New Haven Museum, New Haven

Founded in 1862 as the New Haven Colony Historical Society, the New Haven Museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history of the New Haven region. Housed in a 1929 Colonial Revival-style building designed by J. Frederick Kelly, the museum not only showcases the city’s evolution but also physically embodies its architectural heritage—incorporating artifacts from demolished local homes, including elements from the Nathan Smith and Benedict Arnold residences.

The museum features permanent and rotating exhibitions that explore topics such as the city of New Haven itself, the story of La Amistad, local decorative arts, and figures like Eli Whitney, Noah Webster, and Benedict Arnold. Other exhibits highlight institutions like Yale, the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, and natural landmarks like East Rock. The Ingersoll Room, furnished with 18th- and 19th-century pieces, offers a glimpse into domestic life in early New Haven.

In addition to exhibitions, the museum offers educational programs that promote interactive, inquiry-based learning, particularly focused on local history.

A major asset of the museum is the Whitney Research Library, a treasure trove for historians and genealogists. Its holdings span from the earliest days of New Haven’s settlement to the present and include over 300 manuscript collections, 4,000 architectural drawings, 75,000 photographs, and roughly 30,000 printed titles. Researchers also have access to vital statistics, genealogical materials, census records, and complete city directories from 1840 onward.

Through its exhibitions, collections, and archives, the New Haven Museum continues to serve as a vital link to the past, connecting generations to the dynamic story of the city and its people.

*** Amistad Freedom Trail ***
The Amistad Gallery within the Museum features, among other exhibits, a portrait of Joseph Cinque, leader of the Mende African revolt aboard La Amistad, painted by New Haven artist Nathaniel Jocelyn (1796-1881) in 1840. The gallery also features documents from the trial, including letters from John Quincy Adams and the Mende African captives.