Connecticut State Library to host yearlong historical exhibit for America 250 commemoration

The Museum of Connecticut History has announced a new yearlong exhibition commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. Titled Connecticut’s Revolution, the exhibit examines how local residents influenced and were affected by the events of the American Revolution. The installation is located within the Connecticut State Library building at 231 Capitol Avenue in Hartford.

The public opening is scheduled for Saturday, July 4, 2026, as part of the Hartford Bonanza 2026 and America 250 Connecticut Commemoration. A formal ceremony sponsored by the America 250 | Connecticut Commission will take place on the steps of the building at 10:00 a.m. The exhibition will open immediately following the ceremony and remain accessible until 4:00 p.m., during which time the facility lobby will also function as a public cooling station.

The exhibit team, which includes Connecticut State Historian Andy Horowitz, utilized thousands of documents and objects from the library’s archival and museum collections to develop the presentation. The narrative explores the diverse experiences of regional soldiers, statesmen, Loyalists, Patriots, artists, and families from various backgrounds. The gathered materials aim to provide modern perspectives on familiar historical narratives while recovering previously untold stories from the era.

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The installation features a collection of more than 100 Revolutionary War-era objects and documents that have never been publicly displayed together. Featured highlights include the Goddard Broadside copy of the Declaration of Independence and the original June 14, 1776, state resolution authorizing delegates to vote for independence. The display also features a rare Second Regiment Light Dragoons Standard flag, a fragment from a destroyed sculpture of King George III, and a pocket watch carried during George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River.

Additional historic items on loan include a plow used by General Israel Putnam, a powder horn gifted to Benedict Arnold, and a cloak worn by Deborah Champion during a wartime mission. The collection is rounded out by period cannons, armaments, and military uniforms. The items were secured through partnerships with numerous regional museums, historical societies, and university laboratories across the state.

The exhibition is scheduled to run from July 4, 2026, through July 9, 2027. Regular operating hours for the museum are Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with select Saturday openings also planned. General admission to the venue is free of charge, and additional institutional information can be found at the official museum website.

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Connecticut State Library to host yearlong historical exhibit for America 250 commemoration