Five Conn. museums to visit this weekend, as CT Open House Day kicks off tourism season
With the summer in full swing, people often want to go sight-seeing. A yearly program from the state of Connecticut is back again for the tourism season.
The 18th annual Connecticut Open House Day is Saturday, June 11. Sponsored by the Connecticut Office of Tourism, this day features free and reduced admission, along with special offers and events from over 200 participating locations across the state showcasing “Connecticut’s diverse mix of history, art, culture, nature and adventure experiences to the very people who call it home,” as a press release stated.
In Eastern Connecticut, many of the participating organizations are eager to share history and culture.
Sikh Art Gallery, Norwich
In Norwich, the Sikh Art Gallery uses art and history to teach visitors about the Sikh culture and the history of Punjab. Swaranjit Singh Khalsa, owner of the gallery, said the timing works as June is also Sikh Memorial Month, which commemorates tragedies such as the invasion of Harmandir Sahib and other gurudwaras through India by Indian armed forces, killing thousands of Sikhs.
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The gallery will be open from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, with a 1 p.m. presentation on Sikh history. Along with the art and history, the gallery also teaches people about Sikh music and the Punjabi language.
“Sikh Art Gallery is the only Sikh resource center in the state, where you can walk, talk (and) learn,” Khalsa said.
Leffingwell House Museum and Joseph Carpenter Silversmith Shop, Norwich
As for Norwich’s own history, several sites, including the Leffingwell House Museum and the Joseph Carpenter Silversmith Shop, will be open on Saturday.
The Leffingwell House will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Silversmith Shop will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Norwich Historical Society Executive Director Regan Miner said the city has been building up historic tourism in recent years, and working with the state is an opportunity to bring more people into the area.
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“CT Open House Day is the perfect day to visit historic sites that you've never been to before and experience all the rich history our state has to offer,” Miner stated in an email.
Tantaquidgeon Indian Museum, Uncasville
Nearby in Uncasville, the Tantaquidgeon Indian Museum is also participating, with free admission and tours by members of The Mohegan Tribe. Its normal hours are Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Stacy Dufresne, Tantaquidgeon Museum operations manager, stated in an email that Open House Day is gives an opportunity for people to explore what’s in their own backyard, and teach people about both Mohegan culture and broader Native American culture.
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“The Tantaquidgeon Museum is the oldest Native American owned and operated museum in the United States and provides an opportunity for individuals to learn about the Tribe, our history, culture, and values directly from Mohegan Tribal members,” Dufresne stated. “As (the late Chief Harold Tantaquidgeon,) one of the museum founders used to say, “it’s hard to hate someone who you know a lot about.”
Dufresne also stated through the pandemic there’s been more foot traffic to the museum than before, and is expecting steady visitor rates from the summer and into the fall.
Finnish American Heritage Society, Canterbury
In Canterbury, the Finnish American Heritage Society will be opening their museum at 76 Canterbury Road Saturday, thanks to grants from the Connecticut Tourism Council and other organizations.
The day will feature Finnish pulla bread and a chance to step inside an "authentic" sauna.
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Past President Anita Smiley said the museum will be open on Wednesdays and two Saturdays a month in the summer.
“It has been a very strong Finnish community, and we work hard to preserve our culture and our heritage, and we want to share it with other people,” Smiley said.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: CT Open House Day: Museums in Norwich, Uncasville and Canterbury
