Overview
If you travel through New England, you can't keep from journeying alongside or crossing over the Connecticut River. Many of us do it twice a day without giving it a second thought. But we should. New England's largest river is vital to our history, our economy, our ecosystems and our future energy needs. In this exhibit you'll enjoy an immersive and interactive exploration of its entire 400-mile trek. No wetsuit required.
River's Journey
Navigate the entre length of the Connecticut River by helicopter, from its source along the Canadian border to its mouth on Long Island Sound. A specialized spin browser lets you speed up or slow down your video trip as you cruise 100 feet above the rushing waters. Check out all the many points of interests along your ride, including more than a dozen landmarks and geological formations highlighted by special pop-up presentations.
Down By The River
This exhibit features a book unlike any other you've ever seen. It's super-sized - literally. Each turn of the interactive pages reveals another fascinating story and animated glimpse into the history of the Connecticut River from a variety of different viewpoints – historical, industrial, social, technological, ecological and environmental. That's one awesome book.
Wet Lab
Put on your research gear, it's time to investigate water samples from the Connecticut River. Using microscopes, pH meters, and other specialized high-tech meters and lab equipment, you'll search for organisms that indicate water quality, test for pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen content and conductivity of heavy metals. Based on your personal findings, you'll gauge the health of the river's ecosystem in rural, suburban and urban settings.
Habitat Junction
Obviously, we're not the only ones living along the river. Scores of fish and wildlife call the Connecticut River home. This exhibit lets you get up close to them in their habitats - and we do mean close! In our Wet Lab, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at our tanks and experience the amazing diversity of the River's ecosystem and start to understand just how much these creatures depend on natural spaces along the river for food and shelter. It’s time to see just how amazing the Connecticut River watershed really is!