FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NASHVILLE, TN (June 25, 2024) — The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) proudly announces that the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History is the recipient of an Award of Excellence for its special exhibition, The Bicycle Game. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 79th year, are the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.  

“The AASLH Award of Excellence truly acknowledges the quality of the research, compelling storytelling, and innovative interactivity that our team included in this exhibition,” Robert A. Kret, Executive Director and CEO of the Connecticut Museum said. “The exhibition’s success was in part due the depth of the Connecticut Museum’s collection and our team’s ability to tell history in fun and engaging ways, and it’s an honor to receive this national recognition.”   

On view from November 2022 to September 2023, The Bicycle Game explored the surge of popularity of the bicycle in the 1890s through an interactive and playable exhibition designed for visitors of all ages. In the galleries, visitors played a series of games and puzzles to discover the history of the bicycle and defeat an angry, time-traveling villain. From trivia to bicycle racing and shuffleboard, visitors relied on many skills to make their way through the game and preserve this pivotal moment in Connecticut history.   

“The exhibition team wanted to present a format that encouraged people to engage with the Connecticut Museum in a new way,” Katie Heidsiek, Senior Exhibition Developer said. “Our goal was for people to not only learn about Connecticut’s impressive role in bicycle history, but be able to play, interact, and laugh together while doing so.” 

The exhibition also received a 2023 Award of Merit from the Connecticut League of History Organizations. 

This year, AASLH confers 47 national awards honoring people, projects, exhibits, and publications. The winners represent the best in the field and provide leadership for the future of state and local history. The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards not only honor significant achievement in the field of state and local history, but also bring public recognition of the opportunities for small and large organizations, institutions, and programs to make contributions in this arena. For more information about the Leadership in History Awards, go to www.aaslh.org. 

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The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History is a private, nonprofit organization established in 1825 as the state’s premier historical society, and also serves as the state’s home for folk and traditional arts support since 2015. Located in the historic West End of Hartford, the Museum houses exhibitions, a library, a research center, and a vast collection that includes more than 4 million manuscripts, graphics, objects, and artifacts. The Museum strives to cultivate deep understanding of the history and culture of Connecticut, and its role in the United States and the world, through reflection of the past, active engagement with the present, and innovation for the future through our collections, research, educational programs, and exhibitions. To learn more about our ongoing exhibitions and events, please visit: connecticutmuseum.org. 

The American Association for State and Local History is a not-for-profit professional organization of individuals and institutions working to preserve and promote history. From its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, AASLH provides leadership, service, and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful to all people. AASLH publishes books, technical publications, a quarterly magazine, and maintains numerous affinity communities and committees serving a broad range of constituents across the historical community. The association also sponsors an annual meeting, regional and national training in-person workshops, and online training. 

Media Contact:

Samantha Skeels, Marketing and Communications Manager
Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
860-969-6089 x105
sskeels@connecticutmuseum.org 

Aja Bain, AASLH Senior Manager
of Professional Development and Publications
615-320-3203
abain@aaslh.org