The Naugatuck History Museum will officially reopen to the public on Saturday, March 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with the first phase of our new America 250 exhibit.

After a winter season of research, planning, and installation, volunteers have been carefully curating a three era exhibit that connects Naugatuck’s story to the broader American experience. This reopening marks the beginning of that journey.

Visitors on March 21 will experience two completed exhibit rooms.

The Founding Era introduces the foundations of American history through early national symbols and interpretive materials. Displays include a Betsy Ross flag presentation, a Declaration of Independence wall hanging, and contextual materials that frame the nation’s beginnings and the spirit of independence that shaped local communities.

The Nineteenth Century room explores war, industry, and everyday life in the 1800s. Highlights include Revolutionary War connections such as the story of Chauncey Judd, Civil War narratives, and reflections on domestic life during a period of rapid change. The exhibit emphasizes both prominent individuals and ordinary residents, illustrating how local families experienced national events.

This reopening represents Phase One of our America 250 exhibit.

Phase Two will debut Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 23, with the opening of the Twentieth Century room. That space will examine World War I, World War II, and community memory. Visitors will encounter stories connected to local service members, monuments, parades, commemorations, and moments such as the Bicentennial, demonstrating how national milestones were experienced and remembered in Naugatuck.

Admission is free and open to the public.

We invite the community to join us on March 21 to celebrate the museum’s reopening and to return throughout the spring as the full America 250 exhibit unfolds. Together, we continue preserving and sharing the stories that connect our town to the American story.