The next stop on the YaleWomen Museum Trail will be the historic Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, CT. Join us on Saturday, May 6 for a private tour with the museum’s Executive Director Kathleen Maher, followed by a hard hat tour of the distinctive building's restoration. Ms. Maher has over 29 years’ experience working at museums that are additionally recognized as National Historic Sites. She is considered a leading authority on P.T. Barnum history and speaks extensively on Barnum subjects throughout the United States, including at the Yale school of Art.

Conceived and constructed by American entrepreneur, showman, and politician P.T. Barnum (1810-1891), The Barnum Museum has served an international audience since 1893. P.T. Barnum's impact reaches deep into our American heritage and the story of his vast collection and contributions are preserved in his Bridgeport museum. The ornate, exotic building is a distinguishing feature of the City of Bridgeport.

In 2010 the Barnum Museum was struck by an EF1 tornado, significantly damaging the historic landmark. The building sustained additional damage from hurricanes Irene and Sandy. While going through the re-building and re-envisioning process, a portion of the museum’s collection is on view in an ancillary space located BEHIND the museum in the adjacent People's United Bank Gallery. The 5,000-foot site houses thousands of objects that were out-loaded from the museum's historic building for safety and conservation following the tornado. (Limited to ages 15 and up due to the rough state of the construction site.)

WHEN:
Saturday, May 6; 1:00pm Tour; 11:30 Brunch

WHERE:

behind the Barnum Museum

820 Main Street
Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604

(*The Museum offices and exhibit gallery are now located in the People's United Bank Gallery (the modern wing at the rear of the historic building). Follow signs pointing to the entrance from the plaza.)

http://www.barnum-museum.org/

COST:

Estimated $25 or less ($250 honorarium will be divided by the number of attendees; 10 person minimum);

Optional pay-as-you-go brunch at 11:30 across the street from the museum at:

Ralph-n-Rich’s 

815 Main St, Bridgeport, CT 06604 (www.ralphnrichs.com)

RSVP:

To Karen Warner [email protected] no later than Sunday, April 29