The Heritage Museum

Effective March 1, 2010
Museum & Gift Shop Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 10am - 4:30pm
Saturday, 1:00 - 4:00pm
2nd and 4th Sundays, 1:00 - 4:00pm
Staff-guided Period Room Tours: Tuesday thru Friday, 1:30pm & 3:00pm,
and by appointment when the Museum is open.
Period Room tours for parties of 5 or more, please call for a reservation.

Where we are and what we have

Historic Houses
Did you know, that right here on Danbury Road we have one of the finest smaller museums in Connecticut? The Betts-Sturgis-Blackmar house (red house) was built on this site in 1739. The Sloan-Raymond-Fitch house (gray house), built in 1772, was moved to this site in 2001/2002 from its original home 1/4 mile north because of the road widening project. Together, they have 14 period rooms furnished to show the changes in home life, the economy, furniture and decorations from 1740 – 1910.

Most house museums are locked into one time period. But here, visitors get a glimpse of changes in rural New England homes from the early colonial to Victorian eras.

Exhibits
The yellow barn connecting the houses provides a gallery for changing exhibitions and the magical toy loft! We present three major exhibitions each year, including everyone’s favorite, “TRAINS!” Some exhibits concentrate on Wilton history or shared history such as “the 60s.” Some feature objects and decorative arts such as “Four Wilton Artists” and “Mochaware Mania.”

Collections
The specialized collections are especially interesting. We have a large textile and costume collection, many of which will be shown in our next two exhibits. Our Norwalk-made redware collection may be the largest in public hands. This cheap, ubiquitous ceramic is now appreciated as folk art and has high value. It will be featured in an exhibit in 2010.

Toys and Dolls
The toy and doll collection, created by volunteer Mary Lou Logan, is devoted to objects of childhood throughout a period of 150 years. It contains dolls, dollhouses, toys and games for both girls and boys. This comprehensive assemblage is probably the largest on view in the state.

Tools
“Tools of the Trades” is a permanent exhibition of more than 600 tools used by the trades common to this area. Presented in the Abbott barn, it features house building and woodworking, broom, shoe, hat, basket making, coopering, fishing and oystering, hay, grain and ice harvesting tools. Drawn from the collection of Walter R.T. Smith, they are dramatically displayed. More Information

Blacksmith
Completing the complex is the Abbott Blacksmith Shop. Both the barn and blacksmith shops were moved to this site from Hurlbutt Street to save them from demolition. Fully outfitted, a blacksmith works at the anvil on Sundays when the museum is open and for special events and programs.

Connect with history here.

Not only is this a great place for residents to visit, but also for relatives and visitors from afar.

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