MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the New Britain Industrial Museum is to collect, preserve and exhibit to the general public examples of industrial artifacts representative of the ingenuity and creativeness of generations of Hardware City people in a continuing effort both to cultivate awareness of their past productivity and to inspire future industrial accomplishment.

VISION STATEMENT

The New Britain Industrial Museum is grounded in a proud tradition of innovation. We celebrate the contribution of New Britain to the region’s present and future development. The Museum makes our community stronger by increasing cultural & historic awareness through exhibits and programming for children and adults.

HISTORY

The New Britain Industrial Museum was conceived in the early-1990s by Horace B. Van Dorn III, retired Vice President of Engineering at Fafnir Bearing, who felt there needed to be a local museum dedicated to New Britain’s history and accomplishments that could “generate civic pride and inspiration for education in our youth. It would serve as an economic beacon for future industrial development… and a meaningful attraction for tourism.” In April 1995, the New Britain Industrial Museum opened its doors in the CCSU/ITBD building with Mayor Linda Blogoslawski releasing a Stanley Tape Rule across the doorway; in the Fall of 2017, Mayor Erin Stewart released a Stanley Tape Rule across the doorway of the Museum’s current location, 59 W. Main Street. A division of the New Britain Institute, the New Britain Industrial Museum is a non-profit 501(c)3 managed by an executive director and governed by a board of directors; the Museum receives its support from membership dues, donations, and grants.

Visit CT Museum Quest for a great review of the museum and its collection - then come see how we have changed since 2006!