Recurring Programs
The museum’s recurring programs include the Washington History Club, Readings from the Archives, the Washington Cemetery Tour, New Years Tea, and History Bites.
Cemetery Tour
14th Annual Washington Cemetery Tour took place on Friday, October 29, 2021
In this year’s tour, new, untold, fascinating stories of those who lived and worked around Washington Green in the past were shared. If you were unable to attend, a film of the tour was created by Phil Dutton and Ulrich Vilbois, that can be viewed here: 14th Annual Washington Cemetery Tour 10.29.2021
The Washington Cemetery Tour is an annual “living history” event produced by the Gunn Museum with the support of local theater luminaries, Doug and Martha Winkel of The Dramalites, showcasing the rich history of Washington using costumed actors to portray residents from the past. Costumed tour guides with lanterns will lead groups of visitors along a magical path of 1,000 luminarias, spanning a quarter-mile from the Gunn Museum through the shadowy Washington Green Cemetery, where the town’s departed citizens will be stationed at their graves to tell their true tales.
There was no in-person cemetery tour in 2020 due to the pandemic. Instead, a pre-recorded virtual cemetery tour was released online. Click here to watch the film by Phil Dutton and Ulrich Vilbois: 13th Annual Washington Cemetery Tour 10.30.2020
Washington History Club at Night
“Notable Citizens of Washington, Then & Now”
Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at 6:30pm; Onn Zoom
Click Here to Register
Men of the New Preston Congregational Church, circa 1954. Photograph by Fred Stoneall. From the collection of the Gunn Historical Museum.
Join us for a lively group conversation, moderated by long-time Washington resident Dimitri Rimsky, about Washington’s notable citizens from the past; those remembered fondly in our hearts and minds, who contributed so much to our community and forever shaped our town’s history. Bring your favorite stories and memories to share!
The Washington History Club at Night, a program of the Gunn Historical Museum, meets in the Wykeham Room of the Gunn Library to discuss the history of Washington, Washington Depot, Marbledale, New Preston and Woodville. Share your memories with the group or just come and listen to the fascinating conversation about our town’s past.
History Bites
Each spring ten heritage sites throughout Northwestern Connecticut present History Bites, a series of weekly lunchtime programs designed to bring topics of local history to the attention of the regional community. The lunchtime series is hosted on Thursdays between April and June from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Attendees are encouraged to bring lunch. Beverage and dessert will be provided by the hosting organization. Lectures are free and open to the public. History Bites is sponsored in part by the Connecticut Community Foundation.
2020 Meeting: Canceled due to Coronavirus Pandemic
New Year’s Tea
Ring in the New Year with an old-fashioned tea hosted by the Gunn Historical Museum. Visitors will have the opportunity to socialize with friends in the museum and view the exhibit Washington, Connecticut – An American Story. Guests are asked to bring their favorite tea cup and we’ll provide the rest.
2021 and 2022 New Year’s Tea – Canceled due to Coronavirus Pandemic
Readings from the Archives
Next Meeting: TBA
Next Topic: TBA