Upcoming Exhibits
A Tradition of Craft: Current Works by the Society of American Period Furniture Makers
March 30 - September 8, 2012
This juried exhibition of furniture, tools, and other household items will showcase the work of contemporary woodworkers whose skill, passion, and appreciation of history keep traditional craft alive. Selected works created by members of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers will be on display with authentic 18th- and 19th-century furniture from the collection of the Connecticut Historical Society -- furniture that families once used, treasured, and passed down to future generations and that now inspires today's craftspeople. Examine, compare, and admire American craftsmanship then and now.
Connecticut Folk Art
September 2012 - April 2013
CHS will showcase early examples of Connecticut folk art in a range of different mediums. The people who made these objects have lived or worked extensively in Connecticut. They are not professional artists trained in academics, but rather men and women from all paths of life who created this work as students, for their livelihood, or for their own use and enjoyment.
The Art of Poster Stamps
September 2012 - January 2013
An almost forgotten collectible, poster stamps were an advertising label larger than postage stamps that originated in the mid-19th century. CHS's collection features rich and colorful rare examples advertising Connecticut businesses.
How to Boil a Cow's Head: Recipes and Menus
February 2013 - May 2013
Explore the history of food in Connecticut with a diverse collection of menus and recipes ranging from the scrumptious to the not-so-tasty.
Ouch! Connecticut's Role in Eliminating Pain
April 2013 - September 2013
How did doctors deal with patients before anesthesia? This exhibit will examine early medical techniques doctors used to minimize the pain for patients during the Civil War and will explore the early advances in anesthesiology by Hartford tenant Horace Wells.
Behind the Wheel: Automobile Association Posters
May 2013 - September 2013
See a new collection of colorful early-20th century posters about safety with automobiles.
Photography by Harriet V.S. Thorne, Rosalie Thorne McKenna, and Marie Kendall
October 2013 - March 2014
This exhibit will introduce a new collection of photography donated by the Rosalie Thorne McKenna Foundation as well as a collection by Marie Kendall. The photographs document two generations of women photographers in Connecticut.