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07/10/2023 01:25 PMThe Shore Line Trolley Museum is offering perks to its visitors this summer through federal and state initiatives to bring local transportation history to children, those in military service, and the community at large.
For the first year, the museum has joined others around the country to be part of the Blue Star Museums initiative, a federal program through which those who are currently serving in the American armed forces are provided free admission for a day.
The museum has received praise for its participation from the National Endowment for the Arts, one of the program’s parent organizations.
“We thank the 2023 Blue Star Museums, who invite military personnel and their families to experience the many wonders they have to offer, whether it’s a glimpse into the past, an encounter with awe-inspiring art, or a moment of discovery,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “The Shore Line Trolley Museum is helping to enrich the lives of military families and build meaningful connections between our nation’s military and their local community.”
John Proto, the executive director of the trolley museum, said its participation in the Blue Star program is “a way to support and recognize our active military” and offer them an opportunity to experience history for a day while they are home.
“Active military is very transient…they’re only here for a short period of time in a lot of cases. And we want to, you know, we want to make sure that their stay in Connecticut is as pleasurable as it can be,” said Proto.
Regarding that chance to catch what Jackson called “a glimpse into the past,” Proto mentioned a link between trolleys and military men of the past in major conflicts.
“Especially the Connecticut trolleys…[they] would bring the service members to the local train stations where they would get deployed during World War One or World War Two,” said Proto. “A lot of times what I’ll say to people is, especially when they board a Connecticut car, that plenty of mothers and fathers saw their service boys go off to fight in the war. And in some cases, the last time they saw them was on the trolley, and a lot of times they were there to recognize them when they got back.”
Active service people can take advantage of the Blue Star initiative perk of free admission until Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4.
The second initiative in which the trolley museum will be participating for the third consecutive year is the Connecticut Summer at the Museum program, which will offer free admission to those aged 18 and younger, along with one accompanying adult. The program is available during the museum’s regular “Trolley Rides and Museum Tour” days from Wednesday through Sunday and runs until Friday, Sept. 1.
The initiative is another opportunity for visitors, specifically children, to step back into the past and experience what life was like in Connecticut when trolleys were a popular form of transportation in and out of state.
“You get to step into the portrait, and you get to experience what life was like by going on a trolley ride on the trolley line that connected East Haven to Branford,” said Proto. “It’s a magical place because you can step on a Brooklyn trolley car, and you may be going over the Brooklyn Bridge, or you may be going to a Dodgers game. You may be going to downtown New Haven shopping. When you step on the car, you’re pretty much anywhere you want to be, experiencing what it must have been like for transportation back then. And kids love railroads. Kids love trains.”
Aside from free admission through the two initiatives, discounts are also being offered in other ways at the museum this summer. One of the ways is to pick up passes at local libraries in the area, which Proto said offers up to four admissions at half the price of regular admission. Passes are available at Hagaman Memorial Library, North Haven Memorial Library, Atwater Memorial Library in North Branford, and Blackstone Memorial Library in Branford.
Proto said discounts this summer are also being offered to K-12 and college educators, who must show their school ID to verify their discounted admission.
Finally, Proto said the community can enjoy attending several fundraisers being held at the museum this summer by various nonprofits under its “Giving Back to the Community” program.
“Every Wednesday in July and August, we’ve got a nonprofit that we are opening our grounds to free of charge. An example is Old Stone Church is going to be here on Aug. 2, and they’re going to have a wine and cheese [fundraiser],” said Proto.
Other nonprofits holding fundraisers at the museum include the food sustainability group Haven’s Harvest on July 12, the medical care Project Access group on Wednesday, July 26, the Women and Family Life Center on Wednesday, Aug. 9, and the Community Dining Room from Branford on Saturday, Aug. 19.