From 1638 through the modern age, New Haven’s story is told here. We’ve unearthed artifacts throughout the nine squares and collected maps spanning four centuries. We explore hundreds of the Elm City’s unique stories, from Newsies to Nighthawks, from William Lanson’s Long Wharf to the invention of Silly Putty.

Did you know that the British invaded New Haven in 1779 in an attempt to draw George Washington down into Connecticut? Or that Benedict Arnold, infamous traitor to the Revolution, lived right on Water Street? Did you know that Abraham Lincoln gave a speech at Union Hall about labor rights, or that five U.S. Presidents received educations at Yale? From the Amistad’s Supreme Court Case through the May Day trial of Black Panther Bobby Seale, New Haven’s history has reflected U.S. History. We’ve got the ultimate cabinet of American curiosities to prove it.

New Haven has led the way with ingenuity and discovery, from sulfur matches to elevators and railways. We boast William Lanson’s feats of environmental engineering and Eli Whitney’s countless inventions. Our exhibits celebrate Charles Goodyear’s rubber vulcanization process, the simple machinery of Sargent’s hardware, the 1888 Sharpie boat, and more.

The Shubert Theatre debuted many classic performances; WPLR keeps the city rocking; and the International Festival of Arts and Ideas brings thousands to the Green every summer. From the Doo-Wop of The Five Satins to The World’s Best Apizza to Jim Morrison’s on-stage arrest at the Arena, we tell New Haven’s story as a cultural Mecca through immersive exhibits with thousands of tangible, ephemeral artifacts.