At Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center (KTM&HC), located on four beautiful acres on Main Street in Ridgefield, 2026 is a major milestone year. The museum is a driving force behind the local commemoration of America’s semi-quicentennial – the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence – leading community collaborations, storytelling, and public programming that engage audiences of all ages to explore our nation’s history and collective identity.
But 2026 doesn’t just have broader national significance for KTM&HC – it’s also the museum’s 60th birthday! KTM&HC first opened its doors to the public on July 4, 1966, and for the past sixty years has been a beloved community institution – a place for learning, gathering, and ensuring that our site’s remarkable history is preserved for generations to come.
“The museum’s founders took a risk to devote their resources toward the preservation and sharing of our site’s and nation’s history,” says KTM&HC Executive Director Hildegard Grob. “Sixty years later, we know that risk paid off. As we continue to stand up for history at KTM&HC, now and for generations to come, we look, as always, to a sustained partnership with our community – it takes a village!”
In 1958, scholar and author Silvio Bedini described the Keeler Tavern – which dates back to 1713 and has withstood hundreds of years of history (including an American Revolution-era assault by British cannonballs!) – as “unquestionably the most important historic building . . . in Ridgefield.” The Ridgefield Press described an “act of faith” when far-sighted people decided to buy the landmark property “and preserve it for posterity as an historical monument and cultural center.” Fast forward to 2026, and the museum has grown into a nationally recognized site where upwards of 13,000 visitors, including almost 3,000 students, come each year.
“Keeler Tavern Museum and History Center is one of Connecticut’s historical landmark gems that draws together three centuries of local and national history through archives and lived experience, architectural vision, and outstanding educational programs and resources,” says Jason Mancini, Executive Director, CT Humanities.
To celebrate this major 60th-birthday milestone, KTM&HC is kicking off a series of initiatives, exhibitions, and events over the coming months, all designed to bring the community together as the museum looks back on its accomplishments over the years, showcases its many successes today, and looks forward to the exciting opportunities ahead.
It wouldn’t be a birthday without a birthday party – and all of KTM&HC’s friends are invited! Save the date for Saturday, September 19th, when the museum will celebrate sixty years with fun family activities, delicious food and drink, live music, and a historic tavern open house.
During the birthday party, KTM&HC will also debut an ambitious new exhibition that brings sixty years of museum contributions to life through meaningful items that have defined KTM&HC’s direction. 60 Objects for 60 Years will represent KTM&HC’s growth and success, with featured objects on display that represent institutional milestones, key people, interpretive highlights and shifts, major programs, events, and projects. The exhibition will feature a mix of archival documents, photos, three-dimensional objects, and immovable features (like the cannonball). Do you have a suggestion for an object that should be featured in our exhibition? Or a memory from a visit to KTM&HC in years past? Email KTM&HC at info@keelertavernmuseum.org to share your ideas and stories, and maybe your voice will be featured in the museum’s exhibition.
KTM&HC is a vital part of the local community. If you haven’t been recently (or ever), now, on the cusp of its 60th birthday, is the time to visit. Go to www.keelertavernmuseum.org and make plans to experience the museum’s compelling history. •
