Essex Historical Society

Established in 1955, Essex Historical Society was initially founded by a group of concerned citizens whose aim was to preserve Hills Academy, the town’s first secondary school.  Purchased from the town for one dollar, the building now serves as the library and offices of Essex Historical Society.  EHS stewards over 7,000 objects at Hills, representing the history of Centerbrook, Essex and Ivoryton.
EHS offers a rich array of programs, including Collections,  Students as Historians, Walking Tours, and EHS’s Pratt House. In addition, they maintain a year-round schedule of Events focusing on local history.

Grade Levels:   PreK-12

Programming Offered:

• In-person events/field trips

• Classroom visits & outreach

• Curriculum materials

Curriculum Connections & Themes:

• Water Power and Mills

• Colonial Life

• American Revolution

• Immigration

• Indigenous Objects

• Ivory in a Global Trade Web

• Shipbuilding & Maritime Trade

Days:   June through September

Saturdays & Sundays

1 to 4 pm

Location:  Pratt House

19 West Avenue

Essex, CT 

What to Expect:    

We offer free tours of Pratt Historic House Museum.  We will also make up a brochure about our lesson plan offerings for field trips and for our staff to come to your schools for history education programming.