Daring Dinner Escape Room
2024-10-01 11:30 - 2025-06-28 20:00 (America/New_York)
As a famous reporter investigating the rising National Socialist German Workers’ Party in Germany, you’re not surprised to receive an invitation at the home of a top German General for a dinner party. After a tip that this General owns top-secret documents that could reveal vital information about what the Germans are planning, you accept. Arriving early, you sneak into the house and steal a glimpse of these documents before dinner starts. However, you are on a strict time limit – the General and his dinner guests will arrive in 60 minutes. If you are caught with these documents, the consequences will be dire. Can you find the information before you are found out?

This is a great group activity! Wonderful for birthdays, company activities or a club outing. Fun for the whole family, this escape room is recommended for children over eight. Online waiver acknowledgment is required prior to entry into the escape room. Those 17 and under must have the waiver signed by a parent or guardian. Participants under 15 must have an adult ticket holder in their group.

Tickets $20 for members, $25 for non-members. Groups of 2-10 people. Reservations are required, select your date and time online. Reservations close 48 hours prior to their posted start date. You may make your reservation private for an additional $10 per group.

Tickets may be purchased with the online form. To book a private session or use your member discount, please email the museum at info@westporthistory.org.

Time slots are available Tuesdays-Thursdays from 11:30 am to 5 pm; on Fridays and Saturdays slots run from 11:30 am through 8 pm. All reservations last for 60 minutes, with the recommendation of arriving 15 minutes prior to your start time.

Tickets are nonrefundable. In the event you must cancel, we will consider your purchase a donation and will happily issue you a donation receipt. Groups arriving 15 minutes after their reservation start time will have their reservation cancelled without a refund.

Sponsored, in part, by Cohen and Wolfe

Sip and Shop
2025-01-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Looking for a fun and fashionable way to spend an evening after work? Come down to the Westport Museum’s upcoming Sip and Shop!

Enjoy a glass of wine while you browse the unique offerings of our gift shop. Between handcrafted decor from our staff, beautiful coffee table books, and many local artisan creations there is something to be found for every type of shopper.

Surprise someone special in your life and help support local history. Purchasing from our shop isn’t just a great way to show someone you care, but supporting culture around the corner is the gift that keeps on giving with our award-winning programs and exhibits that YOUR purchase helps support.

Enjoy high quality at a low price with our special event discount! Our Sip and Shop will feature a 20% discount on most items— 25% for holiday goods.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot. Westport Museum is a 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or funded by the Town of Westport. Please support our work by donating here.

Tuesday Treasure: Phonograph Cylinders
2025-01-21 12:30 - 13:00 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Today, you can listen to your favorite song with a few taps on your smartphone. Even if you’re a little more old-fashioned, you can have a record or CD spinning within a minute or so. However, the earliest lovers of recorded music didn’t have the luxury of such simple mechanisms. Phonograph cylinders were the earliest way people were able to record audio, and the Museum will be sharing some of our own during our upcoming Tuesday Treasure showcase.

Tuesday Treasures is an online programming series showcasing objects from our collection not normally on public view. See and hear the stories behind some of the most unique, mysterious, and impactful artifacts in our community.

To watch live and ask questions, join our YouTube broadcast here. Can’t join us live? No problem! You can watch this program and many others online for free on our YouTube channel.

Like our programs? We’d appreciate your support! Suggested donation of $5 continues our unique programming. Visit our donation form.

Want to learn more about other ways Westporters were spending their free time at the turn of the century? Come see our Playful Pastimes exhibit that is currently displayed here at the Westport Museum!

Monte Carlo Masquerade Casino Night
2025-02-01 19:00 - 21:00 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Don your finest mask, evening wear or costume to join the Westport Museum for History & Culture for our casino, Monte Carlo Masquerade Casino Night. Enjoy casino games, signature cocktails, delicious food, and prize drawings for casino winnings at this special event.

Take part in some glamourous fun at our gambling-to-give gaming tables! Try your hand at three different casino games with all the evening’s proceeds going to support the museum’s award-winning exhibitions, programs and research.

Your ticket includes admission onto the red carpet, refreshments, entertainments, and $25 dollars’ worth of casino chips. Additional casino chips may be added to your ticket purchase.

Tickets are limited, get yours today for $80 per person, $70 for members. Limited quantities may be available at the door.

Purchase your tickets using the online form. Tickets are nonrefundable. In the event you must cancel, we will consider your purchase a tax-deductible donation and will happily issue you a donation receipt.

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot. Westport Museum is a 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or funded by the Town of Westport. Please support our work by donating here.

Sponsors

Media Sponsor

Vintage Valentine Cupid Kit
2025-02-04 11:00 - 2025-02-14 17:00
Drop in and make your own unique card for the sweethearts in your life with a Westport Museum Vintage Valentine Cupid Kit. Each kit includes vintage-themed supplies to create your very own antique-styled greeting cards, a goose feather to make a quill pen and a link to our YouTube tutorial on quill cutting as well as a sample of vintage calligraphy to copy.

Participants may drop in anytime between 11am and 5pm to make cards in the Museum’s program gallery. Can’t stay? Cupid Kits will be available for purchase in the museum’s shop to make your heartfelt creations at home.

$5 fee to cover supplies.

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot. Westport Museum is a 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or funded by the Town of Westport. Please support our work by donating here.

Chats on the Past: Will Mackintosh
2025-02-05 12:00 - 13:00
Join author Will Mackintosh to discuss Selling the Sights: The Invention of the Tourist in American Culture (New York University Press, 2019). Learn how trends and cultural movements shaped the tourism industry as we know it through the years.

Mackintosh is an author and associate professor of history at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia where he primarily researches and teaches 19th century American history. An expert on the history of leisure, Mackintosh provides an insightful look at how the concept of “the tourist” developed in 19th century America.

Selling the Sights is the perfect companion to our current Playful Pastimes exhibit! Learn about American tourism and then take a trip over to Westport Museum and enjoy a virtual journey into the American pastimes of the last century.

Chats on the Past are free virtual events. You can also access the chat, along with all our previous chats and many other virtual programs, on our YouTube channel.

Like our programs? We’d appreciate your support as Westport Museum is a 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or funded by the Town of Westport! A suggested donation of $5 continues our unique programming. Visit our donation form here.

Truffle Making Workshop
2025-02-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Just in time for Valentines Day, learn how to make your very own chocolate in our truffle-making class taught by Alina Dancho, a professional pastry chef and owner of Alina’s Cakes & Cookies with locations in Fairfield and Westport! Enjoy your delicious final product yourself or give it as a gift.

Tickets are $35 for members and $45 for nonmembers. Register online below.

Workshops are limited to 12 participants. Tickets are nonrefundable. In the event you must cancel, we will consider your purchase a donation and will happily issue you a donation receipt.

Why not bring a group? Our historic foodways workshops are a delicious team-building activity, party or family fun day and a wonderful opportunity try something new and take away a delicious souvenir. If you’re interested in a private event, please contact programming@westporthistory.org.

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot. Westport Museum is a 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or funded by the Town of Westport. Please support our work by donating here.

Tuesday Treasure: Owls Football
2025-02-11 12:30 - 13:00 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Anyone from Connecticut is familiar with the everlasting struggle between Patriots and Giants fans, but imagine if Westport had its very own team? Well, it once did! In the first half of the twentieth century, Westport, and Fairfield County more broadly, was home to a thriving semi-professional football community. Among those teams stood the Westport Owls, a black and orange sporting team with a colorful story. Join our Assistant Director Nicole Carpenter as she shares some of the Owl’s memorabilia from the Museum’s collection.

Tuesday Treasures is an online programming series showcasing objects from our collection not normally on public view. See and hear the stories behind some of the most unique, mysterious, and impactful artifacts in our community.

To watch live and ask questions, join our YouTube broadcast here. Can’t join us live? No problem! You can watch this program and many others online for free on our YouTube channel.

Like our programs? We’d appreciate your support! Suggested donation of $5 continues our unique programming. Visit our donation form.

Want to learn more about other ways Westporters were spending their free time at the turn of the century? Come see our Playful Pastimes exhibit that is currently displayed here at the Westport Museum!

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot.

Like our programs? We’d appreciate your support as Westport Museum is a 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or funded by the Town of Westport! A suggested donation of $5 continues our unique programming. Visit our donation form here.

Trivia Night
2025-02-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Calling all trivia afficionados, fun-fact fiends, and scholars of esoteric information! Come to the Westport Museum’s first Trivia Night! Enjoy a night of challenging questions with your friends as you battle to prove your group are the trivia masters of Westport.

Not just a night for history experts. In addition to some general history trivia, test your knowledge of pop culture, politics, and other categories! A diverse palate of questions ensures every team member will have a key role to play in bringing home victory.

Enjoy a drink as a trivia night treat! Included with your reservation is a complimentary drink.

Can’t make our trivia night but itching to solve some puzzles? Book a session in our Daring Dinner Party escape room for a fun night of clever conundrums and intrigue.

Students play at a reduced rate. University students who bring their school university ID only $5. $12 for non-members, $8 for members. Groups may not be larger than 6 members.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot.

Westport Museum is a 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or funded by the Town of Westport. Please support our work by donating here.

Drink Sponsor

Connecticut's Hidden History: 1640-1848, OLLI Course
2025-03-05 13:45 - 14:45 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Calling all seniors! Have you ever wanted the opportunity to learn more about Connecticut history with local museum professionals? Our upcoming online course through the University of Connecticut Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is the perfect chance to expand your regional knowledge. OLLI provides low-cost adult-education for those 50+.

This OLLI course explores notable events and periods in Connecticut history through untold or unknown stories of the people and places which participated. Presented by Westport Museum staff members, the hidden history of Connecticut comes alive through original objects, artifacts and archival materials from the museum’s collection.

This is the first session of an eight-week virtual course that will culminate with an in-person visit to the Museum and Main Street to explore how the town relates to the course’s themes.

Registration closes March 3rd, 2025. To register for UCONN’s OLLI course please visit the OLLI registration website!

The History We Never Knew: Looking at our Past Through Schoolgirl Samplers
2025-03-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Alexandra Lally Peters, Historian, Curator and Collector of Samplers Alexandra will talk about needlework samplers.

Alexandra Lally Peters is a sampler collector and historian who first encountered a schoolgirl sampler that she could buy forty years ago. She lives in New York City and in Sharon, CT, with a lot of samplers that explain so much about the lives of women in the past.

This program is presented at Westport Museum by Wilton DAR.

Spring Cultural Fellowship
2025-03-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Join the Westport Museum for a Cultural Fellowship celebrating Spring holidays!

This free event celebrates the many different traditions that are not only celebrated here in Westport, but across the world. Come enjoy cultural crafts, live music, yummy treats, and fun activities, all while learning a little more about the rich cultures that have found a home in our region.

This evening program will feature international celebrations and traditions including Indigenous Spring Festivities, Purim, Noruz, Ramadan, Holi, Easter, Songkran, and others.

Like our programs? We’d appreciate your support! Suggested donation of $5 continues our unique programming. Visit our donation form.

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot. Westport Museum is a 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or funded by the Town of Westport. Please support our work by donating here.

Do you have a winter cultural tradition that you want to share at our Winter Fellowship in December 2025? Contact our programming associate at programming@westporthistory.org before December 1st if you or your organization are interested in hosting a table.

Women’s History Transcription Day
2025-03-21 13:00 - 18:00 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Help us preserve history!

Transcribe the Past, Shape the Future

Can you read script? Then join Westport Museum for our Women’s History Transcription Day and take part in preserving untold stories.

Work with original documents that shed light on women’s history, including the papers of Sigrid Schultz, WWII journalist; Dorothy Adams, Westport educator; and Rose O’Neill, illustrator and suffragette. Your efforts will ensure these records remain accessible for generations to come.

Reserve your one-hour slot today! We can host up to five transcribers at a time. Need more flexibility? Contact our Programs Associate at programming@westporthistory.org.

Be part of something lasting— help safeguard history, one word at a time.

Like our programs? We’d appreciate your support! Suggested donation of $5 continues our unique programming. Visit our donation form.

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot. Westport Museum is a privately funded 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or managed by Westport Town government. Please support our work by donating here.

Murder by Lamplight
2025-03-28 19:00 - 2025-04-05 21:00 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
The year is 1924 and the Bittersweet on Main is staging a production of Dracula to an exclusive audience. Once an invitation-only club, the Bittersweet now only poses as a haven for the arts. Behind the polished veneered doors there is a secret: a blind pig (code for “speakeasy” to those in the know.) When famed Prohibition enforcement agent Elliot Ness’s men—known as the untouchables raid the club, chaos erupts. When the dust settles, a flapper ingénue has been murdered. With the stakes and the hemlines getting higher and superstitions lurking ominously among the rogues’ gallery assembled, can the club find a way to seek justice for one of their own without damning themselves in the process?

The Westport Museum is pleased to welcome Escapism Productions for their production of Murder by Lamplight! MURDER BY LAMPLIGHT unfolds in 1924 during an interrupted performance of Dracula, where death takes center stage. This production is immersive theatre, not only will you be able to interact with the characters and props during the show, but audience participation is essential to the story. Unlike traditional sit-down shows, you will have the opportunity to explore multiple sets throughout the Museum and help determine the final ending.

The show is exclusive to Westport Museum. Say no to FOMO and book now—it will not be performed again! This production is recommended for audiences sixteen and up.

Performances are limited to 25 ticket holders, get yours today for $65 per person, $55 for members. Each ticket includes one complimentary drink or mocktail and light snacks. Limited tickets may be available at the door. Please note stairs are necessary throughout the show.

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot. Westport Museum is a 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or funded by the Town of Westport. Please support our work by donating here.

Trivia Night 2
2025-04-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
No matter how hard you try, those late-night thoughts keep creeping back… the endless wondering, the restless curiosity, the nagging question:

“When’s is Westport Museum’s next Trivia Night?”

Good news: you don’t have to wonder anymore. We know that once is never enough so join us once again at the Westport Museum for a night packed with clever questions, witty banter, and two complimentary beers to fuel your brainpower.

With a wide range of categories, this event is perfect for trivia fans of every kind — whether you’re the team MVP or the one who almost had the answer. Expect even more questions, even more chances to show off your knowledge (or guess wildly), and plenty of those classic moments: “That was my next guess!”

Spots fill fast — don’t miss out! Grab your team and sign up today.

Students play at a reduced rate. University students who bring their school university ID play for only $5. $12 for non-members, $8 for members. Groups may not be larger than 6 members.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot. Westport Museum is a 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or funded by the Town of Westport. Please support our work by donating here.

Drink Sponsor

Candle Dipping Workshop
2025-04-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Make your own dipped candle in the colonial way! In our candle-dipping workshop you will learn one of the ways people in the 17th and 18th century made candles and then take your candle home to use and enjoy. Join the Museum today and enjoy this class for a discount!

Tickets are $15 per person and $10 for members. Workshops limited to 12 attendees, save your spot with the form below. Please note candles are made from bee’s wax and require a hot plate.

Tickets are nonrefundable. In the event you must cancel, we will consider your purchase a donation and will happily issue you a donation receipt.

Interested in more hands-on workshops? Come to our Mother’s Day card-making drop-in workshop from May 1-5, or our Book Evaluation Day with Head to Tail Books on May 10th, 1-4pm!

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot. Westport Museum is a privately funded 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or managed by Westport Town government. Please support our work by donating here.

Dinner and Dialogue
2025-04-27 14:00 - 16:00 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Join us for an immersive cultural experience, where you’ll savor Afro-Indigenous dishes curated by Westport Museum Executive Director and Chef, Ramin Ganeshram; and Golden Hill Paugussett Tribe Clan Mother, Shoran Waupatukuay Piper. This unique event, a collaboration with the Westport Museum and dialogue leaders Everyday Democracy, features carefully prepared foods as an entry point to discuss the highlights the rich culinary traditions of Afro-Indigenous cultures. After tasting each dish, participants will participate in a discussion about the cultural significance of the featured ingredients and how they are woven into the fabric of Afro-Indigenous history.

This event is all about food, culture, and bringing together the young people of our communities. You’ll taste traditional Afro-Indigenous dishes like Three Sisters Stew (corn, beans, and squash!), cornmeal pancakes, and roasted pumpkin – plus some modern twists on these classic ingredients. After trying these flavorful dishes, we’ll dive into a discussion about what makes them so special and how they connect to history and culture.

We’ll also talk about how food, stories, and traditions come together to shape identity – not just in Afro-Indigenous communities, but in all communities. It’s a chance to connect, learn, and reflect on how food and culture shape who we are. Plus, you’ll get the recipes to take home, so you can recreate the dishes at your own table!

Participants will receive the recipe to bring home and experience the flavors and stories at your own table.

This event is only for participants between 14-19 years of age.

Contact programming@westporthistory.org to book your spot today!

Saugatuck Congregational Church is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.4 miles to the Church or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Winslow Park, Post Road/Compo (Stop 358), which is a brief walk from the Church!

Parking is available behind the Church! Westport Museum is a privately funded 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or managed by Westport Town government. Please support our work by donating here.

By participating in this program, you agree that Westport Museum and Everyday Democracy may take photographs for promotional purposes. Attendees are free to take pictures of our docents during the program, though it should not interfere with activities.

Mother’s Day Card Making
2025-05-01 11:00 - 2025-05-09 17:00 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Bring by the kiddos to create their own personal Mother’s Day Card. Drop-in during open hours from May 1 to 9 to make a Mother’s Day Card with a personal touch. Experiment with all sorts of stickers, buttons, stationery, and more! It’s great for adults too.

This year we have a special treat to compliment your card! An artisanal dark chocolate square embossed with a heart made by master chocolate maker, Westport’s own Laureen Haynes of Chocolatieree! However, chocolate supply is limited—stop by early to secure yours.

In a rush? Take one of our pre-made card-making kits (with artisanal chocolate while supplies last) for the same ticket price! Tickets are $10 dollars at the door.

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot. Westport Museum is a 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or funded by the Town of Westport. Please support our work by donating here.

Book Evaluation with Head to Tail Books
2025-05-10 13:00 - 16:00 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Have your vintage and antique books evaluated. Make an appointment at the museum to meet with Michele Wan, proprietor of Head to Tail Books, to learn more about your old books and receive an informal verbal opinion of value.

Examples of materials to bring for evaluation:

• Handpress-era books (pre-1800)

• Modern books

• First editions

• Illustrated books

• Books by authors from marginalized or underrepresented communities (people of color, LGBTQ+, women, etc.)

• Historical and fine bindings

• Quirky and unusual publications

• Ephemera and manuscripts (letters, notes, advertisements, etc.)

30-minute appointments cost $75 and may be made for no more than 5 items. Should you have over 5 items, please contact Ms. Wan for a private appointment on another day.

Appointment bookings can be reserved with the form below.

Head to Tail Books is a bookstore for rare, vintage, and collectible books, open online and by appointment in Westport, Connecticut. Prior to establishing the store, Ms. Wan cataloged rare books and manuscripts as the Special Collections Cataloging Librarian for Columbia University Libraries. She also managed the CABS-Minnesota Diverse Voices Fellowship in rare bookselling from 2021-2023. Ms. Wan has attended Rare Book School at the University of Virginia, as well as the Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar, and is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association and the Miniature Book Society.

Opinions of value are informal and may not be used for tax, insurance, legal or charitable donation purposes, which require assessment by a credentialed appraiser.

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Chats on the Past: Author Talk with Sonia Gomez’s Picture Bride, War Bride
2025-05-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Join us to discuss Sonia Gomez’ book Picture Bride, War Bride: The Role of Marriage in Shaping Japanese America (New York University Press, 2024). Learn how marriage played a pivotal role in the lives of Japanese and Japanese American women throughout the twentieth century.

Gomez is a historian of the 20th-century United States and an Assistant Professor at Santa Clara University. Her work primarily focuses on how intersectionality; overlapping characteristics such as race, gender, and ethnicity; shape the experiences of immigrant communities in the United States.

Interested in learning about the stories of Japanese Americans in Connecticut? Check out our article on the lives of three different figures who had their lives profoundly altered by the unjust imprisonment of Japanese Americans during WWII.

Chats on the Past are free virtual events. You can also access the chat, along with all our previous chats and many other virtual programs, on our YouTube channel.

Like our programs? We’d appreciate your support as Westport Museum is a 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or funded by the Town of Westport! A suggested donation of $5 continues our unique programming. Visit our donation form here.

Gatsby Garden Party
2025-05-18 11:00 - 17:00 | Westport Museum for History & Culture, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880, United States
Take a step into the Jazz Age at the Westport Museum’s Gatsby Garden Party! Enjoy lawn games, light refreshments, and spring weather. As part of the event, you’ll also explore authentic men’s and women’s fashions from the 1920s inspired by the excess and glamor of F. Scott Fitzgerlad’s hundred-year-old classic The Great Gatsby.

Enjoy tea sandwiches and lemonade—and play a round or two of croquet. This is a great event for the whole family! Bring the history of Westport and the culture of The Great Gatsby alive for you and your loved ones.

Tickets are $20, $15 for members. Included with your ticket is full admission to our current major exhibition Playful Pastimes, which explores the ways Westporters spent their leisure time at the turn of the twentieth century.

Love this kind of cultural event? Come back for our White Party, a collaboration with Westport Pride, on June 22nd to celebrate our local LGBTQ+ community!

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot. Westport Museum is a 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or funded by the Town of Westport. Please support our work by donating here.

Destination Westport: In Gatsby’s Shoes
2025-05-31 09:30 - 11:00 | Longshore Mariana, 260 Compo Rd S, Westport, Connecticut, 06880, United States
Step Into the Roaring Twenties: Fitzgerald’s Summer in Westport – A Tour Like No Other!

Picture this: It’s the summer of 1920, and Westport, a quiet farm town, becomes the summer escape for one of New York’s most glamorous couples—F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Seeking a breath of fresh air from their whirlwind Jazz Age lifestyle, the Fitzgeralds retreat to a charming 18th-century farmhouse, a silent witness to revolution and the birth of a nation.

In this idyllic setting, Zelda swims in the sparkling waters of the Long Island Sound, while Scott, inspired by the calm, works furiously on what would become his magnum opus—The Great Gatsby. The magic of this summer shaped his legendary novel, and now you have the chance to walk in the very footsteps that inspired one of the greatest American tales ever told.

Join us for a lively and immersive 90-minute tour through the stunning landscapes that once captivated the Fitzgeralds. As you stroll through the picturesque sites that influenced Scott’s writing, you’ll step back in time to a world of flappers, jazz, and literary genius. This isn’t just a tour—it’s a journey into the heart of the Jazz Age.

Be prepared for a vigorous, yet stunning walk through one of the East Coast’s most enchanting settings. Don’t forget to bring water and wear your most comfortable shoes for this unforgettable, Gatsby-esque adventure.

PARKING INFORMATION: Guests should park at Longshore Marina, in Lot F, along the asphalt and dirt areas.

Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Reservations are required, so be sure to secure your spot today! Space is limited to just 25 lucky guests per tour. Additional tours may be added if demand is high. If the tour sells out or you’re interested in a private tour, simply email programming@westporthistory.org.

Tickets are nonrefundable. If you need to cancel, your ticket will be considered a donation, and we will gladly issue you a donation receipt.

Don’t miss your chance to immerse yourself in the glamour and excitement of the Jazz Age! Register today and experience the magic of the Fitzgeralds’ Westport.

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot. Westport Museum is a privately funded 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or managed by Westport Town government. Please support our work by donating here.

Generously Sponsored By:

Freedom’s Journey: Connecting Westport to Juneteenth’s Legacy
2025-06-18 18:00 - 20:30 | Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport, Connecticut, 06880, United States
Reception at 6:30 pm; Program begins at 7pm

Join Executive Director of Westport Museum for History and Culture Ramin Ganeshram as she shares the hidden history of Westport’s connection to Juneteenth, the national holiday celebrating the final liberation of enslaved people during America’s Civil War. Based on the Museum’s extensive research into the Union Army and Black History in the region, this event will share some surprising unknown facts about Westport’s role in the fights for freedom — as well as genuine Civil War artifacts from the Museum’s collection.

You can register on the Library’s website here!

Fête en Blanc
2025-06-22 18:00 - 21:00
Presented by Westport Pride in partnership with the Westport Museum for History and Culture.

Ages 21+ only event.

Join us for an unforgettable summer evening at Fête en Blanc, a dazzling all-white attire fundraiser celebrating community, culture, and compassion. Hosted by Westport Pride in partnership with the Westport Museum for History and Culture, this elegant outdoor soirée promises music, dancing, drinks, and delicious bites—all in support of a meaningful cause.

A portion of proceeds will benefit The Circle Care Center, a local organization dedicated to the treatment and prevention of HIV.

Come dressed to impress in your best white outfit

Enjoy lively music and dancing under the stars

Sip cocktails and savor non-alcoholic beverages

Enjoy Latin-inspired cuisine available for purchase from an on-site food truck

Take part in exciting raffles and auctions

Fête en Blanc pays tribute to the rich history of white parties in the LGBTQ+ community, which rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s as vital fundraisers for HIV/AIDS awareness and support. By gathering in white, at the town’s premier history institution, we honor that legacy and reaffirm our commitment to health equity, remembrance, and joy.

$50 for entrance and 3 alcoholic tickets, $40 for entrance and 3 non alcoholic tickets. Museum members may access either drink level at $40. Ages 21+ only.

Whether you come for the cause, the community, or the celebration, Fête en Blanc is the event of the season. Don’t miss it!

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot. Westport Museum is a 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or funded by the Town of Westport. Please support our work by donating here.

Destination Westport: Paths of Patriots
2025-06-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Greens Farm Lower Cemetery, Nyala Farms Rd, Westport, Connecticut, 06880, United States
Discover the Heroes of 1779 and Beyond during our Paths of Patriots Walking Tour!

On July 8, 1779, Green’s Farms became a battleground in the fight for freedom, as British soldiers attacked and burned buildings to the ground. Step into the past and uncover the untold stories of Westport’s role in the American Revolution. As you stroll through a historic cemetery, you’ll pay tribute to the brave men and women who served in the war for independence.

Hear the gripping tale of that fateful day when Green’s Farms burned, discover the stories of enslaved Africans who, against all odds, fought for their freedom, choosing sides in the hope of having their voices heard in the battle for liberty.

This is not just a walk through history—it’s a vivid journey through the sacrifices and struggles that shaped our nation. Experience Westport’s place in the Revolution in a way you never have before.

Park on Nyala Farms Road and meet us at the marked green at the back entrance to the cemetery. The terrain is uneven, and with the possibility of warm weather, we recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and bringing bottled water.

Tickets are $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers, and pre-registration is required. Space is limited to just 25 participants per tour, so don’t wait! If demand is high, additional tours may be added. Should the tour sell out or if you’re interested in a private tour, please contact us at programming@westporthistory.org.

Please note, tickets are nonrefundable. If you need to cancel, your ticket will be considered a donation, and we’ll be happy to issue you a receipt for your generous contribution.

Join us for a compelling, immersive experience into Westport’s Revolutionary history—register today!

Easily accessible via public transit—if you make it back! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot. Westport Museum is a privately funded 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or managed by Westport Town government. Please support our work by donating here.

Generously Sponsored By:

Destination Westport: Saugatuck Stories
2025-07-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Saugatuck Train Station, 1 Railroad Pl, Westport, Connecticut, 06880, United States
Explore the Hidden Stories of Saugatuck!

Join us for a fascinating one-mile walking tour through Saugatuck, located at the mouth of the Saugatuck River and Long Island Sound. Discover the area’s rich history, from pre-colonial times to the early 20th century, including stories of commerce, the Atlantic trade, and the immigrant and women’s experiences that shaped the town.

Meet us at the Saugatuck Train Station (New York-bound side, 45 Railroad Place). Tickets are $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Space is limited to 25 people per tour, so reserve your spot today! If the tour is sold out or you’re interested in a private tour, email programs@westporthistory.org.

Reservations are required, and tickets are nonrefundable, though we will issue a donation receipt if you need to cancel. Additional tours may be added based on demand. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore Saugatuck’s history!

Westport Museum is accessible via public transit!! The Westport-Saugatuck railroad station has connections on the MTA New Haven line from Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and more. Uber 2.3 miles to the Museum or take the Norwalk Wheels bus transit system when available to Post Road West at Myrtle Avenue, which is a brief 7-minute walk from the Museum!

Park on Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place or behind Westport Town Hall or in the Baldwin Parking lot. Westport Museum is a privately funded 501(c)3 museum not affiliated with or managed by Westport Town government. Please support our work by donating here.

Generously Sponsored By:
