Bristol Historical Society - Capital Campaign

Capital Campaign Form (pdf)
Capital Campaign Brochure (pdf)

Learn more.

Building a future...from Bristol’s past.
The Bristol Historical Society’s mission is to promote an interest in local history and encourage an appreciation for its importance.

The Society collects, preserves and interprets significant historical resources to enhance and educate the present community and provide a historical context for future growth.

Who we are:
The Bristol Historical Society, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) entity that was incorporated in 1971 for the purpose of preserving the rich cultural and industrial heritage of our City. Through programs, seminars and our permanent exhibits, the Society has become a repository of historical periodicals, publications and artifacts that trace our heritage as a cradle of industrial innovation not only in Connecticut, but the Nation.

An overview of our vision
After using the Terry Homestead (circa 1750) as a home for thirty years, the Bristol Historical Society purchased a permanent home in 2001. The building was designed by Bristol native Theodore Peck in 1890. Six rooms were added in 1912; however, the continued growth of the city’s student population required a larger building and the school was closed in 1922. It served other purposes through the years, including a 30 year stint as the “Freshman Building.”

During its time as a high school, the building stored a collection of the Bristol Historical & Scientific Society. It is fitting that the current Historical Society has returned to this building with some of the original artifacts that were housed here in the 1890s. As the Bristol Historical Society begins renovations of its new home, you are invited to play a role in accomplishing these goals. Based upon the industrial heritage of Bristol, the development patterns that resulted from our manufacturing heritage and our desire to commemorate Bristol as the cradle of innovation and industry that it was, and is, we plan to use manufacturing as the common thread in our exhibits.

As this project is structured, ample opportunity for creativity, resourcefulness and meaningful displays abound. Properly prepared and documented, the history of Bristol is significant well beyond our immediate area. People across Connecticut, around the country and even overseas who are looking to trace the roots of their family or to locate the maker of a product or a device that was made in Connecticut will find our museum a valuable resource.

Many displays, artifacts and products that were made in Bristol are still available and may easily be incorporated into the displays that the Bristol Historical Society creates.

The availability of smaller display rooms will enable us to create dedicated exhibits on certain families, companies, or an era that played a pivotal role in the city’s history. Examples include permanent or rotating displays on families such as Barnes, Session, and Rockwell; The New Departure Company, Lake Compounce, or the Industrial Revolution.

By becoming a participant in the Society Capital Campaign, you can become a part of the process of preserving the past for future generations. It is time to capture as much of our heritage and history as we can, before it is lost. It is time to ensure that the citizens of our community learn about and from, our rich past. It is time to commit to being the benevolent caretakers of our past, the visionary leaders of our present and the thoughtful historians of our community’s future.

The Capital Campaign will play a vital role in securing necessary funding for the building renovations, which will be acocmplished in phases. The first phase will deal with immediate short-term needs, such as the installation of a sprinkler system and bringing the building up to code specifications for first floor and basement occupancy. Phase two will encompass second floor renovations and the installation of an elevator. The third phase will enable us to complete any additional restoration work, as well as establish an endowment fund.