New Haven, CT Things to Do and Attractions
Situated on the site of the jail where 53 illegally kidnapped Africans were imprisoned in 1839, this majestic memorial is a startling tribute to New Haven's role in the anti-slavery movement. Located right in front of New Haven's City Hall, the
Situated on the site of the jail where 53 illegally kidnapped Africans were imprisoned in 1839, this majestic memorial is a startling tribute to New Haven's role in the anti-slavery movement. Located right in front of New Haven's City Hall, the towering 14-foot relief statue cast in bronze was sculpted in 1992 by Ed Hamilton.
Each side of the memorial highlights an aspect of Sengbe Pieh (also known as Joseph Cinque) and his fellow captive's historic ordeal. Visitors can gaze up at the striking memorial and witness the artists' rendering of the capture, trial and subsequent return home.
Just a short 20-minute drive from New Haven, Beardsley Zoo is Connecticut's only zoo. Home to more than 300 animals, the zoo focuses primarily on North and South American wildlife including some rare endangered species such as the Amur tiger, Andean
Just a short 20-minute drive from New Haven, Beardsley Zoo is Connecticut's only zoo. Home to more than 300 animals, the zoo focuses primarily on North and South American wildlife including some rare endangered species such as the Amur tiger, Andean condor and Golden lion tamarin. While at Beardsley, visitors can take a tropical trek through the South American rainforest, wander through a Victorian greenhouse, or take a spin on the carousel. Visitors can also get up close and personal with goats, pigs and sheep at the New England Farmyard, or hike the Hoofstock Trail for views of bison, pronghorn and deer.
Set on 52 acres of lush parkland, the Beardsley Zoo offers several scenic spaces for private functions including the elegant Victorian Greenhouse and charming Picnic Grove. The zoo is open daily from 9 AM to 4 PM. Admission is $9 for children ages 3-11, $11 for adults and $9 for seniors. Discounted rates are available to non-profit groups of 10 or more people with advanced reservations.
Housed in a recently renovated building in the Town Green District, the Connecticut Children's Museum invites children to learn through hands-on discovery. Designed to reflect Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, the museum is home to
Housed in a recently renovated building in the Town Green District, the Connecticut Children's Museum invites children to learn through hands-on discovery. Designed to reflect Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, the museum is home to eight different themed rooms that highlight the different ways in which children learn. Kids can enjoy the flutter of butterflies and the buzzing of bees in the Naturalist Room, or step into the re-created great green room of the Goodnight Moon storybook in the museum's Linguistic Room. Other highlights include a miniature cityscape dollhouse depicting New Haven, musical instruments from around the world, and a chalkboard house where children can draw on windows and doors.
The Connecticut Children's Museum is open Friday and Saturday from noon to 5 PM. Admission is $5 per person.
Guests can explore New Haven's legacy of innovation at the Eli Whitney Museum. Dedicated to preserving the contributions of this great American engineer, the museum showcases his historic inventions from its location where Whitney created the first
Guests can explore New Haven's legacy of innovation at the Eli Whitney Museum. Dedicated to preserving the contributions of this great American engineer, the museum showcases his historic inventions from its location where Whitney created the first American factory in 1798. Also at the museum is a learning workshop where children can build their own rubber band-powered car or design their own pinball game, among other activities. Other highlights of the Eli Whitney Museum include a barn that Whitney designed in 1816, walking trails and the popular Water Learning Lab.
The Eli Whitney Museum is open Wednesday through Friday from noon to 5 PM, Saturday from 11 AM to 4 PM and Sunday from noon to 3 PM. Admission to the museum is free. Programs cost $5 to $10 each.
Situated in New Haven's historic downtown district, the New Haven Museum and Historical Society showcases more than 350 years of the region's rich history. Founded in 1862, the museum transports visitors to New Haven's bygone days with an extensive
Situated in New Haven's historic downtown district, the New Haven Museum and Historical Society showcases more than 350 years of the region's rich history. Founded in 1862, the museum transports visitors to New Haven's bygone days with an extensive collection of fine, folk and decorative arts as well as a photograph archive and manuscript collection.
Visitors roam through the museum's four permanent galleries and view exhibits such as Cinque Lives Here: Amistad Artifacts in the Collections of the New Haven Museum and Historical Society. The largest collection of Amistad-related artwork in the world, the Cinque Lives Here Exhibit is a captivating window into the events of the famous 1839 revolt. In addition to the four permanent galleries, three temporary galleries host traveling exhibitions.
The New Haven Museum and Historical Society makes an elegant backdrop of art and history for private events. Groups can meet in the 1,313-square-foot auditorium or the 650-square-foot education center. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from noon to 5 PM. Admission is $2 for children, $4 for adults and $3 for seniors. Admission for children under 3 is free.
One of Yale University's treasures, the Peabody Museum of Natural History is one of the oldest and most respected university natural history museums in the world. Founded in 1866 thanks to a gift by philanthropist George Peabody, this fascinating
One of Yale University's treasures, the Peabody Museum of Natural History is one of the oldest and most respected university natural history museums in the world. Founded in 1866 thanks to a gift by philanthropist George Peabody, this fascinating museum showcases more than 11 million specimens ranging in topic from anthropology and paleontology to zoology and botany. Guests can see Triceratops, Stegosaurus and Brontosaurus skeletons at the museum, which is the only in Connecticut to permanently display dinosaur fossil material.
The Peabody Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from noon to 5 PM. Admission is $5 for children ages 3-18, $7 for adults and $6 for seniors ages 65 and older. A reduced rate of $3 per person is available to groups with advanced reservations.
Home to the largest collection of British art outside of the United Kingdom, the majestic Yale Center for British Art offers visitors a visual history of Great Britain. Presented to the university by 1929 Yale graduate Paul Mellon, and housed in an
Home to the largest collection of British art outside of the United Kingdom, the majestic Yale Center for British Art offers visitors a visual history of Great Britain. Presented to the university by 1929 Yale graduate Paul Mellon, and housed in an architecturally stunning building designed by Louis Kahn, the center is home to an astounding collection of paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints, rare books and manuscripts.
Spanning from the Elizabethan Period onward, the Yale Center offers representations of British life, art and culture thanks to approximately 1,900 paintings and 100 sculptures. Visitors can peruse the center's galleries and view works by such renowned artists as William Hogarth and Thomas Gainsborough as well as more recent artists like Rachel Whiteread and Damien Hirst. Not limited to artists from Britain, the collection also includes works by American artists John Singleton Copley and James McNeill Whistler.
The Yale Center for British Art is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from noon to 5 PM. Admission is free.
Founded in 1832, the Yale University Art Gallery is the oldest university art museum in the Western Hemisphere. The awe-inspiring main gallery was renowned architect Louis Kahn's first commission and the first modernist building on the Yale campus.
Founded in 1832, the Yale University Art Gallery is the oldest university art museum in the Western Hemisphere. The awe-inspiring main gallery was renowned architect Louis Kahn's first commission and the first modernist building on the Yale campus. Home to approximately 185,000 objects, the gallery gives an excellent overview of art throughout the ages. The collection is divided into 10 curatorial areas including Ancient Art, American Paintings and Sculpture, African Art, Asian Art, Early European Art, and Modern and Contemporary Art.
The Yale University Art Gallery is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM, Thursday from 10 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from 1 to 6 PM. Admission is free. Group tours are available.
No visit to New Haven would be complete without a trip across the historic Yale University campus. The center of culture for the city, Yale captivates guests with vibrant art galleries, medieval courtyards, stunning architecture and more than 300
No visit to New Haven would be complete without a trip across the historic Yale University campus. The center of culture for the city, Yale captivates guests with vibrant art galleries, medieval courtyards, stunning architecture and more than 300 years of history. Visitors can take one-hour-and-15-minute student-led walking tours that cover the school's history, architecture and student life. During the tour, visitors walk in the footsteps of Yale's many famous graduates and learn the little-known facts of this revered institute of higher learning.
Other highlights of the tour are stops at the Gothic Sterling Memorial Library and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Built from more than 100 panels of translucent marble, the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library is home to one of the world's most distinguished collections of rare materials, including the Gutenberg Bible.
Yale University Campus Tours run Monday through Friday at 10:30 AM and 2 PM and Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 PM. Tours are complimentary. Special group tours can be arranged by appointment. A fee of $40 applies to groups of 25 or more people.
Located in New Haven's historic Ninth Square District, Central Steakhouse is the city's place for steaks. From its classic decor to its cozy wine cellar and open kitchen, Central Steakhouse offers guests a comfortable front row seat to see chefs
Located in New Haven's historic Ninth Square District, Central Steakhouse is the city's place for steaks. From its classic decor to its cozy wine cellar and open kitchen, Central Steakhouse offers guests a comfortable front row seat to see chefs prepare such sumptuous entrees as the 18-ounce Kansas City strip and the 14-ounce ribeye. Other menu highlights include the rack of lamb with coconut cream mashed purple potatoes and the grilled salmon with lobster brandy cream sauce.
Central Steakhouse offers a four-course dinner for group functions and can accommodate 15 to 40 people in its elegant Wine Cellar. Private functions can be held Monday through Thursday only. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10 PM and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 PM. Entrees range from $19 to $41.
Bringing the flavors of Spain to downtown New Haven, Ibiza is a shining star of the city's restaurant renaissance. From the soaring ceilings to the exposed brick, Ibiza manages to create an ambiance that is both classic and trendy. In addition to the
Bringing the flavors of Spain to downtown New Haven, Ibiza is a shining star of the city's restaurant renaissance. From the soaring ceilings to the exposed brick, Ibiza manages to create an ambiance that is both classic and trendy. In addition to the lunch and dinner menus, Ibiza offers several specialty menus including a pre-theater menu, a paella menu and an epic tasting menu. Specialties include the grilled sea scallops with corn flower cake and the New England rack of lamb with mint smoked rice vinegar sauce. If time is limited, visitors can always check out the tempting tapas served at the bar every Wednesday and Thursday.
Ibiza's space and customizable banquet menus make it an ideal venue for private events. The restaurant serves lunch Friday from noon to 2:30 PM and dinner Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10 PM and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 PM. The tasting menu is available Monday through Thursday. Entrees range from $26 to $38.
Zinc's modern interpretation of classic American fare is the toast of the town. Overlooking the New Haven Green, Zinc's dimly lit ambiance gives the restaurant a sultry and stylish mystique. Chef and Owner Denise Appel serves up her trademark
Zinc's modern interpretation of classic American fare is the toast of the town. Overlooking the New Haven Green, Zinc's dimly lit ambiance gives the restaurant a sultry and stylish mystique. Chef and Owner Denise Appel serves up her trademark artistic fare, which includes specialties such as the hickory smoked duck breast with pumpkin polenta and the sage ricotta gnocchi with creamy squash gratin and onion frizzle. After dinner, patrons can indulge in a savory selection of pastries, cheeses and decadent delights such as the Tahitian vanilla crme brulee.
A popular spot for events, Zinc's private dining room seats up to 32 people or as many as 70 people standing. Zinc serves lunch Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 2:30 PM and dinner Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 9 PM and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 PM. Entrees range from $23 to $28.
