2025: The Shore Line Trolley Museum's 'Year That Mattered'

EAST HAVEN, CT — In 2025, The Shore Line Trolley Museum commemorated a trolley service milestone.

Executive Director John Proto explains why 2025 also was "A Year That Mattered."

A Year That Mattered at the Shore Line Trolley Museum

As 2025 comes to a close, it’s clear this was a year that mattered for the Shore Line Trolley Museum and for the work we do here.

This year marked 125 years since trolley service first connected New Haven with Connecticut's eastern shoreline communities, a milestone that speaks not only to history, but to endurance. For more than a century, our trolley line has linked people and places, carried workers and families, and evolved alongside the region it serves. Today, that legacy continues not behind glass, but in the sounds, the movement, and the simple act of stepping aboard a real historic trolley.

Preserving living history, however, is not without its challenges.

Our cars, track, power systems, and facilities are aging, and they require ongoing care to remain safe, reliable, and authentic. Much of this work requires specialized skills and is carried out by many dedicated volunteers, supported by a small staff. Weather events, rising costs, and the realities of operating historic equipment mean that every season demands careful planning, flexibility, and hands-on work. In 2025, we met those challenges, often behind the scenes, so that visitors could continue to enjoy meaningful, memorable experiences.

Throughout the year, we partnered with other nonprofits, participated in programs that broadened access, and created opportunities for learning that extend beyond a traditional museum visit. Whether through educational visits, internships and practical classroom applications, or shared use of our grounds, these efforts are about opening our doors as widely as possible and ensuring the museum remains a resource for the people we serve.

As we look ahead to 2026, that sense of purpose grows even stronger. The coming year marks the beginning of the nation’s 250th anniversary. This gives us an opportunity to reflect not just on historic events, but on how everyday life in America was shaped. Innovation and transportation made it possible for communities to grow and thrive. Trolleys were a vital part of that story, connecting people to work, school, and one another. At the Shore Line Trolley Museum, that history isn’t just told—it’s experienced.

Looking ahead, we are committed to caring for what we have inherited through ongoing preservation and restoration, and ensuring it remains accessible for generations to come. That commitment depends on people who believe that history, education, and community connection are worth sustaining.

As the year draws to a close, we invite you to consider supporting the Shore Line Trolley Museum in a way that is meaningful to you; through a year-end gift, a recurring contribution, or by including the museum in your long term plans through a bequest, annuity, or other form of legacy giving. These acts of support help ensure that this place, its history, and the experiences it offers will continue well into the future.

Thank you for being part of our story in 2025. We look forward to welcoming you in the year ahead and continuing this journey together.

With gratitude and best wishes for the New Year,

John Proto
Executive Director

P.S. If you’d like to support the Shore Line Trolley Museum before year’s end, online and other giving options are available at shorelinetrolley.org/donate, or mail your contribution to: The Shore Line Trolley Museum, 17 River St., East Haven, CT 06512