Connecticut River Museum

The Connecticut River Museum is your gateway to the Connecticut River’s 410 miles of cultural history and natural heritage. Located on the river in historic Essex, CT, the Connecticut River Museum offers exhibits, programs, workshops, tours and events year round. The Museum is housed in the historic Steamboat Dock building. Built in 1878, it is the last steamboat warehouse remaining on the River.

Visitors will explore three floors of exhibits and over 12,000 years of history from the experiences of Indigenous tribes to the arrival of Europeans and on to the industrial revolution as well as the rise of recreation on the River. They will find special exhibits that delve into historic and environmental stories of the River and the people who live and work within its watershed. The Museum is also home to two vessels. Passengers can sail on the recreated Dutch yacht Onrust built by the crew of Adriaen Block in 1614 and tour the river in search of local wildlife on the research vessel RiverQuest . Both are available for daily cruises as well as charters.

As step out of your car in the parking lot, imagine steamboats pulling up to the dock and unloading goods and passengers onto the bustling waterfront. Then step inside the Museum where you can:

• Board a historic Dutch yacht, Onrust, and sail into the River’s past.
• Join an eco-tour on the vessel RiverQuest to see the wildlife and natural beauty up close winter through fall.Special cruises, charters and group tours are available on both Onrust and RiverQuest.
• Learn the mysterious fate of the Turtle, the world’s first submarine. Climb aboard an interactive replica where you can pedal the pedals and crank the cranks! Would you have volunteered for the mission?
• Discover the British Raid of 1814, when the British raided Essex and burned 27 privateer ships! Explore the exhibit, stand on the lawn where the action really happened.
• Travel 410 miles of the Connecticut River in our vertical mural exhibit.
• Enjoy something new in the rotating exhibit.  The special exhibition space on the third floor is transformed seasonally so visitors can learn more about history, art and culture.

School programs are available for grades K-12 and are all designed to connect with common core standards. Home School programs and Sensory Friendly mornings are also offered. In addition, the Museum welcomes children ages 6 – 11 for six weeks of Summer Adventure Camps in July and August. Each week of day camp explores a different theme connected to the River.

The Connecticut River Museum’s riverside campus is also a beautiful venue for a wedding or special event.

Looking for a special gift? Be sure to check out the Museum’s gift shop. We have something for everyone.