By Katherine Devaney
Every Tuesday from 10:00am to 5:00pm, anyone can wander into the dazzling exhibits of the Bruce Museum free of charge, also known as ‘Free Admission Day’. A stroll through the numerous displays throughout the Museum will leave anyone inspired and in awe. On display today is Alaska’s thinning ice exhibit, which was recently written up in the New York Times, modernist landscape portraits and painting labor in Nineteenth-century Denmark, local Greenwich art and landscapes, and the permanent collection of geological and archaeological showcases that are based on the Connecticut school curriculum for natural history. No matter what spark one’s interest, it is assured one will find something within the Museum walls that will captivate.
The Free Admission Day program initiated in the 1992 Bruce Museum Management Agreement with the Town of Greenwich that states “in recognition of the ownership by the Town of the Museum and its collection, BMI (Bruce Museum, Inc) shall, should an admission charge hereafter be imposed for access to the Museum, designate one day per week upon which Greenwich residents shall be admitted to the Museum without charge.” Today, however, the agreement has expanded to a day of free admission for, not only residents, but all visitors.
According to Rebecca Gillan, who served as interim executive director from April 2024 – April 2025 and has been involved with numerous other roles at the Museum since 2018, Free Admission Day is an effort to “make the Museum accessible to all.” Mary Ann Lendenmann, the volunteer and digital marketing manager, adds that “the primary goal is to invite people to explore the arts, sciences, and natural history.”
Additionally, an anonymous donor enabled the Bruce to give free admission on weekends to anyone under 18 years old beginning on Saturday July 5th until August 31st, allowing for further accessibility and opportunities for people to explore.
On top of the multitude of visual entertainment, there are also a plethora of family oriented hands-on activities and special programming that occur throughout the year– many of which fall on Free Admission Day. Every Tuesday there is an exhibition highlights tour from 1:00pm to 2:00pm, where a guide will point out and explain the significance of the art within the Museum– the perfect way to dive further into the art and learn more than what one may discover by simply reading a plaque. There are also numerous children’s programs that fall on tuesdays. Upcoming Tuesday programming includes ‘Bruce Beginnings: Woven Paper Baskets,’ which takes place on June 10, 2025, 10–10:45 AM. Looking ahead, on Tuesday, June 17th there is the ‘Bruce Beginnings: Backyard Bugs’ program where children can learn about local insects and engage in hands-on craft.
The summer is also a perfect time to visit the Bruce Museum’s location at Tod’s point, the Seaside center, which opens on June 22nd and is entirely free of admission. The seasides center’s mission, according to the Bruce Museum website, is to “educate visitors on the ecology of Long Island Sound, raise awareness on environmental and wildlife conservation and instill knowledge of marine science.” The Seaside center sees up to 10,000 visitors each summer and is another amazing opportunity to learn something valuable about our environment.
Having a local establishment that not only acts as an oasis from the bustling life of Greenwich, but a vault of knowledge and entertainment, is truly a blessing for our town that should be cherished and utilized– especially on days when it comes at no cost. For any further questions regarding the Bruce Museum, be sure to check out the website at brucemusuem.org, or call at (203) 869-0376.
