Events

Interested in leaving your mark on Essex History? Then, please join us our Monthly Volunteer Open House! If you want to learn how to support EHS as a volunteer, please join us for this meet and greet. This is a no-commitment, hour long introduction to volunteerism with Essex Historical Society. One of our staff will give you a tour of Hills Academy and outline our volunteer positions including: Collections and research Education and Programming Event planning and fundraising Tour Guide for Pratt House and Walking Tours Maintenance of Gardens at Pratt House Preservation and up-keep of EHS’s two historic sites No need to RSVP, simply arrive to Hills Academy (22 Prospect Street) for 11:30 (parking and entrance in rear), and we will give you the information. If you can’t join us this month, we hope to see you at the next Open House. Open Houses will be held in the same place, at the same time on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise noted.

This fundraising event is a garden extravaganza featuring annuals, members’ perennial plants, herbs, shrubs, and fresh cut flowers as well as our world famous garlic salt, gently used home and garden treasures, garden gifts and jewelry. Join us at the Town Park. The Essex Garden Club was established in 1952 and soon after became a member of the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut. Their mission focuses on civic beautification, conserving natural resources, and horticulture & environmental education. For latest news, check out their website:  https://www.essexgardenclubct.org/

Every year, the second Saturday in May, the Sailing Masters hosts the “Burning of the Ships” commemoration. This is a “mini-muster” to which the Corps invites area fife and drum corps to participate. The Grand parade will start at 2:00 p.m. at the Essex Town Hall and end head down Main Street to the CT River Museum. Following the parade there will be a short ceremony and each fife and drum corps will play! This commemoration is in remembrance of the burning of the fleet in Essex Harbor in April of 1814. Essex was widely known for building privateer ships to harass the British fleet during the War of 1812. In April of 1814 the British rowed up the Connecticut River in the cloak of darkness and burned all the ships, cordage and sail lofts in the village. This was a devastating blow to the War effort. It became the largest naval loss the Country had experienced until the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After this disastrous event, the town of Essex rebuilt the shipyard and eventually produced more ships than before the Raid. We come together every year to remember the loss but to also celebrate the tremendous recovery made […]

Come join the fun & meet the artisans! Nautical themed reception featuring the work of  four artisans. Refreshments will be served. 15% off sale price for Featured artisans' work.

We're delighted to host, Marie Botswick, and feature her latest uplifting and thought provoking work of historical fiction, The Book Club for Troublesome Women, at our Spring Literary Luncheon. The book is a work of historical fiction, exploring the lives of four housewives in the 1960s residing in suburban Virginia.  By many accounts these women are living the American Dream, yet they have a yearning for "more".  They start a book club - their first title is Betty Frieden's The Feminine Mystique.  The book has each of them examining and questioning their own lives - their fears and dreams - and also seeking change to make their longings a reality.  The cost is $65.00 which includes lunch, book and an opportunity to engage with Marie Botswick.

Discover the beauty and simplicity of watercolor using just the three primary colors. In this beginner-friendly talk and hands-on session, we’ll explore how red, blue, and yellow can mix to create a surprising spectrum of hues—while also learning how water, pigment, and paper interact in this luminous, fluid medium. With supplied materials and guidance, you’ll experiment with blending, transparency, and basic brush techniques. No experience necessary—just a sense of curiosity and a willingness to let the paint flow. This program is FREE and open to ALL regardless of residency at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Supplies are limited, so registration is required. This program is for adults, age 19+. Register online at youressexlibrary.org or by calling the library at 860-767-1560. About the Artist Theresa Zwart-Ludeman is a painter based in Chester, Connecticut, known for her evocative watercolors and thoughtful approach to storytelling—both on the canvas and the page. Her work often explores atmosphere, memory, and emotion through representational and abstraction and layered color. Drawing from years of personal practice and a deep connection to place, Theresa’s art invites viewers to slow down and look more closely. In addition to painting, she enjoys sharing her creativity at local art events. Visit theresazwart-ludeman.com for more information about […]

Join Dannel P. Malloy, former two-term Governor of Connecticut and current Chancellor of the University of Maine System, for a reflection on pivotal moments in recent Connecticut history. Drawing from his years as Governor and Mayor of Stamford, Malloy will offer an insider’s perspective on leading through crises, reforming public education and criminal justice, and navigating the economic challenges of the Great Recession. His remarks will highlight how history is shaped not only by policy decisions, but by the values and resolve of those who serve — a fitting tribute to Barry Fulford, whose enduring legacy continues through this history lecture series. Refreshments will be served following the talk. Register HERE.

Shanties & Sails are back! Enjoy an evening of Sea Shanties. Hear talented shanty and sea-song musicians for a FREE one-hour live performance. Add to your evening to continue the fun. Book a trip on the Onrust! Shanties: FREE, Onrust: $25 This music series is generously supported by Privé Swiss Wellness. Rick Spencer and Dawn Indermuehle develop and present theme-based music and history programs, performing songs that give cultural insight into interesting times, places, and events in American history. Rick and Dawn carefully craft their vocals and accompaniment to sound as true to a song’s era or style as possible. Their vast repertoire includes music from the Colonial era to the present day. Rick and Dawn use these songs to illustrate the evolution of our nation’s culture and history in an informative and entertaining way. Onrust is a re-creation of the vessel Adriaen Block built in 1614. Built over several years in upstate New York using traditional plans and means, the Onrust is a wholly unique ship that serves to educate and entertain visitors curious about the age of exploration, the fur trade, and our early colonial history. She is available for public cruises as well as private charters.

Shanties & Sails are back! Enjoy an evening of Sea Shanties. Hear talented shanty and sea-song musicians for a FREE one-hour live performance. Add to your evening to continue the fun. Book a trip on the Onrust! Shanties: FREE, Onrust: $25 This music series is generously supported by Privé Swiss Wellness. My Druthers Rebel songs of Ireland & the Sea! Consisting of a rotating lineup of all-stars from the Connecticut music scene, My Druthers has had shows throughout New England, the Midwest & Southeastern US, as well as Thailand, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Renowned for their raucous & rowdy take on the age-old tradition, it’s hard not to raise a pint, stomp your feet, and sing along with these salty rebels and CT shantymen! ONRUST Onrust is a re-creation of the vessel Adriaen Block built in 1614. Built over several years in upstate New York using traditional plans and means, the Onrust is a wholly unique ship that serves to educate and entertain visitors curious about the age of exploration, the fur trade, and our early colonial history. She is available for public cruises as well as private charters.

All are invited to join us for the first meeting of EHS’s Connecticut History Book Club. EHS will host this quarterly book club to explore the state's past through both fiction and non-fiction works, highlighting key events, figures, and themes that shaped the state or played a larger role in America’s history. We will focus on works that illuminate the bring marginalized stories to the forefront, offering a deeper understanding of Connecticut's diverse history. Join us for insightful discussions that connect the past to the present, revealing the histories that shaped our state. For our first book we have chosen the novel: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. While Connecticut natives may have had this as required reading in grade school, newer residents may not yet be familiar with this 1959 Newbery Medal Winner about a young woman in colonial Connecticut. This title is appropriate for ages young adult and up. Books can be checked out from Ivoryton Library or Essex Library Association, or purchased wherever you get your books. On Wednesday, June 18, we will meet at Pratt House for a book discussion lead by EHS Director, Melissa Josefiak. This event is FREE and lite refreshments will be […]

Members: $30, Non-Members: $35 Join author and historian Jerry Roberts aboard Onrust for a trip back in time to 1814! On this special cruise, passengers will trace the path of the British Raid on Essex during the War of 1812, which saw 27 ships set aflame in the single greatest loss of American shipping of the entire war. Explore the real-world locations of this dramatic chapter in Connecticut history alongside the author of The British Raid on Essex: The Forgotten Battle of the War of 1812. Jerry Roberts has been in the history business for over 30 years. He has served as Vice President in charge of Exhibits at the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum in New York City, and as Executive Director of the National Lighthouse Museum project in NYC, the Connecticut River Museum in Essex CT, and the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT. He has designed and built over fifty exhibits, designed and project managed several major museum expansion and infrastructure projects. He has written several books and other historic publications and has co-written and appeared in a number of documentaries. The Connecticut River Museum may record this event, including all questions, comments, etc. by the audience. […]

Shanties & Sails are back! Enjoy an evening of Sea Shanties. Hear talented shanty and sea-song musicians for a FREE one-hour live performance. Add to your evening to continue the fun. Book a trip on the Onrust! Shanties: FREE, Onrust: $25 This music series is generously supported by Privé Swiss Wellness. Littlefield and Morneault Joseph Morneault, performing with David Littlefield as Littlefield and Morneault: A duo of folk music presenting ballads, the sea, and songs of local historical interest. David Littlefield is a lifetime resident of Old Lyme and has worked many years at Mystic Seaport. He is known for his scholarship on whaling and the history of the whaling ship the Morgan, as well as his songs about local businesses that supported or were supported by the shipping trades. Joseph Morneault is the president of the Maritime Music & Tradition Society, which features as its primary event the annual CT Sea Music Festival held in Essex, CT. Joseph is a social historian and author with a focus on the late 18th century, and can be regularly heard performing every Monday night at the Griswold Inn in Essex. ONRUST Onrust is a re-creation of the vessel Adriaen Block built in 1614. […]