September 2018
1750 Ogden House Tours
Enjoy docent-led tours of this New England saltbox house, built in 1750 for David Ogden at the time of his marriage to Jane Sturges. For the next 125 years it was home for the Ogden family in the farming and coastal shipping town of Fairfield. The property once included nearly 75 acres of farmland and several outbuildings. Today, the Ogden House welcomes visitors to discover more about the life of a colonial family. Learn more here >> Open Sundays through…
Find out more »October 2018
Battlefields of the Pequot War
Battlefields of the Pequot War: Landowner Update at the Fairfield Museum Join Dr. Kevin McBride, David Naumec, and Dr. Ashley Bissonnette from the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center for an up-to-date description of this summer’s archaeological findings from The Great Swamp Fight of the Pequot War (1637-1638). See results, learn about the newly-discovered artifacts, and get to know the crew’s continued excavation plans in Southport for this coming fall. This project is supported by the National Park Service American…
Find out more »1920s Swanky Speakeasy
We are pleased to invite you to a 1920s Swanky Speakeasy! The new exhibition Flappers: Fashion & Freedom has opened at the Fairfield Museum, and on Saturday, October 6 from 7 to 10pm the Museum will be transformed into a Prohibition-era speakeasy. Guests are invited to wear cocktail and flapper-inspired attire and party like it’s 1920! The “glam” party will feature specialty cocktails from Asylum Distillery, wine courtesy of Josh Cellars, delicious fare from Festivities Catering, as well as swing…
Find out more »The First Amendment Today: Hot Button Issues
The First Amendment’s religious, press, speech and assembly guarantees embody the very essence of American democracy. But what do they mean today in our era of countervailing religious and civil rights claims, “fake news,” corporate speech rights, flag-kneeling controversies, and violent public protests? Why not come find out—and join in the discussion? Dr. Donald Rogers presents “The First Amendment Today: Hot Button Issues.” His talk will illuminate First Amendment rights implicated in “hot button” contemporary disputes and consider the overall…
Find out more »Educator Workshop: Fighting Fake News
Fighting Fake News presented by Newseum – Professional Development for Educators Tuesday, October 9, 4 – 6pm. FREE. Please register online below: Arm your students with the skills they need to strike a balance between cynic and sucker as they navigate a media landscape where real and fake sometimes look all too similar. In Fighting Fake News: How to Help Your Students Outsmart Trolls and Troublemakers, teachers will learn a practical approach to helping students avoid one of the major pitfalls…
Find out more »Digital Citizenship Workshop for Teens and Parents with Newseum from Washington, DC
Enjoy an interactive presentation where participants dive into the complexity of digital citizenship, including the threat of falling for fake information. Examine case studies that bring to life the challenges of today’s media landscape and leave with an easy-to-remember and easy-to-implement strategy for staying a step ahead. Explore: What qualifies as “fake news?” Why should you care what’s real and what’s not? How can the motivations behind news stories shape the content? Refreshments will be served. Free! Suggested for youth…
Find out more »History Bites: Discovering the Jewish History of Bridgeport and Fairfield
Monthly on a Wednesday, 12:30pm – 1:30pm. October 17: Discovering the Jewish History of Bridgeport and Fairfield Learn about the history of Jewish communities in Fairfield County from colonial times to the present with a presentation from the Jewish Historical Society of Fairfield County and Fairfield Museum staff. Bring along any information about local businesses, family photographs, immigration documents, notable individuals, and community organizations in the Bridgeport-Fairfield area that you would like to share - and help us document the…
Find out more »Preschool Community Cottage Class
Saturdays, 10am – 12pm, October 20 – November 17, 2018. Ages 3 – 5. Members: $160; Non-Members: $180. Get to know your community! Pre-schoolers explore interactive exhibits in the Kids’ Cottage and learn all about the place where we live, work and play. Creative activities include art, outdoor exploration, exhibit visits, and playtime. Each session also includes a snack and a take-home project. Instructor Beth Cherico is the owner of Pie in the Sky, LLC which focuses on creating art…
Find out more »Archaeology on the Museum Commons
Celebrate International Archaeology Day with an underground exploration into Fairfield’s Town Green just adjacent to the Fairfield Museum and History Center. Explore artifacts, try out a trowel and a metal detector, and learn how to uncover the layers of mysterious history beneath our feet. This project is supported by the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program, Pequot Running Club and Southport Area Association.
Find out more »Museum After Dark: Mourning in Victorian America “To Weep with Those Who Weep”
Alex Dubois of the Litchfield Historical Society presents the tangible and intangible manifestations of loss in 19th century America, a time when mourning was both a personal means of grieving and a social expectation. Using examples from Litchfield, Fairfield, and other Connecticut towns, explore the history of mourning from the death of George Washington to the Civil War, with a focus on the objects and artwork created by Americans as part of the mourning process. Dubois discusses watercolor-on-silk memorial pictures…
Find out more »Halloween on the Green!
The Fairfield Museum and History Center, in partnership with the Town of Fairfield, are presenting the 3rd Annual “Halloween on the Green” event on Sunday, October 28 from 12pm-4pm on the Museum Commons nearby the Historic Town Green. This family event will feature trick-or-treating, giveaways, displays in the historic buildings, a Food Truck Alley, a bounce house and other kid-friendly games. A Costume Parade presented by the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce will take place at 1pm. St. Paul's Episcopal Church will…
Find out more »November 2018
Professional Development Day: Investigating Fake News
Fake News: Now and Then | 9:30am – 10:30am Dr. Beth Rose, Library Director, and Christine Jewell, Director of Education Biased news has been a factor throughout much of U.S. history. Learn how questioning primary sources can help students to think critically about all sources of information. CT Public Learning Network and Thinkalong | 10:30am – 12pm Learn about Thinkalong, a web-based learning program that uses resources from PBS, NPR, and other stations to engage students in discussions about current…
Find out more »Lunchtime Lecture: Get Your Facts Straight
It’s so easy to click “share” on social media – did you check the facts first? Learn the skills and tools to navigate information online to stay informed and to find trusted resources. Information easily morphs from fact to fiction. Bring your smartphone and join us for a simple online activity that demonstrates how the internet can easily skew perspectives. How do we continue to be informed and engaged citizens, especially after the elections? Presented by Dr. Adam Rugg, Associate…
Find out more »Museum After Dark: The Media and the Mid-Term Elections
A panel of journalists and professors, moderated by Larry Rifkin, will examine the state of journalism and news consumption today and in the recent mid-term elections, with an emphasis on role of the media and being an informed citizen in the digital age. Wine & Cheese Reception: 6 - 6:30pm | Presentation: 6:30pm Panelists include Daniela Altimari, statehouse reporter at The Courant, Dr. Jocelyn Borczka, Associate Professor of Politics, Fairfield University, and Steven Smith, Pulitzer Prize-winning multimedia photojournalist and associate professor…
Find out more »Holiday Pop Up Market
The Fairfield Museum and the Fairfield Chapter of the National Charity League are pleased to announce our 5th annual Holiday Pop-Up Market! We have had tremendous success with this event and we are proud to host this Market once again as it has become a much-anticipated tradition in our community, a great opportunity for local business owners and holiday shoppers, as well as a fruitful fundraiser for both organizations. The Fairfield Museum is filled with a wide variety of vendors…
Find out more »Holiday Pop Up Market
The Fairfield Museum and the Fairfield Chapter of the National Charity League are pleased to announce our 5th annual Holiday Pop-Up Market! We have had tremendous success with this event and we are proud to host this Market once again as it has become a much-anticipated tradition in our community, a great opportunity for local business owners and holiday shoppers, as well as a fruitful fundraiser for both organizations. The Fairfield Museum is filled with a wide variety of vendors…
Find out more »