After Nearly a Century in West Hartford, Children's Museum - 5th Oldest in the U.S. - is Homeless

Nearly two decades ago, in May 2006, The Science Center of Connecticut, the 2nd largest museum in Connecticut, and the largest children’s museum in Connecticut, announced that it was changing its name to “The Children’s Museum,” effective immediately. 

The new name, a new logo, featuring a child-like rocket blasting off, and a new tag line, “Igniting Curiosity Through Science and Nature,” as well as a description of future Children’s Museum programming were introduced at a public event at the museum’s longtime home on Trout Brook Drive near West Hartford Center.

Howard Shafer, Chair of the museum’s Board of Trustees at that time, explained that “we are changing our name to better reflect the museum’s focus on young children.”  Shafer added, “our new rocket logo symbolizes how we help launch young children on the path toward lifelong learning.  It also conveys that we are enthusiastically moving forward, creating positive momentum for an exciting new future.”

He added, “As we look into that future, a key goal of The Children’s Museum is to build a new museum facility in West Hartford.”

That goal continues to be elusive. 

For the past few years, The Children’s Museum has been located in a temporary home, in the lower level of the Emanual Synagogue across town in West Hartford.  The temporary move there came after the Trout Brook Drive location was sold out from under the museum, when the property owner, Kingswood Oxford School, bid them farewell and sold the property, since developed for apartments, currently on the brink of opening. 

Now, even the Children’s Museum’s temporary home is no long available, due to flooding that has made the facility unusable and cost prohibitive to repair.

Thus, after more than a century, The Children’s Museum, formerly the Science Center of Connecticut – not related to the Connecticut Science Center in downtown Hartford – will not have doors open to children in the region and beyond, as the search for a new permanent home continues.

Two decades ago, in announcing the latest development, a news release explained “There has been a great deal of confusion regarding our relationship with the Connecticut Center for Science and Exploration which is being built at Adriaen’s Landing in downtown Hartford,” according to Edward J. Forand Jr., then President and CEO of The Children’s Museum.

“Some people think we are closing and moving to Adriaen’s Landing.  That is not the case.  When the Adriaen’s Landing center opens, we will remain a children’s museum in West Hartford.”  And they did, until now.

The Children’s Museum, the fifth oldest children’s museum in the United States, was founded in 1927.  The museum had been at its Trout Brook Drive location in West Hartford since 1958.  In 2005, The Children’s Museum served over 200,000 people a year, including visitors and members from the Greater Hartford area, across Connecticut, and throughout New England as well as over 78,000 students from across Connecticut from nearly 800 schools. The iconic Conny the Whale was just outside the front door.  (It was removed and not retained, with only a tail preserved and moved across the street, when the apartments were constructed.)

This past week, the news was different, as outlined in a public statement issued by The Children’s Museum Group, a Connecticut-based non-profit educational organization which operates TCM Mobile Museum, The Children’s Museum Preschool in West Hartford, and Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton.

“After months of assessment and thoughtful discussion, our Board of Directors and leadership made the very difficult decision not to reopen the physical museum in our current West Hartford location.

This decision was not made lightly. For nearly 100 years, the Museum’s walls have held the laughter, curiosity, and learning of generations of children and the families, educators, and supporters who stood beside them. We understand how meaningful this space has been to our community and share in the sense of loss this news brings.

We are grateful to share that The Children’s Museum Preschool was not impacted by the flood and will continue operating at Emanuel Synagogue. Our staff has embraced this moment with creativity and care, enriching our preschool classroom and community spaces with museum-inspired elements.

While we actively explore possibilities for a new permanent home, our mission remains strong. Our team is continuing to bring the joy, curiosity, and hands-on learning The Children’s Museum is known for into the community through mobile museum programs, outreach experiences, and partnerships — ensuring that children can continue to learn and play wherever they are.

We are profoundly thankful for your support, partnership, and belief in our work. Your commitment helps sustain our mission during this transition, and we look forward to sharing updates as the next chapter of The Children’s Museum takes shape.”

Where, and when, and if, that will unfold remains uncertain.