Museum Passes - Wallingford Public Library

Wallingford Public Library offers passes to a wide variety of local museums, zoos, aquariums, historical sites, and other experiences. These passes allow free or discounted admission depending on the attraction.

Many museums have adjusted their hours and admissions policies. Please call the museum or visit their website to verify their operating hours and that they are accepting library discount passes before your visit.

General Guidelines

Wallingford residents over the age of 18 may reserve up to 4 museum passes in a 30-day period, with one reservation allowed per museum, and one reservation allowed per day. Reservations may be made up to 30 days in advance.
For nonprintable passes, reservations are made for the date of pass pickup at the library. For printable passes, reservations are made for the date of visit to the museum.
Non-residents may request a pass on the day of pickup for nonprintable passes or the date of visit for printable passes. Online reservations are not available to nonresidents.
Late fees are $5.00 per day. Replacement cost is the cost of the pass.

The following passes may be borrowed together:

The American Clock & Watch Museum and the New England Carousel Museum
The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center and the Mark Twain House & Museum

Please call the Information Desk at (203)265-6754 to reserve the pairs listed above. Our online museum pass reservation system does not allow you to book these yourself.

Printable Passes
Most museums allow you to print a pass for a single day. At the museum, you must present photo ID matching the name on the pass. To make your own reservation online, you must be able to print the completed pass when reserving. If you cannot print your pass, you may make a reservation in person, and we will print the pass for you. Passes are valid one time and only for the specific date reserved.

Non-Printable Passes
Passes for the Beardsley Zoo, Discovery Museum, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Mashantucket Pequot Museum, Springfield Museums, State Parks & Forests, Stepping Stones Museum, and the Zoo in Forest Park cannot be pre-printed. They are checked out on a library card and must be returned. Nonprintable passes are loaned for 3 days. Reservations are made for the date of pickup of the pass at the library. (Check library schedule).

Non-residents may request a pass on the day of pickup for nonprintable passes or the day of visit for printable passes (Check library schedule).

Late fees for nonprintable passes are $5.00 per day. Replacement cost is the cost of the pass.

Also, be sure to take a look at the list of Free Admission Attractions at the end of this page.

Wallingford Public Library Museum Passes

American Clock & Watch Museum
100 Maple Street, Bristol, CT 06010
(860)583-6070
Admits: Free admission for 2 adults and 3 children

The finest collection of American manufactured clocks and watches on public display. History and research of timepieces along with a sundial garden with flowers and herbs. Special “twofer” offer – the American Clock & Watch Museum pass and the New England Carousel Museum pass can be taken out together!

Barker Character, Comic & Cartoon Museum
1188 Highland Avenue (Route 10) Building B, Cheshire CT 06410
(800)995-2357
Admits: Buy 1 admission, get 1 free (higher price prevails). No large groups

The Barker Character, Comic & Cartoon Museum is a unique institution, as it is one of the most complete expressions of an American childhood through the ages.

Basketball Hall of Fame
1000 West Columbus Avenue, Springfield, MA 01105-2518
(877)4HOOPLA
Admits: Up to 6 discounted daily admissions: $17 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $12 for youth.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is home to nearly three hundred inductees and more than 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Located on the picturesque banks of the Connecticut River, the new museum is a fitting shrine to the game Dr. Naismith invented more than a century ago. Hundreds of interactive exhibits share the spotlight with skills challenges, live clinics, and shooting contests. And of course there is enough basketball history to impress the world’s most avid sports fans!

Beardsley Zoo
1875 Noble Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06610
(203)394-6565
Admits: Up to 6 people at $10.00 each. The only way to use the pass is in person, at the ticket window.

The Beardsley Zoo is a 33-acre facility dedicated to wildlife education, conservation, research and recreation. The majority of its exhibits are devoted to the rare and wonderful animals of North and South America. It has a rainforest exhibit, as well as a farmyard especially for the young children.

Children’s Museum & Roaring Brook Nature Center
180 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford, CT 06117
(860)231-2824
70 Gracey Road, Canton, CT 06019
(860)693-0263
Admits: One free admission with every paid admission (up to 4).

A hands-on science, technology and nature museum that features a 30-foot walk–in kaleidoscope, a marine life touch tank, a miniature zoo, animal demonstrations, laser light and planetarium shows, a hands-on discovery room, the Kids Factory for preschoolers to explore, a computer center and more. Changing exhibits and events are presented throughout the year. Roaring Brook Nature Center offers displays on flora and fauna, a replica of an Eastern Woodland Indian longhouse and a small collection of live animals.

Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
One Elizabeth Street, Hartford, CT 06105
(860)236-5621
Admits: Free admission for 2 adults and up to 4 children.

Founded in 1825, the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History houses an extensive and comprehensive Connecticut-related collection of manuscripts, printed material, artifacts and images that document social, cultural, and family history.

Connecticut Science Center
250 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT 06103
(860)724-3623
Admits: 20% off general admission for up to 4 people

With more than 165 hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art 3D digital theater, four educational labs, plus daily programs and events, the Connecticut Science Center offers endless exploration for children, teens, and adults.

Pick up a coupon at the library’s Information Desk. No reservation is needed.

Connecticut State Parks Centers & Historic Buildings Day Pass
Various locations
(866)287-2757
Admits: Free admission to Dinosaur State Park, Gillette Castle, and Fort Trumbull for 2 adults and 4 children ages 12 and under

Connecticut Trolley Museum
58 North Road, East Windsor, CT 06088
(860)627-6540
Admits: 1 adult and 1 child (allows half-price admission during special events)

The Connecticut Trolley Museum has over 70 pieces of rail equipment dating back to 1869. Unlimited trolley rides for the day are included in your admission.

Connecticut’s Old State House
800 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103
(860)522-6766
Admits: 4 people for general admission during regular operating hours

From the beautifully restored historic halls of state government to the current office of Connecticut’s Kid Governor, Connecticut’s Old State House features fascinating exhibits and programs for all ages that focus on history, civics, and government.

Discovery Science Center & Planetarium
4450 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604
(203)416-3521
Admits: Up to 4 free children with 1 paid adult admission

The Discovery Science Center and Planetarium provides dynamic, hands-on STEAM experiences that resonate with the innate curiosity, learning desire, and spirit of exploration of our guests.

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
125 West Bay Road, Amherst, MA 01002
(413)559-6300
Admits: Free admission for 2 adults and 4 children

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is the first full-scale museum in this country devoted to national and international picture book art, conceived and built with the aim of celebrating the art that we are first exposed to as children.

Everwonder Children’s Museum
11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470
(203)364-4009
Admits: Half price admission for up to 2 adults and 4 children (children under age 1 are free)

EverWonder Children’s Museum cultivates a lifelong love-of-learning in children by encouraging them to think, inquire, and wonder about the world around them. It offers hands-on exhibits and programming to spark imagination in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

Florence Griswold Museum
96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371
(860)434-5542
Admits: Free admission for 2 adults and 2 children under 12

Visit the houses, barn, and gallery of Florence Griswold and the painters of the Lyme Art Colony. It is called the Home of American Impressionism.

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
77 Forest Street, Hartford, CT 06105
(860)522-9258
Admits: Free admission for 2 people

The Stowe Center is the home of the author of the anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. It includes three historic buildings surrounded by gorgeous gardens: the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, the Carriage House, and the Katharine Seymour Day House. Special “twofer” offer – the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center pass and the Mark Twain House & Museum pass can be taken out together!

Hill-Stead Museum
35 Mountain Road, Farmington, CT 06032
(860)677-4787
Admits: 2 adults & 2 children under 18 for 50% off general admission

Hill-Stead is noted for its 1901 33,000-square-foot house filled with art and antiques. Pioneering female architect Theodate Pope Riddle designed the Colonial Revival-style house, set on 152 hilltop acres, to showcase the Impressionist masterpieces amassed by her father, Cleveland iron industrialist Alfred A. Pope. Collections in 19 intact rooms include original furnishings, paintings by Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, James M. Whistler and Mary Cassatt, as well as numerous works on paper and Japanese woodblock prints. Stately trees, seasonal gardens, over three miles of stone walls and woodland trails accent the grounds. A centerpiece of the property is the c. 1920 sunken garden designed by landscape architect Beatrix Jones Farrand, today the site of the acclaimed summerlong Sunken Garden Poetry and Music Festival.

Lutz Children’s Museum
247 South Main Street, Manchester, CT 06040
(860)643-0949
Admits: 50% off admission for up to 6 people.

The Lutz Children’s Museum is dedicated to providing diverse educational and cultural experiences for young learners. Interactive exhibits and live animals!

Mark Twain House & Museum
351 Farmington Avenue Hartford, CT 06105
(860)247-0998
Admits: One adult or two children with the purchase of one adult pass.

Guided tours are available of this 19-room, Tiffany decorated mansion, where Mark Twain raised his family and worked from 1874-1891, writing many of his famous stories. Special “twofer” offer – the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center pass and the Mark Twain House & Museum pass can be taken out together!

Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center
110 Pequot Trail, Mashantucket CT 06339
(800)411-9671
Admits 2 adults and 2 children at half off admission price.

A state-of-the-art, tribally owned-and-operated complex, this museum brings to life the story of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and serves as a major resource on the history of the Tribe, the histories and cultures of other tribes and the region’s natural history.

Mystic Seaport Museum
75 Greenmanville Avenue, Mystic, CT 06355
(860)572-0711
Admits: 50% off admission for 2 adults and 3 children, 18 and under

Mystic Seaport Museum is the largest maritime museum in North America. Visitors can sail or row replicas of traditional wooden boats, cruise in an antique steamboat, star gaze in the planetarium or just climb aboard ships.

New Britain Museum of American Art
56 Lexington Street, New Britain, CT 06052
(860)229-0257
Admits: Free admission for 4 people (no restrictions except that 1 adult must accompany children under 16)

A collection of more than 5,000 works of art dating from the early 18th century to the present day.

New Britain Youth Museum & Hungerford Park Nature Center
30 High Street, New Britain, CT 06051
(860)225-3020
191 Farmington Avenue, Kensington, CT 06037
(860)827-9064
Admits: Free admission for 4 adults or any combination of persons equal to 4 adults

The New Britain Youth Museum in downtown New Britain offers a number of activities including a puppet theater, construction toys, and the Dinosaur Room. Hungerford Park in Kensington has a puppet theater, Bear’s Den slide, old-fashioned ice cream parlor, and a barnyard full of animal friends.

New England Air Museum
36 Perimeter Road, Windsor Locks, CT 06096
(860)623-3305
Admits: 50% off up to 5 regular admissions. Not valid for special events.

The New England Air Museum has two huge display hangars housing more than 70 aircraft from all periods of history as well as an outdoor exhibit area.

New England Carousel Museum
95 Riverside Avenue Route 72, Bristol, CT 06010
(860)585-5411
Admits: Free admission for 4 people

The Carousel Museum displays one of the largest collections of antique wooden carousel art on the East Coast. In addition, within the building, are the museum of Fire History and a fine arts gallery. Special “twofer” offer – the American Clock & Watch Museum pass and the New England Carousel Museum pass can be taken out together!

Old Sturbridge Village
1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA 01566
(800)733-1830
Admits: 50% off admission for up to 4 people

Old Sturbridge Village, the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast, depicts a rural New England town of the 1830s.

Roger Williams Park Zoo
1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907
(401)785-3510
Admits: $3 off the regular ticket price for up to four daytime zoo general admission tickets purchased online with a special discount code

Located amid 40 acres of beautiful woodlands, the Roger Williams Park Zoo provides visitors the opportunity to see animals from all over the globe – some more than a million years old.

Shore Line Trolley Museum
17 River Street, East Haven, CT 06512
(203)467-6927
Admits: 50% off admission for up to 6 people

The Shoreline Trolley Museum is the oldest operating trolley museum in the United States. It has a collection of nearly 100 vintage vehicles as well as artifacts and documents from the trolley era. A 3 mile round trip aboard a fully restored trolley car runs over the original tracks of a scenic country trolley line.

Springfield Museums
21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA 01103
(413)263-6800
Admits: Buy one, get one half off, up to 6 people

Includes the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, the Springfield Science Museum, the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, and the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts.

Stepping Stones Museum for Children
303 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850
(203)899-0606
Admits: 1 free admission with 1 paid admission. Limited to 1 family per day.

With five main galleries and over 100 hands-on activities, the exhibits and educational programs engage, inspire and delight every child.

Wadsworth Atheneum
600 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103
(860)278-2670
Admits: Free general admission for two adults. Pass may not be combined with other discounts. Additional fees may be applied to some special exhibitions and annual fundraisers, including Fine Art & Flowers and Festival of Trees & Traditions. Pass does not apply to films or special event ticketing.

The Wadsworth Atheneum is dedicated to advancing knowledge and inspiring everyone to experience and appreciate excellence in art and culture.

Wickham Park
1329 Middle Turnpike West, Manchester, CT 06040
(860)528-0856
Admits: Free parking & free admission

Wickham Park contains 280 acres of gardens, open fields, woodlands, ponds, picnic areas, sports facilities, and an aviary.

Zoo in Forest Park
293 Sumner Avenue, Springfield, MA 01138
(413)733-2251
Admits: Free admission for 5 people. Does not cover the parking fee ($5.00, cash only).

This zoo, located inside the beautiful Forest Park in Springfield, Massachusetts, features over 200 exotic and domestic animals. Dedicated to wildlife education, the zoo provides educational programs for children and adults.