Events

History hits the streets!   Join Essex Historical Society as we bring back our Centerbrook history walking tour with a new addition from our friends at Trinity Lutheran Church. On August 17th at 5:00pm, join us for a walk through the crossroads of Centerbrook, Essex’s oldest village.  Learn about Centerbrook’s transition from its early farming days as “Center Saybrook” to its later manufacturing development powered by the Falls River. We are excited to add a new stop to this year’s tour: Trinity Lutheran Church. As the final stop on the walk, we will get a tour of the church and its history from Pastor Kurt Saenger-Heyl, and church members will generously provide light refreshments—sure to be a treat on a warm August evening. $5 per tour; free to EHS members.  The general public and families welcome.  Each tour lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes over fairly level terrain.   Perfect for life-long-learners and those who like a little exercise with their history.  Please meet at Essex Elementary School, 108 Main Street, Centerbrook. RSVP Recommended in case we have a change due to weather. Please submit RSVP at www.essexhistory.org/events/centerbrookwalk

Take a trip down Main Street in Essex Village to capture the rich maritime history of 18th century “Potapaug,” its working waterfront and ship-building prominence in the early 19th century as well as its development as a beautiful visitor destination of today. Our tours meet at the "Foot of Main Street" in front of the CT River Museum and start at 5:00pm.  Walking tours are open to the public but we do appreciate an RSVP that you plan to attend by emailing our Director at mjosefiak@essexhistory.org.  We ask for a $5 donation per person but tours are free to active 2025 members. Our walks last about an hour and are on mostly flat ground covering a little less than a mile.  We try to adapt our tours a bit based on our audience of the day, but if  you would like a fully customized tour, please contact our staff 860-767-0681 to arrange, giving us at least 3 weeks to arrange our guide scheduling. Summer 2025 walks will be on Sundays: June 29, July 27, August 31 and September 28.

Join us aboard RiverQuest and Onrust for a magical evening on the Connecticut River to witness the incredible Tree Swallow phenomenon. Each night at sunset, hundreds of thousands of Tree Swallows gather and perform stunning aerial ballets before settling into the reeds for the night. Enjoy over two hours on the water, taking in the breathtaking scenery and the unique show the swallows create. This small group experience offers a special, ever-changing glimpse into the river’s natural wonders.

Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store of Centerbrook presents Threads + Paper, a 7-week show exhibit exploring the rich textures, delicate forms, and sculptural power of fiber and paper. From intricate weavings to charming sculptures, this show highlights how these everyday materials can be transformed into works of art. As each piece in the show tells a story through structure, pattern, and imagination. Discover new wall art, mixed media, sculpture, and other unexpected creations by emerging and established artists.  The exhibit runs through September 6. As always, Spectrum’s Artisans Store offers new pottery, glass, fiber, home décor, jewelry, clothing, and accessories, children’s books and toys. Spectrum Art Gallery, 61 Main St., Centerbrook, Connecticut. Gallery and Store hours are Wednesday through Saturday (12-6 pm) and Sunday (12-5 pm). For more information about gallery exhibits, classes and workshops for adults and teens and summer camps for teens and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit Spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at spectrumanytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211

Join us aboard RiverQuest and Onrust for a magical evening on the Connecticut River to witness the incredible Tree Swallow phenomenon. Each night at sunset, hundreds of thousands of Tree Swallows gather and perform stunning aerial ballets before settling into the reeds for the night. Enjoy over two hours on the water, taking in the breathtaking scenery and the unique show the swallows create. This small group experience offers a special, ever-changing glimpse into the river’s natural wonders.

Sea Lamprey have a bad reputation: they invaded the Great Lakes in the mid-1800s, they suck the blood of other fish, and many consider their appearance to be off-putting. But these parasitic creatures are not all that they seem. Sea Lamprey play an important and under-recognized role in the Connecticut River ecosystem, providing food for other river species and bringing in vital nutrients from the ocean. Join Steve Gephard for a talk that dissects these misunderstood fish and challenges our ideas of which species are “good” and worthy of our appreciation. As a Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection fisheries biologist, Steve Gephard worked tirelessly for 42years to restore a viable population of Atlantic salmon and other migratory fishes in the Connecticut River. Now, he educates the public about the role fish play in the ecosystem and works with governments in North America and Europe to conserve salmon populations in the North Atlantic.

Join us aboard RiverQuest and Onrust for a magical evening on the Connecticut River to witness the incredible Tree Swallow phenomenon. Each night at sunset, hundreds of thousands of Tree Swallows gather and perform stunning aerial ballets before settling into the reeds for the night. Enjoy over two hours on the water, taking in the breathtaking scenery and the unique show the swallows create. This small group experience offers a special, ever-changing glimpse into the river’s natural wonders.

Buttons on the Shoreline: An introduction to collecting antique to modern clothing buttons Kathy Coopersmith of Nutmeg Button Club of CT will present an overview of buttons as they relate to history, literature, theater, and more! "Snap" to it and register on the library's website or call the library at 860-767-1252.

All are invited to join us for EHS’s Connecticut History Book Club. Offered in collaboration with Essex Library and Ivoryton Library, EHS hosts 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 September book we have chosen the novel: Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris. This historical fiction thriller is a page-turner! Books can be checked out from Ivoryton Library or Essex Library Association, or purchased wherever you get your books. PLEASE NOTE: it is a BIG book, so we encourage you to start it now. On Wednesday, September 17, we will meet at Pratt House (19 West Avenue) for a book discussion lead by EHS Director, Melissa Josefiak. This event is FREE and lite refreshments will be provided.

With generous support from The Petit Family Foundation, the Connecticut River Museum is pleased to provide sensory friendly items including bean bag chairs, noise-canceling headphones and fidget toys available for this special one-hour program. Exhibits with loud noises and/or bright lights are modified to allow people with a range of abilities to experience all the Museum has to offer. A designated quiet room is set up for the duration of the event to allow visitors to decompress, take a break, and experience the Museum at their own pace.

Take a trip down Main Street in Essex Village to capture the rich maritime history of 18th century “Potapaug,” its working waterfront and ship-building prominence in the early 19th century as well as its development as a beautiful visitor destination of today. Our tours meet at the "Foot of Main Street" in front of the CT River Museum and start at 5:00pm.  Walking tours are open to the public but we do appreciate an RSVP that you plan to attend by emailing our Director at mjosefiak@essexhistory.org.  We ask for a $5 donation per person but tours are free to active 2025 members. Our walks last about an hour and are on mostly flat ground covering a little less than a mile.  We try to adapt our tours a bit based on our audience of the day, but if  you would like a fully customized tour, please contact our staff 860-767-0681 to arrange, giving us at least 3 weeks to arrange our guide scheduling. Summer 2025 walks will be on Sundays: June 29, July 27, August 31 and September 28.