Norwalk Historical Society Museum

Vampires in Connecticut
2025-10-26 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Virtual Lecture with Dr. Nicholas BellantoniSunday, October 26 from 2:00-3:00pm

Join Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni as he reveals how vampire folklore and archaeology collided in New England.

In the 19th century, fear of vampires swept across New England. Join the Norwalk Historical Society as we explore this fascinating folklore and uncover a real-life mystery that began in 1990, when two boys stumbled upon human skulls in a Connecticut gravel quarry.

Archaeologists—including our speaker, Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni—investigated what turned out to be a forgotten colonial cemetery. One unusual grave raised suspicions of vampire beliefs, but the truth revealed a much deeper story rooted in public health concerns.

Through archaeology, forensics, genealogy, and folklore, learn how experts piece together the truth behind the “Connecticut vampires.”

Scan the QR code or click here to reserve a spot. The virtual event Zoom link will be emailed to you after you register for the event.

About Dr. Nicholas F. BellantoniDr. Nicholas F. Bellantoni received his PhD in Anthropology from the University of Connecticut (UConn) in 1987. He served as Connecticut’s State Archaeologist at the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History, and today is Emeritus in that role. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Anthropology at UConn and a past President of both the Archaeological Society of Connecticut and the National Association of State Archaeologists.

His research background includes forensic archaeology and faunal analysis from eastern North America. Nick is the author of many books written for the general public: The Long Journeys Home: The Repatriation of Henry Opukaha’ia and Albert Afraid of Hawk and “And So The Tomb Remained”: Exploring Archaeology and Forensic Science Within Connecticut’s Historical Family Mausolea, Archaeology Without Digging: Connecticut History Uncovered By Ground-Penetrating Radar, and Hiking Ruins of Southern New England: A Guide to 40 Sites in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Lecture - The Militia’s History and Evolution into the National Guard
2025-11-09 14:00 - 15:30
Lecture with historian Mark Albertson:
The Militia’s History and Evolution into the National Guard
Sunday, November 9 at 2:00pmNorwalk Town House, 2 E. Wall Street, Norwalk

The Battle of Lexington by William Barnes Wollen, 1910

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The Norwalk Historical Society presents an insightful lecture with historian Mark Albertson titled “The Militia’s History and Evolution into the National Guard.”
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Albertson will delve into the evolution of America’s citizen-soldier tradition, tracing its roots from the British colonial era through the Seven Years’ War, the Revolution, and the creation of the United States Constitution. His talk will illuminate how early experiences and fears of standing armies influenced the Founders’ decision to establish a militia system under state control. This idea endures in today’s National Guard.
This is a free event. Click the button or scan the QR code to reserve a seat.

About Mark AlbertsonMark Albertson is a historian and educator specializing in American military and constitutional development. His research draws from both academic and military sources, offering an accessible yet scholarly perspective on the roots of the U.S. defense system.
He is the historical research editor at Army Aviation magazine in Monroe, Connecticut, and the historian for the Army Aviation Association of America. Albertson has authored several books: USS Connecticut: Constitution State Battleship; They’ll Have to Follow You! The Triumph of the Great White Fleet; On History: A Treatise. He is at work on a two-volume history of Army Aviation, Sky Soldiers: The Saga of Army Aviation. He has also published articles in a variety of newspapers and magazines.

Norwalk Historical Society Museum Closed
2026-02-14 00:00 - 23:59
Please note: this pertains to the Norwalk City Hall location

The Courtship of George Washington and Martha Custis
2026-02-14 14:00
Valentine’s Day Lecture
The Courtship of George Washington and Martha Custis
Sunday, February 14, 2:00pmMill Hill Historic Park, 2 East Wall St., Norwalk
(Rain date: Sunday, February 15, 2:00 p.m.)

Ledy Waschingdon & Excelenc Georg General Waschingdon c. 1780 Artist Unknown
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a unique living history program!
Maria and Michael Grillo
The Norwalk Historical Society presents a special Valentine’s Day program featuring historical interpreters Michael and Maria Grillo, who will bring to life the romance of our country’s first “First Couple.” Discover the story of George and Martha’s courtship and enjoy fascinating insight into 18th-century courting customs among America’s upper classes.
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As Michael notes, “bringing characters out of the pages of history and breathing life into them” helps audiences better understand historical events by allowing them to “see, touch, or feel the past.”
Snow Date: Sunday, February 15, 2026 @ 2:00 p.m.

History Revealed by Schoolgirl Samplers
2026-03-07 14:00 | Mill Hill Historic Park, 2 East Wall Street, Norwalk, CT, 06851, United States
Lecture by Alexandra Peters, Needlework Historian
History Revealed: Schoolgirl Samplers
Sunday, March 7 at 2:00pmNorwalk Town House, 2 E. Wall Street, Norwalk
Join needlework historian Alexandra Peters, and dive into the world of vintage stitching & discover the stories behind schoolgirl samplers.

Sampler, Amanda G. Smith, Aged 11 years, February 23, 1837, Norwalk, Conn, City of Norwalk
Alexandra Peters, Needlework Historian
A sampler may look like decoration at first glance – but needlework historian Alexandra Peters argues it can be a primary source. On Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., Peters will present “History Revealed: Schoolgirl Samplers” for the Norwalk Historical Society at Mill Hill Historic Park – Town House (2 East Wall St., Norwalk). Admission is free; registration is required.
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Peters, a sampler collector and curator, will explore how 19th-century schoolgirl samplers illuminate life before the Industrial Revolution from the “often surprising perspective of young women.” She describes samplers as “historical documents written by girls on silk and linen with needles,” preserving values, education, family life, and lived experience in thread.

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The lecture is paired with a companion exhibition at the Norwalk Historical Society Museum, featuring over a dozen samplers and needlework from the Norwalk Historical Society & Museum collection. For the March 7 program, selected pieces will also be displayed at Mill Hill during the lecture, offering attendees a rare chance to view these works up close. This lecture is part of the Norwalk Historical Society’s public programs commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. The Norwalk Historical Society is an America 250|CT Affiliate.

About Alexandra Peters Alexandra Lally Peters was born in Scotland and emigrated to the United States in 1959. She holds an MA in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University and writes essays and novels. She is a historian of needlework and the lives of girls in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

About the Norwalk Historical Society The Norwalk Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Incorporated in 1899, the Norwalk Historical Society preserves and shares Norwalk’s rich history through programs, exhibits, and events. The Society has two locations in Norwalk: Mill Hill Historic Park (2 East Wall Street) and the Norwalk Historical Society Museum (141 East Avenue).

The 19th Amendment – Women and the Right to Vote
2026-03-21 14:00
Lecture by historian Mark Albertson
The 19th Amendment – Women and the Right to Vote
Saturday, March 21 at 2:00pmMill Hill Historic Park, 2 East Wall St., Norwalk
Alice Paul toasts the ratification of the 19th Amendment, August 26, 1920. National Woman’s Party Collection, Library of Congress
In honor of Women’s History Month, the Norwalk Historical Society presents an insightful lecture with historian Mark Albertson titled “The 19th Amendment – Women and the Right to Vote.”
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Historian Mark Albertson will trace the decades-long struggle for suffrage, which culminated in the passage of the 19th Amendment. His talk will cover some of the leaders in this struggle and analyze the effect of the Great War on the women’s political agenda.
About Mark AlbertsonMark Albertson is a historian and educator specializing in the development of American military and constitutional history. His research draws from both academic and military sources, offering an accessible yet scholarly perspective on the roots of the U.S. defense system.

He is the historical research editor at Army Aviation magazine in Monroe, Connecticut, and the historian for the Army Aviation Association of America. Albertson has authored several books: USS Connecticut: Constitution State Battleship; They’ll Have to Follow You! The Triumph of the Great White Fleet; On History: A Treatise. He is working on a two-volume effort on the history of Army Aviation, titled Sky Soldiers: The Saga of Army Aviation. He has also published articles in a variety of newspapers and magazines.

CLICK FOR TICKETS

National Woman’s Party Delegation from Connecticut in Washington, DC on June 9, 1915. Photo: CT State Library

Earth Day Festival on the Green
2026-04-25 12:00 - 16:00
Earth Day Festival on the Green
Saturday, April 25th, 2026 Noon-4pm
Norwalk Town Green, 8 Park St., Norwalk

Mill Hill Historic Park will be open for self-guided tours, and at 10:30am, the Norwalk Historical Society is partnering with the Norwalk River Valley Trail (NRVT) and the Norwalk Health Department to lead a group walk along the Norwalk River.
Additional River Walk InfoThe walk along the Norwalk River will begin at Norwalk City Hall (125 East Ave.) at 10:30am. Free parking available. We will take a leisurely walk (~45 minutes) to Mill Hill Historic Park, with informative stops along the way about the Norwalk River Valley Trail, Norwalk History, and Health – Become a NorWALKER! Mill Hill Historic Park admission is FREE. All are welcome.
Norwalk Earth Day Tree PlantingThe Norwalk Earth Day tree planting will be at Mill Hill this year! The City of Norwalk and the Norwalk Historical Society will plant a tree at Mill Hill Historic Park (2 East Wall St.) at 12:00pm. Mill Hill is a short walk from the Norwalk Earth Day Festival on the Historic Norwalk Green.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE EARTH DAY INFO

Rendezvous with Rachel Revere
2026-05-17 14:00 - 15:30 | Mill Hill Historic Park, 2 East Wall Street, Norwalk, CT, 06851, United States
Rendezvous with Rachel Revere
Sunday, May 17, 2:00pm
Mill Hill Historic Park, Norwalk

Travel back to 1775 for storytelling and an unforgettable encounter with Rachel Revere in Revolutionary America.

The Norwalk Historical Society presents a History At Play, LLC immersive living history experience, Rendezvous with Rachel Revere, on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Mill Hill Historic Park – Town House, 2 East Wall Street, Norwalk, CT.
Rendezvous with Rachel Revere ushers the audience back to May 2, 1775. Rachel Revere has heard only once from her beloved husband Paul, since his legendary midnight ride on the 18th of April.

Still isolated from one another due to the Siege of Boston, Rachel desperately creates a plan which shall safely take her children: six step-children from Paul’s first marriage and a newborn baby of their own, from the reach of the British Regular Army besieging Boston.

In this program, the audience assists Rachel as she carefully considers the dangers and demands of their escape. Find out if Rachel is successful in her perilous mission to unite her family, amidst the wake of an American Revolution.

Guests will enjoy tea and light snacks as you step back in time for this engaging living history experience.
Tickets: $17.85. Purchase Online Only. No Refunds.

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Net proceeds benefit the Norwalk Historical Society’s educational programs and exhibitions. The Norwalk Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
