Museum Passes
The library has reduced admission and/or free passes to several area museums. Passes may be checked out for 2 days and returned to the Bill Memorial Library. Museum passes cannot be placed on hold like other library items, but if a pass is available you may call ahead by up to one hour to reserve it.
The fine for overdue passes is $5.00 per day – only 1 pass per family.
Please see individual museum websites for visiting information.
Free Admission with Pass
154 Thames Street, Groton, CT 06340 | 860-445-1637
The Avery-Copp House Museum is a wonderful time capsule of local history. The objects and artifacts within the museum tell the story of life in this lovely Groton neighborhood from just after the Revolutionary War all the way until the Second World War.
Visit their website for a Virtual Tour!
Free admission for 2 visitors.
Check their website for up-to-date hours and admission requirements.
800 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103 | 860-522-6766
Connecticut’s Old State House offers an authentic, educational, and inspiring visit! Examine historical artifacts and ideas about democracy and citizenship to learn more about the state’s past, present, and future.
Free admission for up to 2 adults and 2 children.
Check their website for up-to-date hours and admission requirements.
150 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320 | 860-447-8086
The Maritime Museum, located in downtown New London, is open year-round and tells the historic tales of New London’s waterfront, lighthouse, and traditions.
Free admission for 2 visitors.
Check their website for up-to-date hours and admission requirements.
109 Pequotsepos Road, Mystic, CT 06355 | 860-536-1216
The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center offers access to 10 miles of hiking trails, a fully functioning wildlife sanctuary that houses several species of birds, and a museum that is fun for the whole family.
Free admission for 1 family of up to 5 people, including admission to both museum and walking trails.
Walking trail access is free.
Check their website for up-to-date hours and admission requirements.
96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371 | 860-434-5542
The Florence Griswold Museum, the home of American Impressionism, started as a boardinghouse, became one of the most famous summer art colonies in America, and is now a museum dedicated to the art and history of Connecticut’s role in fostering American art.
Free admission into the museum for 2 adults and 2 children under 12.
Please note that the pass is not valid during special fundraising events.
Check their website for up-to-date hours and admission requirements.
625 Williams Street, New London, CT 06320 | 860-443-2545
The Lyman Allyn Art Museum houses over 15,000 objects from ancient times to today depicting artwork from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe. The Museum places special emphasis on art education and cultural enrichment, particularly to young people.
Free general admission for 2 adults and 2 children ages 13-17 (children 12 and under are always free).
Check their website for up-to-date hours and admission requirements.
409 Main Street, Niantic, CT 06357 | 860-691-1111
The Niantic Children’s Museum is an interactive and hands-on museum space for children ages 9 months to 9 years. With 5,000 square feet, 2 outdoor exhibits, and many different scientific, artistic, and cultural exhibits, the Museum is an ideal space to let little imaginations grow!
Free admission to 4 members of a family.
Must present pass upon entry.
Check their website for up-to-date hours and admission requirements.
For a list of available parks view this interactive map. | 860-424-3000
CT State Parks are located throughout the state and offer a number of different hiking, boating, and camping options for your recreational use. Be sure to check the individual DEEP pages for the state parks to learn more about parking and hours of operation.
Note that this library pass changed in 2018–all Connecticut residents may now park for free in a CT State Park. This pass will now be used to waive the admission fees for 2 adults and 4 children to the following parks:
- Dinosaur State Park, Trumbull
- Fort Trumbull State Park, New London
- Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam
Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22, Charlestown, MA 02129 | 617-426-1812
Located near other Boston landmarks, the USS Constitution Museum allows visitors to take part in interactive galleries detailing America’s sailing history.
Free admission for a group of up to 9 visitors of any age.
Check their website for up-to-date hours and admission requirements.
600 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103 | 860-278-2670
The oldest continuously-operating public art museum in the country, the Wadsworth Atheneum holds 50,000 works of art that span 5,000 years.
Please note that this pass is not valid during special fundraising events.
There may be an added fee for special exhibits. The pass may be used only once per day.
Check their website for up-to-date hours and admission requirements.
Reduced Fee Admission with Coupon
250 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT 06103 | 860-724-3623
With a focus on exploration and science in its many forms, the Connecticut Science Center is fun for all ages!
Coupon pass: 20% off general admission for up to 4 people, and 10% off membership. (Butterfly Encounter and other add-ons separate.)
Check their website for up-to-date hours and admission requirements.
Area Museums with Free Admission
From July 1 to September 4, Connecticut children age 18 and under plus one accompanying Connecticut resident adult can visit participating museums free of charge through the Connecticut Summer at the Museum program. Before you visit, check each participant’s website for specific program details and ticket availability.
View the website for a complete list of museums.
Admission is always free at these museums – no library pass required! Please check their websites for additional information.
Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry
Storrs, CT
Connecticut College Arboretum
New London, CT
Connecticut State Museum of Natural History & Archeology Center
Storrs, CT
Davison Art Center
Middletown, CT
Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center (former Knights of Columbus Museum)
New Haven, CT
Museum of Connecticut History
Hartford, CT
Nautilus and Submarine Force Museum
Groton, CT
William Benton Museum of Art
Storrs, CT
Yale Center for British Art
New Haven, CT
