Washington, CT Gunn Memorial Library & Museum

With history dating back to the 1800s, Gunn Memorial Library & Museum offers a robust selection of exhibits and events — designed for all ages — throughout the year.

Gunn Memorial Library & Museum in Washington, CT, dates back to 1899, when the local Judea Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, led by Abigail Gunn, opened the Judea Historical Room in the Canfield House on Washington Green. *

Gunn Memorial Library was built in 1908. Its founders, including Ehrick Rossiter, wanted an athenaeum where visitors could learn from books, but also history, art, and artifacts, which led to the creation of the museum in the library. *

In 1907, DAR gifted its collection to the Gunn Memorial Library, which was moved across the street into the museum on the lower level of the library. June S. Willis bequeathed her house to the library in 1965, and the museum moved next door, which is where it is located today. *

“Our national award-winning museum presents an ever-changing view of local history in one of the most beautiful locations in Connecticut,” read a description. “The museum is housed in a 1781 residence overlooking the historic Washington Green in Litchfield County, and we feature innovative exhibitions in our galleries.”

The Washington Library Association was formed in 1852 when books were circulated by auction. In 1855, Frederick W. Gunn was elected president of the association. A reading room opened to the public in 1891, with E.H. Van Ingen pledging land and money toward a permanent space for the library 11 years later. *

The Junior Library opened in 1967 in the basement of the library through efforts led by Dorothy Richards. A capital campaign was launched in 1990 to address overcrowding in the library, with $2.5 million raised to expand the library, renovate the museum, and increase the endowment. The work was completed in 1994. Four years later, the library became “fully automated” with “the addition of networked computers, membership in Bibliomation, and an online collection catalog.” *

The building includes an Upper Level, which houses the original main rooms of the 1908 library. It features “quarter-sawn oak paneling, pilasters, and dentil moldings,” as well as an “exquisite gilt-accented ceiling mural” by H. Siddons Mowbray. There is a “carved stone memorial chimney” and a “memorial stained glass window,” which was restored in 2010. *

The Main Level includes the Adult Library — which has a circulation desk built by Seth Price. The Junior Library is located on the Lower Level. 

Gunn Museum operates with a mission to “collect, preserve, interpret, and share the objects and stories which illuminate the history of Washington, Connecticut.” *

The museum’s collection is over 10,000 items, from objects to archives, which include research papers, family histories, maps, gravestone inscriptions, photographs, house histories, and more. *

“The past year has been extraordinary,” Laura Eanes Martin (Board of Trustees president) and Audra MacLaren (executive director) wrote in a year-end letter dated November 2025. “Together, we welcomed more visitors, offered more programs, and deepened our impact across all ages and interests.”

Martin and MacLaren reported that the year ahead promises “continued growth,” including “expanded programs, continued collaborations, and on-going care for our beloved buildings.”

The museum received an American Association for State and Local History Leadership in History Award of Excellence, 2024-2025, for “Letter Home: The Experiences of Helen Wersebe, World War II Army Nurse” — the “most prestigious” recognition of its kind.

The museum will host a Special Exhibit: “American Perspectives: Peril and Possibilities,” which tells the story of Washington, CT, in the Revolution.

“As our country approaches its 250th anniversary, we join the celebration with a new exhibit,” read a description. 

The museum’s permanent exhibit is “Washington, Connecticut - An American Story,” which features the “unique people, places, and events that have shaped Washington’s rich history.”

Offerings at the museum include a one-hour guided exhibit tour each Saturday at 1 p.m. Those who would like a tour can email museum@gunnlibrary.org or call 860-868-7756 at least one day in advance to register.

There is also a History Book Club where participants read nonfiction books on American history and meet to discuss in a conversation facilitated by Museum Curator Amy Campanero. Meetings take place on the second Monday of each month at 1 p.m. 

The Cooking Through Time program combines history and food as participants discuss the history of recipes and food fads while sharing experiences and creations with others. Those meetings are held bimonthly on the second Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. Registration is required.

The Gunn Memorial Library offers makerspace programming in the Field Community Room, with recent events including DIY Evergreen Wreaths and Mini Makers Snowy Suncatchers workshops. Upcoming events in January include Crafting History: Jewelry (ages 18 and older) on Jan. 13, 2026, and Kids Sewing Club (grades 4 and 5) on Jan. 16, 2026.

“Come step into the world that was and see it through the images, artifacts, and stories of the many people, great and ordinary, who have made and make our town a memorable place,” the description read. *
* gunnlibrary.org

Gunn Historical Museum
5 Wykeham Rd., Washington, CT