Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut

In August 2025, I traveled to the Windsor area of Connecticut and spent three days visiting museums, stopping at historic sites, and walking in parks. On the second day of my adventure, I went to the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut (VRCMC). Across all of intense museum visitation, this museum exceeded expectation more than any other. In a year that included trips to famous stops Philadelphia, Washington DC, Old Sturbridge Village, and Plimoth Patuxet, along with dozens of other venues, this was the most unique, whimsical, and satisfying stop.

A brown wooden crate painted with words including Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph A white sign with stylized text reading Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut A wooden table laden with cameras from the 1930s through 1950s
A pair of player pianos with an upright on the left and grand on the right. In the background are shelves with many piano rolls. A vintage record player among shelves of electronics A three foot tall statue of a white dog with black ears

It is impossible to succinctly describe the scope and breadth of this museum. Visitors traveling on their own would quickly become overwhelmed. Fortunately, a tour of the museum came with multiple volunteer guides, each with highly specific knowledge of the technology. Museum director and founder John Ellsworth began the tour and handed it off each time he was called away to assist with donations. At least three different individuals either came in person or called about donations during my visit, which I had not experienced at any other museum. This frequency of donation appears to be the result of two factors: Ellsworth’s ability to convince people to donate, and his willingness to take nearly anything within the wide scope. The result is a collection that rivals its equivalent at Smithsonian, the main differences in the two institutions being that the Smithsonian enjoys a multi-billion dollar endowment and full-time professional staff, while VRCMC relies on fundraising and volunteers. Also, the collections at VRCMC have been restored to working order, and members of the public can touch them when given permission.

A movie player system with a film reel connected to a projector at the top and a record player connected to a speaker at the bottom A leather box with intricate metal stud work decorating the sides Floor to ceiling shelving filled with vintage phonographs and radios.
Radios from the 1930s through 1960s piled onto a wooden desk and shelving. A vintage jukebox glowing bright colors A 1950s era teletype machine

In an extremely truncated list, here are some of the items you can find at the museum. In the atrium are a pair of foot pump operated player pianos, with the upright piano on the left and the grand piano on the right. The pianos are in working order and include a massive catalogue of playable rolls, the largest collection I have seen. Also in this area was a collection of cameras from the 1930s through 1950s. Inside the main museum, highlights included one of the few surviving shipping crates for the Edison diamond disc phonograph, a Simplex Sound Motion-Picture Projector from the 1920s, a Teletype Model 28 that has been programmed to print the headlines of the day using clever code and a Raspberry Pi, several working jukeboxes, a case full of vacuum tubes, and a historic 1954 TV that showed the first in-color production of the Tournament of Roses Parade.

A man reaches into a vintage jukebox machine to add a record The lid to a jukebox is open to show the mechanics inside. Volunteers in matching blue shirts surround a jukebox.
Bronze plaques with the portrait and names of honorees hang on a plain wall A cabinet with multiple shelves all filled with vacuum tubes Three shelves filled with small to mid-sized vintage TVs.

If the main floor was not enough, curious visitors could stop by the backrooms, where technologically savvy volunteers were fixing donated electronics. On the day of my visit, a vintage jukebox was getting put back in order. This area also stored National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame plaques. On the opposite side of the main floor was a working ham radio station where three volunteers spoke to fellow radio enthusiasts on their own sets. A working recording studio filled with rare records was the final stop on the tour. I had initially visited the museum in the morning but returned in the afternoon to see more and could have spent another full day (or a week) at the museum without having seen everything.

Large TVs on the floor with small TVs stacked on top A pair of massive coils about five feet in height. An article from QST Amateur Radio is taped to the right coil A radio station with a 1970s setup including cassette tapes, microphone, sound board, and related equipment.

This museum combines passionate experts, rare artifacts, and one-of-a-kind interactives to create an experience that cannot be found anywhere else and likely could not be replicated. I wish the museum was located closer to me so that I could visit regularly. Be warned that those sensitive to electronic sounds may be bothered by parts of the museum; the CTR televisions emit a high-pitched screech at exactly 15,625 Hz. Admission is $10 for adults; $7 for seniors ages 60+; $5 for students, visitors with disabilities, and military; and $0 for children under 5 plus NEMA members (like me!). The museum is open all year on Thursday through Sunday with open times being somewhat variable; check the website before you go. If you are interested electronics, this is a must visit.


Abby Epplett’s Rating System

Experience: 10/10

Accessibility: 7/10



Location: 115 Pierson Ln, Windsor, CT 06095, USA