Looking for a presentation for a group or as a program offering at your institution? We have a variety of presentations available to provide virtually (on your platform our ours) or at your site, suitable for adults or families. We may also be able to suggest a meeting location local to South Windsor if you prefer. Have a bus? Pick up our educator who will provide information and even offer a few brief stops along a route sent to your driver in advance. Presentations at your facility, bus tours and virtual programs cost a flat fee of $300 (travel fees may apply). Programs generally run 45-60 minutes plus a question and answer segment.
Available presentations are listed below. Programs can also be family-friendly.
Central Connecticut Indigenous People: A Day in the Life
- Travel back in time to the Paleo, Archaic and Woodland Periods of the central Connecticut River Valley. Gain first-hand insight into how the everyday lives of Indigenous People adapted over time with the changing environment. Learn the science behind the “Three Sisters” gardening method. Enjoy hands-on exploration of pelts, tools, containers and other cultural objects.
- Includes a slide presentation, artifacts and reproductions that can be handled
Northern Slavery: A Case Study along the Connecticut River
- Slavery in the North is often misunderstood or overlooked entirely. Our research, exhibition and public programming uncovered compelling evidence of slavery in South Windsor and were recognized with a 2025 Award of Merit from the Connecticut League of Museums. After an overview of the historical context of slavery in the North, participants will be introduced to several significant figures from South Windsor’s past, including Dr. Primus Manumit, Flora, Prince and Ansars, whose lives help illuminate this complex and often forgotten history.
- Includes a slide presentation, exhibit panels and primary source reproductions
A Series of Macabre Events
- This presentation will take you on a journey of the mysterious and macabre, from coffin doors, ghosts and the criminally insane. While some specific events are based on the real history of South Windsor, you do not need to be local to enjoy these stories. Part One, What Happened When They Died, explains what happened to expired bodies. Part Two, Unexplained Hauntings and Other Legends, examines purported haunted buildings and their inhabitants. Lastly, Curious Crimes shares three macabre stories, including the first person to be hung using the new “automatic hanging machine” in 1894. Learn something new, look at a building a little differently, and most importantly, be entertained (you’ll chuckle, we promise). However, this program may not be suitable for children, or scaredy cat adults!
- Includes a slide presentation and a surprise sweet treat
Native American Storytelling
- Why did Native Peoples tell stories? What roles did animals and natural elements play, and what lessons or explanations did these stories offer? Oral tradition was, and remains, vitally important in Indigenous culture, serving as a way to pass down history, values and knowledge across generations. This program explores the significance of storytelling and connect the morals and teachings of traditional stories to present-day life. With seven stories to choose from, we can help you select three drawn from the categories of creation stories, moral tales and teaching stories.
- Includes professionally recorded videos with northeastern Native Americans and guided discussion prompts from a museum educator. Artifacts and reproductions that can be handled may also be available depending on the stories selected.