SHARE:  

August 2024

Facebook  Instagram  

Upcoming Events

Bloom Where You Are Planted: A photo exhibit of original images by “Nora from Moodus”

Nora is a Connecticut native and descendant of several families in East Haddam. She lives on the road established by her great great great grandfather Roswell Davison, who was invited to Moodus and 'bloomed where he was planted.'  

East Haddam is lush with beauty, and Nora's photos reflect her love of this beautiful community. Her photography is on display for discovery, inspiration, and to entertain the idea that you can be blessed when you embrace and bloom right where you are. Nora's photo of the beautiful Goodspeed Opera House is seen above.

Nora's photo exhibit will be on display at the Museum on Sunday, August 25th.


Date: Sunday, August 25, 2024 from 12:00 - 4:00 PM

Location: East Haddam Historical Society & Museum, 264 Town Street.

Free for members and children 12 and under. Suggested donation of $5.00 for non-members. For information call 860-873-3944.

28th Annual Venture Smith Day

Saturday, September 7, 2024


Son of an African king, Venture Smith became the first black man to document his capture from Africa and life as an American slave and successful black freeman in Connecticut. Venture Smith spent most of his freedom years in East Haddam and Haddam Neck, CT. His grave in the First Church Cemetery in East Haddam is one of the original sites on the Connecticut Freedom Trail. 


This year's program features:

  • Ms. Susi Ryan, 9th generation descendant of Venture Smith. She will talk about the “Vessels of Slavery: Forget Me Not.”
  • John Wood Sweet, Ph.D., Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He will talk about the “Ties That Bind: Slavery, Freedom, and Family in Venture Smith’s Life.”  
  • Héctor “Freedom” Gerardo, co-founder of the SEAmarron Farmstead LLC, 1 Freedom for All, and The Venture Farming Institute will talk about “Venture Smith and The Venture Farming Institute.” 
  • Dr. Karl P. Stofko, East Haddam’s Municipal Historian and Venture Smith family genealogist since the 1970s, will talk about “Venture’s Journey to Malagasco as a Slave.” 



Location: First Church Cemetery, 499 Town Street (RT. 151), East Haddam, CT, where Venture Smith (1729-1805) is buried.


Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on outside. Refreshments will be served following the event. A new Venture Smith exhibit is on display at the East Haddam Historical Society and Museum, 264 Town Street in East Haddam. The Museum will be open from 12:00 - 5:00 pm on Venture Smith Day. 

SAVE THE DATE FOR HARVEST MOON OKTOBERFEST!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2024: 6 - 9 PM

FOOD, MUSIC, & SILENT AUCTION

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR OUR FUNDRAISER

REGISTRATION OPENS SOON!

The Museum is Open!

Thursdays and Sundays, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm


See our new exhibits: Sculptor Barbara Stone, First East Haddam Settler Families, Linguistic Warriors Casey Miller and Kate Swift, and more!

Call 860-873-3944 or email museum@easthaddamhistory.org

to schedule a time to visit, tour, or conduct research!

Click here to learn more about East Haddam Historical Society and Museum