Slater Memorial Museum - Norwich, Connecticut

Lisa Crawford

I just went for the first and had a great time. Very impressive little museum! The plaster cast exhibit is amazing. We were lucky to have a docent guide us through and explain the process and history. Truly amazing. They have wonderful art exhibits as well. It was a great day! Thank you to the Director, Carolyn, and staff!

Matt Justaddwata

WOW!! Have to say I was really caught off guard with how impressive this museum is. I really was not sure what to expect and never realized it was on NFA grounds. Such a beautiful building and so many things to see in a well curated display.

The student art was equally well presented and well worth a look.

Peter Jursik

The main draw is the large collection of plaster casts of ancient sculptures displayed in a beautifully preserved Richardsonian Romanesque building. Both interior and exterior are largely unchanged since construction in the 1880s. Especially impressive are the original wood columns, beams, and trusses, along with the original wood paneled ceilings under a huge gable roof, a barrel vault, and a cone-topped tower. Charming, knowledgeable, and accommodating staff.

Richard Levy

A unique museum. If you are interested in Greek and Roman sculpture, the Slater Museum has a collection of plaster casts which you will not find anywhere else. In the 19th and 20th century, art students would use these resources to develop their drawing skills. Many of these collections from the past have been dispersed or destroyed. A rare opportunity to see so many full scale works of antiquity even if they are must made of plaster. I wish the museum was closer to home, I would be their with my sketch pad. There is also a fine collection of African sculpture and masks.

Elle Troeger

I'm biased because of my legacy. My grandfather taught at the high school for 35 years and ate his lunch at the top of Slater tower everyday. My mother is a docent at the Museum with what seems like a group of other talented retired teachers from the area whom all love art and history.

All biases aside, I do frequent a lot of small museums (with and without Mom) and this one has always been impressive with the greco-roman cast collection. In recent years, there have been quite a lot of upgrades and changes so if you went to school here decades ago, it is worth another look!

If I were to offer feedback to the exhibit designers, I do think that moving the Pieta (Michelangelo) to a corner was the wrong move. That piece had so much weight and meaning where it was before. The keystone former location is now occupied by lots and lots of text, kiosks, and no actual art. It feels like a wasted opportunity to anchor the second level floor plan.

Jack Halibozek

Wonderful architecture and an amazing collection of castings from original sculptures from antiquity. Also displayed is art of all types from the 19th century to current day. Not a large collection but you can easily spend 3 or more hours taking it all in.

P Q

Had no idea this was even here until I did some real searching. They should probably advertise more, as it is a real gem. Over 200 plaster casts of the most famous statues of antiquity, done when the process was still legal, by Italian artisans. Slater couldn't bring over the real thing, but he had the money to have copies made! Now we can all see these amazing works of art even if we can't get to Italy and Greece.

Jerry Lipchus

Excellent museum, art work,jewelry, artifacts, furniture and information on the founders of the NFA and the museum. Very interesting.