KEELER TAVERN

KEELER TAVERN PRESERVATION SOCIETY EXPLORES THE SITE'S LIVES AND EVENTS, AND THE INSIGHTS THEY PROVIDE INTO OUR NATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND INTERPRETS THE CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE OF THOSE LIVES, EVENTS AND SHARED CITIZENSHIP AND CIVIC CULTURE. WE PURSUE THIS MISSION BY PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE MUSEUM'S PHYSICAL AND INTELLECTUAL ASSETS AND SHARING THEM WITH THE WIDEST POSSIBLE AUDIENCE, WHETHER ON OUR CAMPUS OR PROGRAMS OF OUTREACH. ANNUALLY OUR SCHOOL PROGRAMS SERVE ABOUT 2000 STUDENTS AND WE TYPICALLY WELCOME AROUND 10,000 VISITORS. (REVENUE FROM TOURS, EDUCATION, OTHER PROGRAMS AND GIFT SHOP WAS $49,455).

KEELER TAVERN MUSEUM & HISTORY CENTER SUPPORTS HUMANITIES ENGAGEMENT FOR CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL AND GENERAL PUBLIC SECTORS. WE USE THE DIVERSE STORIES OF THE SITE TO CONNECT PAST AND PRESENT, LOCAL AND NATIONAL. OUR SITE ANCHORS THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE CULTURAL DISTRICT IN RIDGEFIELD, THE FIRST SUCH DISTRICT IN CONNECTICUT, EMPHASIZING THE HUMANITIES' IMPORTANCE AS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER. WE HAVE STRONG COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS AND A REPUTATION AS A RELIABLE HISTORY RESOURCE AND GATHERING SPACE. OUR ROBUST SCHOOL PROGRAMS SERVE ABOUT 2,000 STUDENTS; OUR PUBLIC PROGRAMS ARE HIGHLY COLLABORATIVE AND WELL-ATTENDED; AND COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS MUSIC AT THE MUSEUM, THE #HANDSONHISTORY EXHIBIT, BATTLE OF RIDGEFIELD COMMEMORATION, AND FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVITIES BRING THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO OUR SITE EACH YEAR. WE OFFER MANY FREE PROGRAMS TO THE PUBLIC, AND WE HAVE AN ESTABLISHED EQUITABLE ACCESS INITATIVE THAT PROVIDES FREE SCHOOL PROGRAMMING TO STUDENTS FROM UNDER-RESOURCED SCHOOL DISTRICTS. RECENTLY, A SIGNIFICANT NATIONAL ENDOWEMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES GRANT FUNDED A MAJOR REINTERPRETATION INITIATIVE AT OUR SITE, ALLOWING US TO REEXAMINE THE STORIES WE TELL AT OUR SITE, PRIORITIZING STORIES AND VOICES OF THOSE WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN MARGINALIZED AND/OR UNDERREPRESENTED. WE HAVE ALSO UNDERTAKEN ONGOING TRAINING TO SUPPORT OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESS, AND INCLUSION AND BOARD DEVELOPMENT. DRAWING ON ITS COLLECTIONS AND STORIES, THE SITE SERVES AREA SCHOOLS WITH PROGRAMS THAT MAP TO STATE STANDARDS FOR SOCIAL STUDIES AND STEM CURRICULUM. OUR EDUCATION STAFF CONTINUES TO GROW SCHOOL PROGRAMS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN - INCLUDING UNDERSERVED STUDENTS FROM BRIDGEPORT AND DANBURY - PARTICIPATED IN IMMERSIVE HALF AND FULL DAY PROGRAMS ON SITE, VIRTUALLY, OR THROUGH OUTREACH. IN THE SUMMER, KEELER KIDS PROGRAMMING PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS TO LEARN ABOUT LOCAL HISTORY IN FUN, ENGAGING WAYS.