Eric Sloane Museum

Home
United States
Kent, CT
Eric Sloane Museum

https://linktr.ee/Eric_Sloane_Museum The collection tells a fascinating story about bygone times and the great American heritage of craftsmanship.

Eric Sloane's extensive collection of hand tools is displayed in the museum building gifted to the State in 1969 by Stanley Works, the Connecticut-based tool manufacturing company, to mark their 125th anniversary. Sloane’s career as an artist comes vividly alive in his studio, minutely re-created with his paint-spattered easel and rows of jars jammed with paint brushes. Examples of his artworks are displayed in an adjoining gallery. Adjacent to the museum, is a recreation of a pioneer cabin as described by Noah Blake in Diary of An Early American Boy, an 1805 diary published by Sloane. The Kent Iron Furnace, which is on the museum property, began production of pig iron in 1826 and continued for almost 70 years. The granite blast furnace with its Gothic arches can be seen down the hill behind the museum. A diorama explaining the local iron industry is in the museum lobby.

10/15/2026

Inktober Continues:

Did you know that “water-witching” used to be its own profession in America? In his book “American Yesterday,” Eric Sloane recalls the days when farmers, pumpmakers, and well-diggers relied upon this vanishing tradition to locate groundwater.

Have you ever tried using a “witching-stick” to find water? Did it work?

This drawing from Eric Sloane’s Almanac and Weather Forecaster shows the tragic and humorous aftermath of a hurricane he lived through. At first glance, this may just look like a toppled silo — but look to the right, and you’ll see a bridge that was also destroyed by the storm. Whether by fate or a funny coincidence, the silo now serves as a substitute bridge directly beside the fallen one.

Eric Sloane loved bells as the traditional way of celebrating the Fourth of July, but there were other ways of celebrating besides bells and fireworks, too. In this illustration from The Sound of Bells, Sloane documents other creative ways that we used to celebrate Independence Day with all sorts of animals and insects that we share the land with.

What are some unique ways that you’ve celebrated Independence Day?

10/08/2026

The worst thing a pilot can do is panic — that, and forgetting to use their oxygen mask! Eric Sloane illustrated “Your Body in Flight for the US Army Air Corp” during World War II. The manual served as a teaching aid to pilots about the effects of flying on the human body. Though the cartoonish illustrations may seem like a strange stylistic choice for military instruction, it was found to be the most efficient way to new recruits to quickly digest the load of information.

Though this manual used to be restricted to military eyes only, we are lucky to now own a copy of this fascinating piece of history at the Eric Sloane Museum. If you’re interested in the clouds and weather, stop by to check out our collection of Sloane’s research, art, and books on the topic

Today’s Inktober drawing comes from Eric Sloane’s Do’s and Don’ts of Yesterday, a compilation of tips, tricks, and social etiquette from colonial America. This humorous drawing tells readers: DON’T slack on personal hygiene.

10/05/2026

One of the many great things about our exhibits is getting to see how Sloane used his antique tool collection as references for his books and illustrations. Using the illustrations alongside the antique tools and objects enables us to tell an interesting story not just about the tools, historic trades, or American folkways, but about Sloane himself!

continues with Sloane’s illustration of various hammers and their usage

10/04/2026

These stone mile markers are interesting relics of the 1700s — Sloane thought so, too! Despite being only a year apart in age, one of these two stones uses Roman numerals, while the other uses our modern numeral system.

Mile markers became required by Connecticut law in 1767. Some of these relics have been preserved by local residents, and can still be found beside roads throughout the state.

If you know of an antique mile marker in New England, feel free to share its location here for anyone interested in seeing one for themselves

10/01/2026

Inktober is back at the Eric Sloane Museum!

Throughout October, we will feature a selection of Sloane’s pen-and-ink works tied to the Inktober daily prompts through posts and stories. Be sure to follow along!

We hope you enjoy Day 1: APPLE

Apple pie, apple c***r, and candied apples are just a few of the signature apple treats we associate with fall -- but did you know that early Americans particularly enjoyed apple butter?
Here at the Eric Sloane Museum, we have countless tools for making apple butter on display, including shovels, paddles, and more. Like many of our tools, the recipe originally came from Europe- Germany, to be specific- and was made an American tradition by the immigrants who brought it across the pond.
Here is a recipe as featured in Eric Sloane’s “The Seasons of America Past”.
“Apple Butter- For two gallons, use one bushel of peeled and quartered apples. Dump into a large kettle with just enough water to start cooking. Cook over a hot fire (outdoors preferably). Mix one gallon of c***r and three pounds of sugar, add spices (1/8 cup of allspice, 1/4 cup of cloves, 1/2 cup of cinnamon), and boil to the consistency of molasses. Add this mixture to apples and stir continuously for about 7 hours. Then bank the fire and allow to cool. “

What other traditional treats and recipes should we highlight during this upcoming fall and winter?
Inktober provides daily prompts to encourage artists to draw throughout October.

09/19/2026

Before founding the Eric Sloane Museum, Sloane displayed his antique tool collection in his own home and invited visitors over as though it were a museum. These photos are just a few examples of what Sloane’s collection looked like before it was permanently installed in the Eric Sloane Museum. Until recently, these photos were some of the only references we had for Sloane’s work before the museum’s creation.

Be sure to stop by and experience Eric Sloane: American Modern by Wil Mauch for yourself. The exhibit is now on display until the end of the 2026 museum season. Mauch’s replicas of Sloane’s Placements, works of art that led to the creation of the museum, let visitors explore the evolution of Sloane’s artistic journey and antique American tool exhibits. Plan your visit to learn more about these lost works of art, how the museum came to be, and to join a tour of Eric Sloane’s recreated studio!

09/11/2026

Have you heard? Yankee Magazine listed the Eric Sloane Museum as a must-see destination for your 2026 fall road trip!
Planning an autumnal adventure? Be sure to check out the latest issue for amazing road trip ideas!
The museum is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm until October 25th. Check the link in our bio to help plan your visit!

We can never resist sharing this 1973 Yankee Magazine cover featuring Sloane’s work, ”Summer Place,” from our collection.

09/10/2026

Exhibit Extended Due to Popular Demand!

Eric Sloane: American Modern by Wil Mauch is now on display until the end of the 2026 museum season. Mauch’s replicas of Sloane’s Placements, works of art that led to the creation of the museum, let visitors explore the evolution of Sloane’s artistic journey and antique American tool exhibits for themselves.

These featured photographs found in our archive illustrate examples of Sloane’s Placements. These displays were eventually reworked into the Eric Sloane Museum’s current permanent collection in 1969.

Be sure to plan your visit before we close for the winter on October 25th, 2026, to learn more about these lost works of art, how the museum came to be, and to join a tour of Eric Sloane’s recreated studio!

Stay tuned for additional announcements regarding the exhibit closing reception on November 15th!

08/07/2026

It’s been an incredibly busy summer here at the museum! So busy that we have not done the best at keeping up on our social media channels.
Stay tuned as we do our best to play catch-up with recaps of all the great programs we have had and all the fun to come.
In the meantime, enjoy this very Sloane-esque view of the museum and the clouds.

07/04/2026

Happy Independence Day! What better way to celebrate than with bell ringing?

In the early 1960s, Eric Sloane and Eric Hatch encouraged their fellow citizens to resurrect the tradition of bell ringing on Independence Day. President Kennedy eventually recognized these efforts in 1963, when July 4th was declared ‘National Bell Ringing Day.’

We continue to honor this tradition and wish you a Happy Independence Day!

Address

31 Kent-Cornwall Road (Route 7)
Kent, CT
06757

Website

https://portal.ct.gov/ECD-EricSloaneMuseum

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Eric Sloane Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Eric Sloane Museum:

Want your business to be the top-listed contractor in Kent?