Recurring Programs
All in-person programs have been postponed until further notice and will resume as soon as possible.
The museum’s recurring programs include the Washington History Club, Readings from the Archives, the Washington Cemetery Tour, New Years Tea, and History Bites.
Virtual History Programs
The Museum hosted several virtual Readings from the Archives on Zoom, whose recordings can be found below. Staff read a research paper about a Washington topic from the Museum’s archive and shared related photos, followed by a brief discussion with the audience.
Apr 20, 2020 – “A History of Calhoun Street” by Mrs. Helen Fenn Whitehead in 1938. Access the Zoom recording here
May 4, 2020 – “The Sister Susie Society” by Dorothy Abbot Loomis in 1930. Access the Zoom recording here
May 18, 2020 – “Reminiscences of Dr. Remus Fowler, his Family, and House” by Edith Heath Rossiter in 1912. Access the Zoom recording here
June 1, 2020 – “The Story of the Wesley House” by Fanny Palmer in 1911. Access the Zoom recording here
June 15, 2020 – “A Sketch of the Judea Female Seminary” by Amy Kenyon in 1911. Access the Zoom recording here
September 21, 2020 – “Old Time Industries in Washington” by Edith Heath Rossiter in 1915. Access the Zoom recording here
Washington History Club
In the morning: Meets the third Monday of the months of March, June, September, and December at 10:00 a.m. at the Washington Senior Center to discuss the history of Washington, Washington Depot, Marbledale, New Preston and Woodville. Share your stories with the group or just listen to the fascinating conversation about our town’s past. Bring your photos and objects for show and tell!
Next meeting: All in-person meetings have been postponed.
Topic: TBA
At Night: The Washington History Club at Night is a program of the Gunn Historical Museum and Meets the third Tuesday of the months of November, February, and May at 6:30 pm in the Wykeham Room of the Gunn Library to discuss the history of Washington, Washington Depot, Marbledale, New Preston and Woodville. Share your stories with the group or just come and listen to the fascinating conversation about our town’s past. Bring your memories, photos and objects for show and tell!
Next Meeting: Tuesday, February 9, 2020 at 6:30pm on Zoom. Register here.
Topic: Washington Winters Past and Present
Join us for a lively conversation led by long-time Washington resident, Dimitri Rimsky, about winter in Washington over the years. Share your memories or just listen to stories of winter activities, sledding, games, ice skating, clothing, home and school life, and things we did, or didn’t do then, that we do now.
Recordings of Past Washington History Club Meetings
November 17, 2020 – “Washington Responds to Crisis”. Access the Zoom recording here
Readings from the Archives
Meets the first Monday of the months of January, April, and October at 10:00 a.m. at the Washington Senior Center. Staff present a paper about the history of Washington from the museum’s archive, related photos and artifacts from the museum are displayed and a discussion follows.
Next Meeting: Monday, December 21, 2020 at 6:30pm on Zoom. Register here.
Topic: Reminiscences and Memories of Washington, CT
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.
Next Meeting: Canceled
Cemetery Tour
To maintain everyone’s safety during the pandemic, there will not be an in-person tour this year. Instead, a pre-recorded virtual cemetery tour was released online the evening of Friday, October 30, 2020. Visit our YouTube channel to watch the video. In this year’s tour, we reflected on events from 100 years ago, including prohibition, women’s suffrage, and the flu of 1918 in Washington, CT. Citizens from a century ago were brought to life by costumed actors who told their stories: some amusing and others tragic. Find a nice spot to settle in and enjoy the video from the comfort of your home!
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 New Year’s Tea canceled