry-based science learning techniques. We aim to support Connecticut school districts with the greatest academic needs, improving student achievement and enhancing educational opportunities. These efforts help stabilize and revitalize low- and moderate-income neighborhoods while improving the future prospects of students growing up in these communities.
Over the years, The Children’s Museum has been known by several names—The Children’s Museum of Hartford, The Science Museum of Connecticut, and The Science Center of Connecticut—before taking its current name in 2006.
The Travelers Science Dome at the Gengras Planetarium, which opened in 1968, provided an exceptional learning experience for many years. While the planetarium is now closed, its legacy remains a cornerstone of The Children’s Museum’s educational offerings. Its impact continues through our StarLab program, which allows teachers to bring the wonders of the universe directly into their classrooms, ensuring the exploration of the stars and cosmos lives on for future generations.
In 1975, with the help of the Cetacean Society of Connecticut, Conny, a life-size replica of Connecticut’s state animal, the sperm whale, was placed on the property. Conny quickly became a beloved fixture at the Museum. Sadly, Conny was unable to make the move with us to our new location, and we were sad to say goodbye. However, Conny’s legacy lives on—his tail can still be seen on Trout Brook Trail, just across the street from our former location, serving as a reminder of the many memories made at the Museum.
