Celebrate the season at the Naugatuck History Museum’s Annual Holiday Open House, featuring the debut of our new holiday display, “Santa’s 1948 Visit to Naugatuck.” Step back in time to discover the story of Santa’s arrival by helicopter, as captured in the Naugatuck Daily News headlines of December 1948.
Santa will be in front of the fireplace from 12 PM - 2 PM. Bring your own device to capture pictures!
The beloved Department 59 Dickens’ Village, with a scavenger hunt, is up. Browse the museum store for unique holiday gifts and local treasures.
This event is free and open to all. 380 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT
The museum will continue its festive hours every Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm through December 27 and will also be open during winter break on Monday, December 29, and Tuesday, December 30 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Local Event: Free Visit with Santa -Naugatuck History Museum - Santa’s 1948 Visit to Naugatuck

New Haven County

Naugatuck

Connecticut

Free Visit with Santa -Naugatuck History Museum...

Celebrate the season at the Naugatuck History Museum’s Annual Holiday Open House, featuring the debut of our new holiday...

Free Visit with Santa -Naugatuck History Museum - Santa’s 1948 Visit to Naugatuck

Celebrate the season at the Naugatuck History Museum’s Annual Holiday Open House, featuring the debut of our new holiday display, “Santa’s 1948 Visit to Naugatuck.” Step back in time to discover the story of Santa’s arrival by helicopter, as captured in the Naugatuck Daily News headlines of December 1948.
The beloved Department 59 Dickens’ Village, with a scavenger hunt, is up. Browse the museum store for unique holiday gifts and local treasures.
This event is free and open to all. 380 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT
The museum will continue its festive hours every Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm through December 27 and will also be open during winter break on Monday, December 29, and Tuesday, December 30 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Local Event: Naugatuck History Museum - Santa’s 1948 Visit to Naugatuck

Naugatuck History Museum - Santa’s 1948 Visit...

Naugatuck History Museum - Santa’s 1948 Visit to Naugatuck

The Naugatuck History Museum is proud to launch its America 250 program series, "Stories That Shaped a Nation."Each program invites our community to explore moments, ideas, and voices that helped define the American story. These events are free to attend and open to all.
Our first program features What a Glorious Crash They Made: Musick of Connecticut’s Revolution, presented by tenor, music instructor, and historian <a href="https://www.rfranklindonohue.com/richard.php" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Richard Franklin Donohue</a>. This forty-minute presentation brings to life a remarkable collection of “New Songs” and hymns published in Connecticut during the American Revolution. From the Stamp Act to the British surrender at Yorktown, these stirring works encouraged resistance, celebrated victory, and offered gratitude for survival. As John Adams reflected, they “cultivated the sensations of Freedom.”
Richard will guide guests through this fiery and influential repertoire, performing selections on voice and harpsichord and sharing the stories behind the music. Many of these songs appeared in publications throughout New England, making the program a rich look at the shared musical heritage of the region.
Richard Franklin Donohue is a longtime music educator and historian, serving as the Town Historian of Cromwell and the President and Program Director of the Cromwell Historical Society. He writes the monthly Rosetown Review column for Cromwell Life and presents historical programs across New England.
This program marks the opening of our America 250 program series, and we welcome the community to join us as we reflect on the ideas and experiences that have shaped our nation’s journey.

Local Event: What a Glorious Crash They Made: Musick of Connecticut’s Revolution

What a Glorious Crash They Made: Musick of...

The Naugatuck History Museum is proud to launch its America 250 program series, "Stories That Shaped a Nation."Each program...

What a Glorious Crash They Made: Musick of Connecticut’s Revolution

As part of the Naugatuck History Museum’s America 250 program series, we continue to explore the people and experiences that shaped our early nation. These programs are free to attend and open to all, offering our community a chance to reflect on the complexity and humanity within our shared past.
Our next program, Revolutionary Portraits: Minutemen, Patriots and Tories, is presented by <a href="https://www.southbury-ct.org/content/20558/20713/22804.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">John Dwyer</a>, Town Historian of Southbury, Connecticut. This talk examines the lives of individuals in the Naugatuck Valley who were charged as Loyalists during the American Revolution. John highlights how these accusations affected families, livelihoods, and reputations, revealing the personal struggles that unfolded behind the broader conflict for independence.
John brings a deep passion for local history, shaped by his family’s arrival in Southbury in 1984 to live in his wife Lynn’s ancestral home. Their children became the eighth generation of descendants to live there, inspiring his study of regional history and preservation. A retired Food Scientist and former Technical Sales Manager, John has devoted much of his time to genealogy, military reenacting, restoration work, and the study of nineteenth century American music.
He has contributed to many preservation efforts, including projects involving Southbury’s historic architecture and early industrial sites. His restoration of the Candee Wheeler House and barns earned a Merit Award from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation and was featured on HGTV. He serves on the Historic Buildings Commission and actively supports the Southbury Historical Society.
This program offers a thoughtful look at loyalty, conflict, and community during the Revolutionary era, and we welcome you to join us as we continue our America 250 journey.

Local Event: Revolutionary Portraits: Minutemen, Patriots and Tories

Revolutionary Portraits: Minutemen, Patriots...

As part of the Naugatuck History Museum’s America 250 program series, we continue to explore the people and experiences that...

Revolutionary Portraits: Minutemen, Patriots and Tories

The Naugatuck History Museum continues its America 250 series, Stories That Shaped a Nation. These free community programs highlight the many people, experiences, and ideas that helped form our early nation, inviting us to learn from voices that shaped New England life during the Revolutionary era.
The Web They Wove: Women and Their Wardrobes during New England’s Revolution
This program looks beyond famous battle reports and political debates to reveal the essential work of women whose choices in textiles, clothing, and fabric production influenced the course of the American Revolution. Through their steady labor and resourceful decisions, women across southern New England supported households, communities, and the broader fight for independence. Their lives, whether dressed in homespun wool or delicate silk, offer meaningful lessons about creativity, resilience, and care during a time when their world was changing rapidly.
Costumed historians from <a href="https://www.dirtyblueshirts.com/about" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Dirty Blue Shirts</a> share stories of these women along with reproduction garments, fabric samples, and a visual presentation of surviving historical pieces. Their program explores the myths of homespun, tales of midnight rides in red cloaks and calashes, and the daily work that helped sustain families while conflict unfolded around them.
The Dirty Blue Shirts is an experiential history collective of living historians, scholars, and artists based in eastern Connecticut. Its members first worked together in maritime museum settings both aboard tall ships and as historic roleplayers on land. Today they bring high quality research based programming to museums and historical sites throughout New England. Their work spans environmental history, blacksmithing, fiber arts, woodworking, historical dress, traditional music, theatre, and more. Whether in everyday clothing or full period attire, they are dedicated to sharing the richness of American history with accuracy, care, and enthusiasm.
We welcome the community to join us for this thoughtful and immersive look at the women whose hands and choices helped shape the Revolutionary moment.

Local Event: The Web They Wove: Women and Their Wardrobes during New England’s Revolution

The Web They Wove: Women and Their Wardrobes...

The Naugatuck History Museum continues its America 250 series, Stories That Shaped a Nation. These free community programs...

The Web They Wove: Women and Their Wardrobes during New England’s Revolution

The Naugatuck History Museum continues its America 250 program series, Stories That Shaped a Nation. These free programs welcome our community to learn about the people, landscapes, and events that shaped Connecticut during the fight for independence.
The Summer of 1779: The Coastal Raids on Connecticut
This presentation, led by Dr. Francis Michael Coan, explores the destructive British raids on Connecticut’s shoreline during the summer of 1779. These attacks brought loss and upheaval to communities from New Haven to Fairfield and shaped the movements of the Continental Army as it worked to defend the region.
Dr. Coan will highlight the role played by a familiar local landmark, the Porter Inn in present-day Union City. During these tense days of the Revolution, General Washington’s army relied on the inn for food and shelter while traveling the New Haven to Waterbury turnpike along the Naugatuck River. Later moved to higher ground, the building still stands today at 24 Woodbine Street, offering a powerful physical link to this moment in history.
Dr. Francis Michael Coan is a professor of history at Tunxis College and brings a thoughtful, accessible approach to understanding Connecticut’s Revolutionary era.
We welcome everyone to join us for this meaningful look at the summer that tested Connecticut’s resilience and placed the Naugatuck Valley within the larger story of America’s fight for freedom.

Local Event: The Summer of 1779: The Coastal Raids on Connecticut

The Summer of 1779: The Coastal Raids on...

The Naugatuck History Museum continues its America 250 program series, Stories That Shaped a Nation. These free programs...

The Summer of 1779: The Coastal Raids on Connecticut

The Naugatuck History Museum continues its free program series, Stories That Shaped a Nation, with a thoughtful look at one of the most enduring ideas in American history.
Liberty and the American Experience
This presentation, led by Professor Hamish Lutris, explores how the meaning of liberty has developed, expanded, and been contested since 1776. Liberty has shaped the nation’s identity, yet it has also been the source of deep debate and conflict. Professor Lutris guides audiences through this evolving concept while drawing on the role of judicial interpretation, including the difference between enumerated and implied rights. Through this lens he highlights several of the nation’s most influential controversies over freedom, law, and civic responsibility.
Professor Lutris is an Associate Professor of History at Manchester Community College and serves on the Winchester Historic Commission. He is a respected regional speaker with long experience in historical interpretation. His work spans a wide range of topics including Native American history, the Civil War, both World Wars, the American West, and significant developments in scientific, social, and cultural history. His programs are known for their clarity, depth, and ability to make complex ideas accessible.
We welcome our community to join us for this meaningful look at the idea of liberty and the ways it has shaped the American experience from the Revolution to today.

Local Event: Liberty and the American Experience

Liberty and the American Experience

The Naugatuck History Museum continues its free program series, Stories That Shaped a Nation, with a thoughtful look at one of...

The Naugatuck History Museum continues its free America 250 program series, Stories That Shaped a Nation, with a hands-on look at medicine during the Revolutionary era.
Rough Medicine: The Medicine and Surgery of the American Revolution
This interactive presentation, led by Dr. Ray Sullivan, explores the realities of eighteenth century medical care during the American Revolution. Guests will have the rare chance to see authentic medical instruments, medicaments, and plant based remedies from the period. Dr. Sullivan explains how these tools were used, the challenges faced by military and civilian healers, and the ways in which these practices shaped the early development of American medicine.
Through close up examples and clear explanations, the program offers insight into the daily work of surgeons and physicians during wartime as well as the resilience of the people they treated. It provides a vivid look at a side of Revolutionary life that is often overlooked but deeply connected to survival and community care.
We welcome our community to join us for this engaging and informative experience as we continue our journey through America’s Revolutionary history.

Local Event: Rough Medicine: The Medicine and Surgery of the American Revolution

Rough Medicine: The Medicine and Surgery of the...

The Naugatuck History Museum continues its free America 250 program series, Stories That Shaped a Nation, with a hands-on look...

Rough Medicine: The Medicine and Surgery of the American Revolution

Naugatuck History Museum

RJ Scofield

Hartford Metropolitan Area

The Naugatuck Historical Society is an organization keeping the stories of Naugatuck alive and accessible to the public through exhibits, research and presentations. We maintain and preserve collections for the purpose of inspiring a love of local history and contributing to civic pride.

Jay Kenney

Oxford

Bethwood

Woodbury-Middlebury

Vincent Salzo

Cheshire

Hamden

Rich Kirby

Southbury

Fairfield County

Shelton-Derby

Hartford County

Michael Lemanski

Southington

North Haven

Wallingford

West Haven

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Free Visit with Santa -Naugatuck History Museum - Santa’s 1948 Visit to Naugatuck

DEC

20

10:00 AM

380 Church St, Naugatuck, CT

Naugatuck History Museum - Santa’s 1948 Visit to Naugatuck

DEC

27

10:00 AM

380 Church St, Naugatuck, CT

Naugatuck History Museum - Santa’s 1948 Visit to Naugatuck

DEC

29

11:00 AM

380 Church St, Naugatuck, CT

Naugatuck History Museum - Santa’s 1948 Visit to Naugatuck

DEC

30

11:00 AM

380 Church St, Naugatuck, CT

What a Glorious Crash They Made: Musick of Connecticut’s Revolution

MAR

22

2:00 PM

380 Church St, Naugatuck, CT

Revolutionary Portraits: Minutemen, Patriots and Tories

APR

19

2:00 PM

380 Church St, Naugatuck, CT

The Web They Wove: Women and Their Wardrobes during New England’s Revolution

MAY

17

2:00 PM

380 Church St, Naugatuck, CT

The Summer of 1779: The Coastal Raids on Connecticut

JUN

14

2:00 PM

380 Church St, Naugatuck, CT

Liberty and the American Experience

JUL

12

2:00 PM

380 Church St, Naugatuck, CT

Rough Medicine: The Medicine and Surgery of the American Revolution

AUG

23

2:00 PM

380 Church St, Naugatuck, CT

Jimmies Savin Rock LIVE AUCTION liquidation of ENTIRE Assets