Discover your neighborhood and beyond…
Wilton Library’s Museum Pass Program gives you and your family the opportunity to explore wonderful resources ranging from art to dinosaurs to live animals either right here in your own backyard or within a day trip in Connecticut or New York. Discover today what the Wilton Library has to offer you outside its boundaries!
The Museum Pass program, generously funded by the Van Raalte family in loving memory of Peter Van Raalte, is open to all Wilton Library patrons and provides passes for reduced rates or free admission to the following museums and attractions:
Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
Ridgefield, CT 203-438-4519
The Aldrich Museum features works by emerging and mid-career artists. It is one of the few non-collecting museums in the United States.
Pass: Free admission for pass holder and accompanying family members. Please note: Pass cannot be used during special events, which includes all exhibition openings and programs in which the price exceeds general admission.
Open: Tuesday-Sunday, 12 noon-5 pm; July 4th, Memorial Day, and Labor Day
Closed: Mondays, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
Connecticut Historical Society Museum & Library
Hartford, CT 860-236-5621
Founded in 1825, the Connecticut Historical Society houses an extensive and comprehensive Connecticut-related collection of manuscripts, printed material, artifacts and images that document social, cultural, and family history. The Galleries feature hands-on activities for families including an interactive exhibition that tells the story of all the people of Connecticut, from the 1500s through today, called “Making Connecticut,” with activities such as hand stenciling designs for a 19th-century chair, sewing a Native American moccasin, working a World War II assembly line, and cooking a meal and setting a table in both a colonial and 1980s kitchen.
Pass: Free admission for 2 adults and up to 4 children to the galleries
Open: Tues.-Fri. 12:00-5:00pm, Sat. 9:00am-5:00pm
Closed: Sunday and Monday, New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo
Bridgeport, CT 203-394-6565
For 80 years, Beardsley Zoo has served as Connecticut’s only zoo. The zoo is open year round and exhibits almost 300 animals including endangered tigers and bears.
Pass: Free admission for up to 2 adults and 4 children
Open: Daily, 9 am -4 pm
Closed: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
Connecticut’s Old State House
Hartford, CT 860-522-6766
At the Old State House, you’ll find historically-restored rooms, guided tours, an exhibit blending United States History, Connecticut state government, civics and citizenship, and an interactive floor dedicated to the history of Hartford.
Pass: Free admission for up to 2 adults and 2 children
Open: After July 4th holiday-Columbus Day weekend: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am-5 pm
After Columbus Day weekend-July 4th holiday: Monday-Friday, 10 am-5 pm
(Last ticket for all visits sold at 4 pm)
Closed: Most state holidays
Connecticut State Parks & Forests Day Pass
Connecticut 860-424-3000
Part of the “No Child Left Inside” initiative by the CT Department of Environmental Protection, this pass waives vehicle entrance fees for one day and provides a guide to all CT State parks and forests.
Discovery Museum and Planetarium
Bridgeport, CT 203-372-3521
The Discovery Museum features the Challenger Learning Center, Planetarium, and hands-on science activities.
Pass: Free admission for up to 2 adults and 4 children (children under 2 years old are free)
Open: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am-5 pm; Sunday, 12 noon-5 pm
Closed: Mondays, except during July & August; major holidays
Earthplace: The Nature Discovery Center
Westport, CT 203-227-7253
Founded in 1958, Earthplace maintains a 62-acre wildlife sanctuary with trails, contains an interactive natural history museum, houses live wildlife for public viewing and hosts many public nature programs and events.
Pass: Free admission for one family of four
Open: Park Grounds-daily, 7 am to dusk; Exhibit Center-Monday-Saturday, 9 am-5 pm,
Closed: Sunday, 1pm -4 pm
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
New York, NY 646-381-5030
Intrepid Museum features a range of interactive exhibits providing a snapshot of heroism, education, and excitement, aboard the USS Intrepid, a National Historic Landmark. As you explore the museum, you will be able to examine original artifacts, view historic video footage, and explore interactive exhibits. Visitors can also ride in the A-6 Cockpit Simulator, visit the Virtual Flight Zone, and tour the inside of the world’s fastest commercial airplane, the Concorde.
Pass: Free admission for 6 people total once per day. Pass does not include admission to the Space Shuttle Pavilion. Guests will be charged $6 per adult, $4 per youth; children under 3 are admitted free of charge. Note: All guests under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult for entry into the museum – no exceptions. Guests under the age of 16 unaccompanied by an adult will not be permitted to enter the museum.
Open: April 1st – October 31st (Spring/Summer hours) Monday – Friday: 10am – 5pm, Saturday, Sunday and Holidays: 10am – 6pm
November 1st – March 31st (Fall/Winter hours) Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 5pm
Closed: Mondays and Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
Maritime Aquarium
South Norwalk, CT 203-852-0700
The Maritime Aquarium is dedicated to all living creatures native to Long Island Sound. The complex features over 1,000 specimens, including live sharks, bluefish, and seals. An IMAX Theater is available as well.
Pass: Admission for up to 6 people for $2 off combination ticket (Aquarium & IMAX)
Open: September-June, 10 am-5 pm daily; July & August, 10 am-6 pm daily
Closed: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
Mystic Aquarium
Mystic, CT 860-572-5955
Sharks, Stingrays, and colorful fish are the highlight of the 4.000 specimen Mystic Aquarium with 24 exhibits. Atlantic Bottle-nosed dolphin demonstrations are a special feature.
Pass: Admission for 2 adults and 2 children at a reduced rate ($6 off for adults and $4 off for children) Once inside, guests may stay one additional hour after close.
Open: Daily: March, 9 am – 4pm, April – October, 9 am-5 pm; November, 9 am-4 pm; December- February, 10 am-4 pm
Closed: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day
Stamford Museum and Nature Center
Stamford, CT 203-322-1646
Explore more than 80 acres of nature trails, drop in to the Heckscher Farm and say hello to the animals, enjoy early childhood and family programs, see the latest exhibition in the Bendel Mansion Museum Galleries, and travel to the stars at the Observatory.
Pass: Free Admission to the Museum & Grounds for 2 adults of the same household, and their children under age 18. 50% Discount on admission to all Family Festival Weekends.
Open: Grounds (including Heckscher Farm and Nature’s Playground): Daily 9am-5pm (weather permitting)
Bendel Mansion &Museum Galleries: Monday-Saturday 9 am-5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm
Closed: New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
Stepping Stones Museum for Children
Norwalk, CT 203-899-0606
Stepping Stones Museum for Children invites children to explore, imagine, create, and discover new experiences every time they visit. The Museum features an interactive learning environment
Pass: Buy one ticket at regular price and get one free; maximum of 3 free admissions per party, per day (regular admission price $14 per person, children under 1 admitted free)
Open: Daily, 10 am-5 pm
Closed: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Hartford, CT 860-278-2670
The Wadsworth Atheneum is one of America’s oldest public art museums. It exhibits more than 15 different shows each year.
Pass: Free general admission for 2 adults and 2 children (ages 6-17); children under 6 are free (special exhibitions may require additional fees and pass is not valid for annual fundraisers including the Festival of Trees and Traditions of Fine Art & Flower events)
Pass may also be used for film admission: buy one get one free.
Open: Wednesday-Friday, 11 am – 5 pm; Saturday & Sunday, 10 am-5 pm; First Thursdays, 11 am-8 pm
Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays, and major holidays
How to borrow a pass:
Museum passes are available on a first-come, first-served walk in basis. We will hold a pass for 1 hour if it is available and requested over the phone (no phone messages please). Please call the Circulation Desk at (203) 762-3950, ext 213 to inquire about a pass.
Passes will be loaned out for 3 consecutive days. A late fee of $5 per day will be charged if the pass is not returned to the Library’s Circulation Desk by closing time on the 3rd day (passes may not be returned to the book drop bin).
Museum passes are free to Library patrons. Patrons are responsible for actual admission fees (if applicable) or any fees or charges beyond those included with the pass (for example, parking, special exhibit admissions, etc.) at any of the participating museums. Patrons will be assessed an additional fee if the pass is lost.
As mentioned above, our 2012-13 Museum Pass Program has been generously funded by a grant by the Van Raalte Family foundation in loving memory of Peter Van Raalte.
