Location: New Haven
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What to do and see in New Haven, Connecticut (CT): The Best Museums
The home to Yale University since 1701, the city of New Haven is packed with an unrivaled collection of arts and antiquities, with collections ranging from natural history specimens to antique musical instruments. The towering translucent marble cube of the Beinecke Library contains 600,000 rare volumes, including one of the only surviving Gutenberg Bibles. The Yale University Art Gallery is as famous for its collection as it is for its building, a Modernist masterpiece designed by Louis Kahn.
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1. Yale University Art Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 953 reviews
Yale University Art Gallery is the oldest college art museum in America. The Gallery’s encyclopedic holdings of more than 250,000 objects range from ancient times to the present day and represent civilizations from around the globe. Spanning a block and a half of the city of New Haven, Connecticut, the Gallery comprises three architecturally distinct buildings, including a masterpiece of modern architecture from 1953 designed by Louis Kahn through which visitors enter. The museum is free and open to the public.
Reviewed By 397markc397 - Hudson, United States
I know people are attracted for special exhibits, and the one during my visit was indeed very special, however the gallery is well worth a visit at any time. A very diverse and deep amount of art is always on display, and along with the helpful and friendly security staff, its a true pleasure to visit! Just a note on the current exhibit: Matthew Barney Redoubt. Absolutely breathtaking. If you miss this at least google. Its stunning!
2. Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 563 reviews
This museum has a diverse collection ranging from Indian artifacts to Egyptian art to a large bird collection.
Reviewed By joannebY8878ZI - Blairstown, United States
From dinosaurs to beautiful minerals to dioramas to a wonderful Discovery Room (where kids can watch ants work, observe stick bugs and newly hatched butterflies, work on puzzles and do other fun activities), this museum is designed to entertain children and visitors of all ages. Exhibits promote the study of natural history, conservation and the love of science. The museum is a manageable size, and we had a wonderful time with our young grandsons. Don't delay your visit--the museum is closing at the end of the year for renovations!
3. Yale Center for British Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 361 reviews
As a COVID-19 precaution, the Yale Center for British Art is closed until further notice. We are committed to the health, safety, and well-being of our visitors and staff. Note that all March and April tours are canceled, and many upcoming programs are canceled or postponed. We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for your support and understanding. Please continue to check britishart.yale.edu for updates. Posted: March 13, 2020
Reviewed By Historybuffusa
First off, the building is a fantastic architectural masterpiece by Louis Kahn--for some, that is sufficient reason to visit in and of itself. The galleries are spacious and built around a large open center--which is itself a gorgeous, wood-paneled gallery. Natural light is masterfully directed, especially to a large, beautiful Turner piece--it's worth a visit just to check it out: whoever curated that particular piece deserves a hearty handshake. Featuring exclusively British art (as the name might suggest) it is packed with art that will delight both the novice and pro. Their relatively new "big gallery" is a long room with art from floor to ceiling that mixes art from all eras and genres and is divided into topics (military, equestrian, nautical, etc)--it is jaw-dropping and in my estimation the way art should always be displayed. You could just visit the "big gallery" and go away satisfied. Of course, like the Yale Art Gallery across the street, there's never an admission charge--which makes it one of the great amenities of living in or visiting New Haven. Also, conveniently, there is reasonably priced pay parking behind the museum which is handy, since downtown is often packed and parking can be difficult. Easy access to restaurants, the Yale Center for British Art is a mandatory stop if you're in New Haven. Walk a block West to Book Trader for a tasty sandwich and the best bookstore in town.
4. Connecticut Children's Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
Interactive, innovative and inclusive museum with hands-on exhibits, observation bee hive, the Great Green Room from Goodnight Moon, and a post office. Each of the 8 exhibits is inspired by the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, articulated by Harvard psychologist, Howard Gardner. This is a rich and resourceful, cutting edge educational theory, which recognizes the multiplicity of children's intelligences and honors the different ways children learn.
5. New Haven Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 52 reviews
Reviewed By BobbieB853
The New Haven Museum offers a nationally known research library and museum of New Haven and Connecticut history, art, and culture. For a nominal fee you can use their library and wi-fi. The museum has a superb collection of area art by local and well-known artists, special exhibits featuring New Haven centric topics, and marvelous programs on a wide variety of topics. They even have summer concerts on the lawn of the historic Pardee-Morris House, one of their properties. We are members of this wonderful organization and highly recommend it.
6. Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 134 reviews
The Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center advances the vision of Knights of Columbus founder Blessed Michael J. McGivney (1852-1890). It welcomes all to learn about this holy priest’s life & legacy, imitate his benevolent outreach to the needy & outcast, and invoke his heavenly intercession. The Center also serves as an archive for the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council & maintains a permanent gallery showcasing the organization's history. The Center is located at 1 State Street in New Haven, CT, conveniently off the downtown exit from either I-91 or I-95. It is three blocks from Union Station (Amtrak, Hartford Line, Metro-North Railroad, Shoreline East Railroad and Greyhound). Open daily 10 am to 5 pm. Free admission & parking.
Reviewed By airtransporter - Stamford, United States
While in New Haven on business last year, I stopped by the Knights of Columbus Museum, which is also the K of C international headquarters to see the WW I exhibit celebrating the 100 yr anniversary of WW I prior to the exhibit being taken down. The building itself, which is relatively modern is of an interesting architectural style,houses the K of C headquarters administration, a gift shop and in a separate area Catholic religious artifacts pertaining to the knights history. The WW I exhibit took up close to two thirds of the exhibit space and was very well appointed, with exhibits being accurate, well organized, professionally set up, and historically correct. I spent over two hours exploring both e WW I and K of C exhibit, all on the same floor. Both exhibits could rival what one sees at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC or the World War One Museum in Kansas City, except on a smaller scale. The museum is in center city and the parking is in a garage below the museum. My visit was not only a educational but very enjoyable experience.
7. Yale Collection of Musical Instruments
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
One of the foremost institutions of its kind, the Collection acquires, preserves, and exhibits musical instruments from antiquity to the present, featuring restored examples in demonstration and live performance.
8. Kehler Liddell Gallery
Kehler Liddell Gallery (KLG) is a retail art gallery collectively operated by member artists. Located in the heart of Westville village in New Haven, CT, KLG sits comfortably amongst a variety of shops and restaurants on Whalley Avenue, not far from the Yale Campus. Our mission is to represent, present, promote and sell work of local contemporary artists.
9. John Slade Ely House
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
