canton historical museum

I went inside with my 3 1/2 year old son who had just gone through antique shopping without touching a thing. Upon arrival I was told it was a donation / but then told it was a four dollar fee because they don't want anyone touching anything and have to have guides with them. When I asked about the trains (that's why I went there, to show my son, they replied with " we have no touch trains" talk about feeling welcome. I suppose you have to walk in with a $500.00 outfit in order to feel welcome! I would have gladly paid the fee but not after being treated like a 3 year old myself and being told not to touch things 3 times before even walking in! I walked right out the door!

What could you find in a local museum in Collinsville? The answers are far more than most people would expect. Starting with artifacts from the Civil War and Victorian eras, this museum takes visitors through a history of the Collins Company, which revolutionized the production of sharp-edged tools in America. See examples of the 1100 different tools produced in the factory, then check out the dresses, fire fighting trucks, and a model train that runs through a scale model of Collinsville as it was in 1900.

Housed in a former factory building of the Collins Axe Co., this large museum is has an excellent collection of tools and artifacts from the 19th century on three floors. Do not pass up the guided tour! Couched within the rise and fall story of the Collins Axe Co, an innovative and pre-industrial revolution manufacturer who established an important global market for its tools, is the tale of a town representative of the economic prowress of CT 150 year ago, and of the details of life in this community. Donations of high quality items from many local residents illustrate a rich story you can't get online or in a book. The museum guides, all volunteers, by the way, are passionate and knowledgeable, and the 90-minute tour will leave you with a greater knowledge and respect for New England life in the 1800s. I have made two trips to this amazing museum in the last year, and was surprised how many new things I learned on the second visit. Well worth the trip.

This is a fun historical museum with lots to offer. The focal point of the museum is its collection of Collinsville Axe Company products and historical items. By the mid nineteenth century, the company had built a world-wide brand, and this collection was quite fascinating. But the museum also has, in its vast three-story building, many fine displays representing life in Collinsville during its heyday, including a barbershop, the post office, and a general store. We also loved the train display being meticulously constructed by local model train hobbyists and the collection of local Native American artifacts dating back 7,000 years. All visitors get a guided tour (this is done in order to protect the collections), but if you're alone, you can modify the tour to focus on your interests. This is a good rainy-day activity for kids. There is a gift shop. Good parking. Casual dining very close by. The entrance fee is modest and well worth the good time you'll have there. We're actually planning to go back with other family members.