New Canaan Historical Society

Documenting the town’s past, the New Canaan Historical Society (founded 1889) owns or operates eight museums and historic buildings, most of which are located at the society’s campus on Oenoke Ridge.

Of all the society’s properties, only the Little Red School House and the Gores Pavilion (more below) are off campus.

At the main location you can check out exhibitions expertly curated from the society’s massive collections, and get a taste of life in New Canaan in days gone by at the Rock Schoolhouse (1799), Cody Drug Store (1845), the Town House (1825), the Hanford-Silliman House (c. 1764), the Rogers Sculpture Studio (1878) and the Tool Museum and Printing Office.

The main exhibit in summer 2019 was “Shoes”, with 200 pairs helping to map out the shoemaking industry in New Canaan, which flourished for more than a century.

Why can I find no details regarding Weed Street and the Weed family, one of the founders of New Canaan/Canaan Parish, not to mention The New Canaan Advertiser as well as Weed & Duryea Lumber Company?

New Canaan Historical Society is a nonprofit organization staffed by volunteers who give their time to the town of New Canaan by preserving and maintaining the town’s history. The town’s history is alive through the Historical Society’s exhibits of costumes worn by the founders of the town throughout the years. Art and Architecture is preserved by the volunteers who work for the Historical Society. Exciting events are held on the lawn of their charming Oenoke Ridge home. From libraries to museums, the New Canaan Historical Society celebrates history in The Town of New Canaan. Visit or call for a list of exhibits on display at New Canaan Historical Society you’ll be glad you did it’s an awesome place to connect with history!