The Cornwall Historical Society plays a crucial role in safeguarding the town’s history for future generations. Thanks to the generous and thoughtful gifts of donors over the years, our collections tell the story of Cornwall from its earliest settlement in the mid-1700s to the present. Although a small town, Cornwall has a remarkable history with long-reaching influence on people and communities throughout the United States and other countries, and our collections reflect that. In advance of the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation—to be celebrated next year—we see this season as an ideal time to highlight some of our treasures, many of which have rarely been shown. Treasures from the Collection offers a look back into Cornwall history, as well as a peek into what over half a century of collecting looks like.

The Society opens to the public, Saturday July 5th. Summer hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. The exhibit runs from July 5 – October 12, 2025.

SPECIAL PROGRAM: Friday, August 1 at 2 p.m.

THE ART OF HANDCRAFTING SHOES – Join us for an exciting program with Connecticut shoemaker Andrew Rowand as he guides us through the art of handcrafting shoes. Rowand has been a shoemaker for over a decade, specializing in the recreation of historical footwear from the 17th to 19th centuries. He uses period-appropriate tools, materials, and techniques in his craft. Currently, he is researching and cataloging shoes that have been discovered in early New England structures as part of his work. In addition to his shoemaking and research, Andrew serves as the curator and site administrator of the Eric Sloane Museum in Kent, Connecticut. In this program, you will have the opportunity to see several shoemaking items from our permanent collection in the exhibition Treasures from the Collection. Pre-registration required.