Community Corner

Lots of Free Admissions in the Hartford Area This Saturday

Children's museums, art & history museums and other attractions are free or have discounted tickets Saturday, "Connecticut Open House Day."

Visit a museum for free, climb inside big trucks and heavy equipment, get American Automobile Association tour books and maps, or get other discounts by taking advantage of Connecticut's Open House Day on Saturday.

Here's how the Connecticut Office of Tourism describes the offerings:

"Connecticut residents are invited to discover – and rediscover – the state’s exciting arts, history and tourism offerings with a variety of special incentives, such as discounted or free admission, free gifts or special exhibits and activities during the 10th Annual Open House Day on June 14, 2014.

"Open House Day is a great way for you to experience all the state has to offer and to encourage you to become Connecticut Ambassadors who take pride in sharing your new discoveries with visiting family and friends. 

Find out what's happening in Vernonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The annual event is coordinated by the Connecticut Office of Tourism, a division of the Department of Economic & Community Development.

Connecticut Open House Day specials and hours of operation vary by property."

Find out what's happening in Vernonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Around Greater Hartford

Here's a sampling of Hartford-area discounts from the Connecticut tourism office's statewide list of participating museums and other places where you can get free admission, discounts or other offers on Saturday:

BLOOMFIELD

Old Farm School
Wintonbury Historical Society
151 School St.
Bloomfield,  CT
(860) 242-2953
http://www.bloomfieldcthistory.org
Free admission from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., visitors can tour the 1795 schoolhouse which was used until 1922.

COVENTRY

Nathan Hale Homestead
2299 South St.
Coventry, CT
(860) 742-6917
http://www.ctlandmarks.org

Free admission from noon until 4 p.m.

EAST HADDAM

Gillette Castle State Park
67 River Rd.
East Haddam, CT
(860) 526-2336
http://www.ct.gov/deep/gillettecastleFree admission from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Goodspeed Opera House
6 Main St.
(Rte. 82)
East Haddam, CT
(860) 873-8668
http://www.goodspeed.org

From 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., enjoy free tours of the historic Victorian theater built in 1876.

Nathan Hale Schoolhouse
29 Main St.
(Rte. 149)
East Haddam, CT
(860) 916-1804
http://www.connecticutSAR.org/sites/eh-schoolhouse.htm

Free admission from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., with musket demonstrations by members of the Connecticut’s SAR’s Color Guard.

EAST WINDSOR

Connecticut Trolley Museum
58 North Rd.
(Rte. 140)
East Windsor, CT
(860) 627-6540
http://www.ct-trolley.org

From 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., visitors receive half-price off regular admission.

Scantic Academy Museum
East Windsor Historical Society
115 Scantic Rd.
East Windsor, CT
http://www.eastwindsorhistory.wordpress.com

Free admission from 9 a.m. until noon.

Nellie McKnight Museum
70 Main St.
Ellington, CT
(860) 875-5804
http://www.ellingtonhistsoc.org

Free admission from 10 am. until 4 p.m., along with an archaeological dig on-site.

ESSEX

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
1 Railroad Ave.
Essex, CT
(860) 767-0103
http://www.essexsteamtrain.comChildren ride free on the train only, when accompanied by an adult.  Train departures: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

FARMINGTON

Hill-Stead Museum
35 Mountain Rd.
Farmington, CT
(860) 677-4787
http://www.hillstead.org

Buy one admission ticket and get one free, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.


GLASTONBURY

Welles Shipman Ward House
972 Main St.
South Glastonbury, CT
(860) 633-4572
http://www.hsgct.orgFree admission from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

HARTFORD

Connecticut Historical Society
One Elizabeth St.
Hartford, CT
(860) 236-5621
http://www.chs.org

Free admission to the museum’s galleries, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Connecticut Science Center
250 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, CT
(860) 724-3623
http://www.CTScienceCenter.orgReceive a $3 off general admission to Connecticut residents. Center open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.Connecticut’s Old State House
800 Main St.
Hartford, CT
(860) 522-6766
http://www.ctosh.orgFree admission from noon until 4 p.m. with special themed tours on artist John Trumbull and the Amistad case.

Governor’s Residence
990 Prospect Ave.
Hartford, CT
(860) 523-7014
http://www.ct.gov

Free admission from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., and serving lemon ice on the outside patio along with tours of the outside sculpture garden and inside the Residence.

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
77 Forest St.
Hartford, CT
(860) 522-9258
http://www.harrietbeecherstowe.org

Free admission from 9:30 a.m. with house tours, horse-drawn carriage rides and walking tours of Nook Farm. Complimentary shuttle between Nook Farm (Stowe Center and Mark Twain House & Museum) and Amistad Center at the Wadsworth Atheneum.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
600 Main St.
Hartford, CT
(860) 278-2670
http://www.wadsworthatheneum.org

Free admission from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Enjoy art making activities, tours, live music, tours and more.

MANCHESTER


AAA

1500G Pleasant Valley Rd.
Manchester, CT
(860) 236-3261
http://www.aaa.com

Open from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., offering TripTiks (driving instructions, tour books and maps, and discounted offers for movie and attractions tickets.

Cheney Hall
177 Hartford Rd.
Manchester, CT
(860) 647-9824
http://www.cheneyhall.org

From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., take a free tour of the historic theater, now home to Little Theater of Manchester. Enjoy other events along Hartford Road, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Homeland Day (precursor to Heritage Day).

Cheney Homestead
106 Hartford Rd.
Manchester, CT
(860) 647-9742
http://www.manchesterhistory.orgFree admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tour the family home of the Cheney brothers, founders of the silk mills, and visit the one-room schoolhouse.

Lutz Children’s Museum
247 South Main St.
(Rte. 83)
Manchester, CT
(860) 643-0949
http://www.lutzmuseum.org

Free admission from noon until 5 p.m., with “Touch-a-Truck” where visitors can climb inside big trucks and heavy equipment.

Manchester History Center
175 Pine St.
Manchester, CT
(860) 647-9983
http://www.manchesterhistory.orgFree admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., with historic house tours and genealogical and property research assistance.Old
Manchester Museum

Manchester Historical Society
126 Cedar St.
Manchester, CT
(860) 647-9983
http://www.manchesterhistory.orgFree admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., with tours, research assistance and exhibits.

Soarin’ Indoors
422 North Main St.
Manchester, CT
(860) 645-1595
http://www.soarinindoors.com

From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., visitors will receive a 20% discount on regular admission.

Woodbridge Farmstead
Manchester Historical Society
495 Middle Turnpike East
Manchester, CT
(860) 647-9983
http://www.manchesterhistory.org Property listed National Register of Historic Places and former Meadowbrook Dairy Farm with original farmhouse, barns, vegetable and perennial gardens. Free tours at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.


MANSFIELD (See STORRS)


MIDDLETOWN

Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts & Cultural Center
605 Main St.
Middletown, CT
(860) 347-4957
http://www.buttonwood.orgFree admission from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. with an outdoor concert, art vendors and book sales.

General Joseph Mansfield House
Middlesex County Historical Society
151 Main St.
Middletown, CT
(860) 346-0746
http://www.middlesexhistory.org

Free admission from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

NEW BRITAIN

New Britain Industrial Museum
185 Main St.

2nd Floor
New Britain, CT
(860) 832-8654
http://www.nbindustrial.org

Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., with gallery activities, view current exhibits and serving complimentary refreshments. “Nuts & Bolts: Stories from New Britain Manufacturing,” an exhibit featuring stories from workers from past and present with images of objects that made New Britain the Hardware City of the World (66 West Main St.)

ROCKY HILL

Academy Hall Museum
Rocky Hill Historical Society
785 Old Main St.
Rocky Hill, CT
(860) 563-6704
http://www.rochyhillhistory.wordpress.com

Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Dinosaur State Park
400 West St.
Rocky Hill, CT
(860) 529-5816
http://www.ct.gov/deep/dinosaurstatepark

Free admission from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Rocky Hill / Glastonbury Ferry
289 Meadow Rd.
(Rte. 160)
Rocky Hill, CT
(860) 563-9758
http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?a=1390&Q=501574&PM=1

From 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., visitors can ride for free aboard the Hollister III, an open flatboat that is towed across the Connecticut River by the towboat Cumberland. This ferry is the nation’s oldest continuously operating ferry service.

STORRS

Adventure Park at Storrs
2007 Storrs Rd.
Storrs, CT
(860) 946-0606
http://www.storrsadventurepark.com

All visitors receive a 10% ticket discount from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Experience “adventure in the trees” for beginners to advance climbers. Try out the series of bridges that form an “aerial trails” throughout the forest.

Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry
1 Royce Circle
Storrs, CT
(860) 486-8580
http://www.bimp.uconn.eduOpen from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., offering 10% discount on museum merchandise and view the opening at 4 p.m. of  the new exhibit: “Opera and Giant Puppets: Barber of Seville.”

Sweet Emotions Candy
9 Dog Lane
Suite 106B
Storrs, CT
(860) 477-0945
http://www.sweetemotionscandy.com

Open from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., offering complimentary Connecticut-made candy treat.

Hilltop Farm
1608 Mapleton Ave.
Suffield,  CT
http://www.hilltopfarmsuffield.org/Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Featuring special programs on butterflies.

King House Museum
232 South Main St.
Suffield, CT
(860) 668-5256
http://www.suffieldhistoricalsociety.org

Open from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., will complimentary guided tours and refreshments.

Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden
55 South Main St.
(Rte. 75)
Suffield, CT
(860) 668-0055
http://www.ctlandmarks.org

Free admission from noon until 4 p.m.

WEST HARTFORD

AAA
815 Farmington Ave.
West Hartford, CT
(860) 236-3261
http://www.aaa.com

Open from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., offering TripTiks (driving instructions, tour books and maps, and discounted offers for movie and attractions tickets. Free battery checks for everyone from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
227 South Main St.
West Hartford,  CT
(860) 521-5362
http://www.noahwebsterhouse.orgFree admission from noon until 4 p.m. with children’s craft activities, tours of the first floor and the galleries.


WETHERSFIELD

Captain James Francis House
120 Hartford Ave.
Wethersfield, CT
(860) 529-7656
http://www.wethhist.org

Free admission form noon until 4 p.m. Tour the historic home that is very rarely open to the public.

Cove Warehouse
North end of Main St. at Wethersfield Cove
Wethersfield, CT
(860) 529-7656
http://www.wethhist.org

Free admission from noon until 4 p.m.

Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center
156 Prospect St.
Wethersfield, CT
(860) 721-2980
http://www.friendsofebwnaturecenter.org

Open from 1a a.m. until 4 p.m. with free programs featuring live animal demonstrations and educational fun games for all.

Hurlbut-Dunham House
212 Main St.
Wethersfield, CT
(860) 529-7656
http://www.wethhist.org

Free admission from noon until 4 p.m.

Keeney Memorial Cultural Center
200 Main St.
Wethersfield, CT
(860) 529-7161
http://www.wethhist.org

Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Rugged Fitness
1820 Berlin Tpke.
Wethersfield, CT
(860) 436-9777
http://www.areyourugged.comOpen from 8 a.m. until noon, offering to new customers free class participation with online pre-registration.

Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum
211 Main St.
Wethersfield, CT
(860) 529-0612
http://www.webb-deane-stevens.org

From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., visitors receive a 50% off the regular admission to the museum’s three house tour.

Windham Textile and History Museum
411 Main St.
Willimantic, CT
(860) 456-2178
http://www.millmuseum.orgVisitors receive half price off regular admission, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.


WINDSOR

Luddy/Taylor Tobacco Museum
Northwest Park
135 Lang Rd.
Windsor, CT
(860) 285-1888
http://www.tobaccohistsoc.org

Free guided tours from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., featuring refurbished tobacco shed/museum, archive building, live music, and children’s educational activities related to farming in Connecticut.

New England Air Museum
Bradley International Airport
36 Perimeter Rd. (off Rte. 75)
Windsor Locks, CT
(860) 623-3305
http://www.neam.org

Free admission from noon until 4 p.m.

Windsor Historical Society
96 Palisado Ave.
(Rte. 159)
Windsor,  CT
(860) 688-3813
http://www.windsorhistoricalsociety.orgFree admission from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.


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