Art, early-tool, and iron-industry museum

Eric Sloane Museum and Kent Iron Furnace

Directly adjacent to CAMA on the shared driveway, roughly a two-minute walk

Explore Eric Sloane's art and recreated studio, his collection of early American hand tools, Noah Blake Cabin, and the 1826 Kent Iron Furnace beside CAMA.

The place

About Eric Sloane Museum and Kent Iron Furnace

The Eric Sloane Museum is an independent Connecticut state museum devoted to artist, author, illustrator, and collector Eric Sloane. Its galleries show original art, a recreated paint-spattered studio, and the early American hand-tool collection Sloane arranged and labeled himself.

The grounds extend the story through the reconstructed Noah Blake Cabin and the ruins of the 1826 Kent Iron Furnace. The state describes an interpretive walking trail connecting visitors with the local iron industry; the furnace produced pig iron for almost 70 years and the site is recognized as a State Archaeological Preserve.

For 2026 the museum is open May 2 through October 25, Friday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Published admission is $10 for adults 18-65, $8 for seniors 65 and older, $5 for youth 6-17 and students, and free for children five and under. CAMA is directly adjacent on the shared driveway, but the two organizations have separate hours and admissions.

What stands out

Enter Sloane's studio

See a recreated working space, original art, illustrations, and rotating gallery displays.

Read the tool collection

Explore early American hand tools arranged and labeled by Sloane to tell a story of craft and work.

Step into Noah Blake Cabin

Connect Sloane's Diary of an Early American Boy with a reconstructed early-19th-century dwelling.

Walk to Kent Iron Furnace

Follow interpretive material to the 1826 granite blast-furnace ruins and local iron-industry story.

Pair it with the train

Why it belongs in a Connecticut Antique Machinery Association trip

CAMA identifies the Eric Sloane Museum as directly adjacent and sharing its driveway. The roughly 120-meter campus connection is walkable for many visitors, and all three September 25–27 Fall Festival days overlap the state museum's Friday-Sunday schedule.

Before you go

Plan your visit

  • 2026 seasonMay 2-October 25
  • HoursFriday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Adults 18-65$10
  • Seniors 65+$8
  • Youth 6-17 / students$5
  • Children 5 and underFree
  • From CAMADirectly adjacent on the shared driveway, roughly a two-minute walk
  • AccessibilityCTvisit lists the attraction as ADA compliant, but the checked state pages do not detail every trail, cabin, gallery, restroom, or route feature; call for trip-specific needs

Return to the machinery museum and train

Add Connecticut Antique Machinery Association

Use the CAMA guide for the confirmed Fall Festival ride horizon, museum hours, locomotive caveats, and live-event checks.

View the guide →

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

When is the Eric Sloane Museum open in 2026?

The state publishes May 2 through October 25, Friday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

How much is admission?

Adults 18-65 are $10, seniors 65 and older are $8, youth 6-17 and students are $5, and children five and under are free.

What can I see inside?

Highlights include Sloane's paintings and illustrations, his recreated studio, rotating galleries, and his early American hand-tool collection.

What is outside?

The grounds include Noah Blake Cabin and an interpretive walking trail to the ruins of the 1826 Kent Iron Furnace.

Can I pair it with a CAMA train day?

Yes. All three September 25–27 Fall Festival dates overlap the museum's Friday-Sunday hours. Admission and operations remain separate.

How far is it from CAMA?

CAMA says the museum is directly adjacent and shares the same driveway; the campus connection is roughly 120 meters.

Is everything wheelchair-accessible?

CTvisit lists ADA compliance, but the checked state pages do not give feature-by-feature details for trails, cabin, galleries, restrooms, or grades. Call 860-927-2150 for trip-specific needs.

Trust and accuracy

Sources

Source checked 2026-08-23. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.