Location: Danbury
Top Things to do in Danbury
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What to do and see in Danbury, Connecticut (CT): The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
The strangers on Alfred Hitchcock's most famous train began their journey at Danbury, Connecticut's main station, along with thousands of other travelers over time. Now converted into the Danbury Railway Museum, the station and yards are open to visitors, with a collection of historic railroad cars and equipment. Just a few miles outside of the city's pretty historic center is Bear Mountain Reservation, a quiet forest parkland with hiking trails overlooking the calm waters of Candlewood Lake.
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1. Danbury Museum & Historical Society
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 30 reviews
The Danbury Museum & Historical Society Authority acquires, preserves, exhibits, and interprets Danbury's past. Situated in downtown Danbury, the museum preserves the John and Mary rider House 9c.1785), the Dodd Hat Shop (c. 1790), the Marian Anderson Studio, the old King Street Schoolhouse, the Little Red Schoolhouse and the Charles Ives Birthplace. Huntington Hall, a modern exhibit building contains the museum offices and a research library. The Danbury Museum and Historical Society has evolved out of efforts to preserve endangered historic properties. One of the City's oldest structures, the Rider House on Main Street, would have been demolished in 1941 to make way for a gas station had it not been for the intervention of concerned citizens (including the Mary Wooster DAR Chapter). After raising money to purchase this property, these citizens found the Danbury Historical and Arts Center. A merger, in 1947, between the Scott-Fanton Museum and the Danbury Historical and Arts Center, saw the creation of the Danbury Scott Fanton Museum & Historical Society Inc. During the 1950's and 60's, the museum acquired the John Dodd Shop, the Ward House, the Charles Ives birthplace, two one room schoolhouses and erected Huntington Hall, where many of its exhibits have been displayed. In 2004, theMuseum was thrilled to add the Marian Anderson Studio to its collection. Famed opera singer Marian Anderson lived in danbury for over 50 years. It was moved to the Main Street campus of the museum in 1999. Restoration of the studio was completed in early 2004. 2006 saw the merger of the Danbury Scott Fanton Museum with the City of Danbury and a new entity was born on July 1, 2008 . . . the Danbury Museum and Historical Society Authority. Tours of the historic buildings on our Main Street campus are available on Saturdays only from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the winter season. Check our website regularly for updates, news and events or to sign up for our email newsletter.
Reviewed By bpayne76 - Danbury, United States
Very nice place to research local history. They have done an excellent job to make the museum attractive and informative.
2. Military Museum of Southern New England
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 60 reviews
Reviewed By Goaltender32 - Bethel, United States
The museum no longer exists. Owner deceased....all vehicles, tanks and guns sold or dispersed to other museums.
3. Danbury Railway Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 152 reviews
Reviewed By TrainManDan10 - Keene, United States
As a railroad advocate of modern and historic service, I was anxious to experience, first hand, the Danbury Railroad Museum with my adult son, to whom I had introduced passenger rail on the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter service outside of Washington, DC, over 20 years ago. We were doing this “guy thing” because the female members were doing a baby shower for my daughter-in-law during the afternoon. Being my first trip to Danbury, I only discovered the Museum days ago. This museum has something for everyone, adults and kids, all year, both inside the Museum and outside in the Yard. Inside, one can examine the large collection of photos, train artifacts, working model trains of several scales, maps, paintings, and library. My son and I talked to the President of the Museum for over an hour about the life of a steam, diesel, and electric engineer. He was a gold mine of railroad history. He needs to co-author a book about his railroad life or at least have someone record his experiences for posterity. We took a self-guided tour of the six acre yard and saw the majority of the 70 pieces of historic equipment and artifacts. We especially enjoyed seeing the inside of the cars. My favorite was the US Mail Car, which the Pennsylvania Railroad had owned originally. I had never seen one previously, except in books. Walking the floors and seeing the layout and bins with labels for the mail destinations was priceless. Later in the year, the Museum offers special events, short rides and guided tours of the yard, including the turntable. From the Museum, I could see the small commuter rail station, where one can daily take a ride on the Metro-North to the Grand Central Terminal in New York City. What a blend of old and new railroading. I hope that they receive more funds to restore the once beautiful railroad cars. I have a suggestion for the Museum. If they posted their catalog of books in their library for lending and sale, they would probably make more money and have more visitors.
4. Tarrywile Park & Mansion
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 176 reviews
Reviewed By dustythoughts - Manchester, United States
This beautiful mansion and park are situated on over 700 acres, with several ponds and lakes, miles and miles of trails, and plentiful space for picnicking. I think people sometimes forget that this is a park as well as a mansion/wedding facility, so it generally isn't as full as some of the state parks, making this an ideal destination for walking and enjoying the gorgeous scenery. You can also fish here during fishing season. The trails are still open for COVID, although you're not allowed to use the picnic tables due to concerns over sufficient disinfecting.
5. Danbury Duckpin Lanes
6. Bear Mountain Reservation
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By christenthial
Absolutely beautiful hike. Easy terrain with gentle slopes and excellent views. Lots of sightings today: deer, red headed woodpecker, squirrels, blue jays, hares and many birds. Excellent views of Candlewood Lake and trails that connect to it. Beautiful way to spend an afternoon
7. Danbury Fair Mall
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 109 reviews
Reviewed By M3694BZnelsonm - Danbury, United States
The Danbury Fair Mall has lots of options. You can just walk the halls and find familiar and unique specialty shops to find fun things you didn't know you needed. Also people come to just walk for exercise. There are plenty of choices at the Food Emporium complete with a Merry-Go-Round. Plus there are excellent restaurants on the Mall grounds.
