Barnum Museum
Also known as Barnum Institute of Science and History
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About Barnum Museum
Barnum Museum, at 805 Main St., was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Nov 7, 1972: the first place in Bridgeport to be listed. Only 118 of Connecticut’s 1,629 listings are older. The Register lists it for its architecture, social history and performing arts, at the national level. It describes its style as Romanesque, as it does for 45 other Connecticut listings. Eight more Register listings are within a quarter mile.
What it isHistory Museum in Connecticut, U.S. From Wikidata (CC0). Read about it on Wikipedia ↗
PDFRead the original nominationThe form that put it on the Register, with its history, photos and a map · 38 MB · National Archives↗1893 to today
- 1893Built, designed by George W. Longstaff
- 1972Added to the National Register of Historic Places
- 2026On the Register for 54 years
Make it a walk: 5 landmarks in about 10 minutes
805 Main St., Bridgeport · about 0.3 miles on foot, as the crow flies
18 more Register listings within half a mile
★ National Historic Landmark · D district · B building · S site. Each opens its own page.
Romanesque style, nearby
Other National Register listings within 25 miles described as Romanesque.
Memories of Barnum Museum
The record says what it is. Neighbors know what it means.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Questions about Barnum Museum
Is Barnum Museum on the National Register of Historic Places?
Yes. It was added on Nov 7, 1972 (Register number 72001300).
Is Barnum Museum a National Historic Landmark?
No. It is on the National Register; Connecticut has 64 National Historic Landmarks. The nearest is Birdcraft Sanctuary, 4.2 miles away.
Can you visit Barnum Museum?
Yes: it is open to visitors. Check opening times before you go.
Where can I read the history of Barnum Museum?
In its National Register nomination, the form that put it on the Register: a 38 MB PDF at the National Archives, linked on this page.
Sources: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places (05/22/2026) · National Archives catalog record 132353720 · Wikidata. Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.