Eric Sloane Museum

06/02/2026

Join us on June 6th, from 10-4, for our annual Historic Trades Day. Attendees will enjoy free admission, various historic trades demonstrations, and be able to shop the hand made artisan market. The demonstrations will include blacksmithing, hat making, woodworking, wood-turning, tinsmithing, leatherwork, and more. We hope to see you there! Thanks to our sponsors The Early American Industries Association!

05/28/2026

Announcing Our 2026 Workshop Series at the Eric Sloane Museum!

We are thrilled to announce an exciting 2026 workshop series at the Eric Sloane Museum! Join us for hands-on sessions designed to inspire creativity, build new skills, and foster a deeper appreciation for history, art, and craft. Each session will be led by expert instructors and provide participants with a unique opportunity to learn in the inspiring setting of the Eric Sloane Museum.

Workshop Highlights:

• Introduction to Blacksmithing
• Raffia Hat Making
• Broom Making
• Spoon Carving
• Wool Hat Making
• Log Hewing

Visit the link in our bio for the full workshop schedule, registration details, and special announcements.

05/27/2026

NEW EXHIBIT ANNOUNCEMENT

Eric Sloane: American Modern

June 12th through September 11th 2026

You may be familiar with Duchamp, Pollock,Calder, Stankiewicz, Johns, Nevelson, Rauschenberg, and Kosuth as giants of Modern Art, but what about Eric Sloane?

This fascinating, historical, and immersive experience challenges visitors to view Sloane as a Modernist, something the artist would have vehemently denied. Join us as we explore replicas of Sloane’s sculpture and his “Placements” – the artist’s response to the Modernist movement.

The opening and closing nights of the exhibit will be part of the Night at the Museum program. Exhibit creator and author Wil Mauch will give a brief talk on Eric Sloane’s relationship to the Modern Art movement, and Museum Curator Andrew Rowand will take guests into Sloane’s studio for a new experience.

Refreshments will be served, a silent auction of Sloane-related items will be held, and there will be time for participants to ask questions about any aspect of Sloane’s life and work. Pre-registration is required and can be done through the Eric Sloane Museum website. (link in Bio) 100% of the money raised will go to the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum.

05/13/2026

The Housatonic Valley was instrumental during the American Revolution, manufacturing arms and ammunition for the Continental Army . Numerous valley iron furnaces and forges supplied vital iron resources throughout the war. Although the Kent Furnace did not open until 1826, it represents a continuation of the area’s longstanding ironmaking tradition, which began before the Revolutionary War. This weekend, May 16-17, members of the Knox Artillery Regiment and Rangers from Minute Man National Historical Park will showcase the region’s significance to the war effort with engaging living history demonstrations, including a cannon display. Be sure to join us for Free Admission from 10:00 to 4:00.

05/10/2026

Immerse yourself in Iron Works Weekend, an exciting program exploring the history of ironmaking in the Housatonic Valley at the Kent Iron Furnace site. The event will include special tours, exhibits, and iron smelting demonstrations , commemorating 200 years of the furnace history. Master blacksmiths will smelt iron with a bloomery furnace using traditional methods and techniques. Enjoy free admission to the museum and programs Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 until 4:00.

This program is made possible by the support of our community partners!

04/01/2026

We are not fooling around this year! As you can see, we have an exciting 2026 season planned with even more events and programs to come! Be sure to check the link in our bio for a complete list of programs and additional information.
We look forward to seeing you at the museum!

03/25/2026

Mark your calendars! The Eric Sloane Museum reopens for the 2026 season on May 2nd & 3rd.
The museum will be open from 10:00 to 4:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from May 2nd through October 25th. We have an exciting season planned, so be sure to check out our full list of events on our website. Link in Bio!

02/27/2026

Today, we celebrate what would have been Eric Sloane’s 121st birthday. Everard Jean Hinrichs, better known as Eric Sloane, was born in NYC on February 27th, 1905.

Does anyone else struggle to find the perfect birthday gift, especially for someone who seems to have one of everything? Imagine if that person were Eric Sloane! Would he respond with, “...oh great, another one,” or with, “OH GREAT, ANOTHER ONE!”? Either way, gifts related to early America would likely have been a safe bet.

This photograph was taken in the early 1960s at Eric’s home in Connecticut, before he donated his collection to create what would become the Eric Sloane Museum in 1969.

01/23/2026