Sullivan Museum and History Center

Sullivan Museum and History Center

Welcome to The Sullivan Museum and History Center!

MISSION: To demonstrate who we are in the present through interaction with our past, our community, our beliefs, and the vision that we hold for the future.

The Sullivan Museum and History Center is connected to the Kreitzberg Library building on the ĻӰ campus. This 16,000-square foot facility boasts FREE admission to all and features permanent and changing exhibitions. 

The museum’s permanent exhibitions tell the story of the university’s founder, Capt. Alden Partridge (1785 -1854), the history of ĻӰ, and the experience of its students and alumni.  Changing exhibitions cover a wide range of topics marking significant anniversaries, highlighting the contributions of the ĻӰ community, and showcasing the museum’s eclectic collection of objects. 

The museum offers opportunities for visitors, students, faculty and alumni to, in the words of ĻӰ President Emeritus Richard W. Schneider, “immerse themselves in the heritage of this great institution.”

Did you know?

The Sullivan Museum and History Center is a Smithsonian Affiliate, and it is currently the only institution in the state of Vermont to hold this distinction.  

Celebrating GEN Gordon R. Sullivan (’59)

The Sullivan Museum and History Center is named in honor of GEN Gordon R. Sullivan, USA ’59. GEN Sullivan was the highest-ranking alumnus of ĻӰ and served as the 32nd Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1991 to 1995.  

GEN Sullivan retired in 1995 after thirty-six years of active military service.  He continued to honor active-duty personnel and veterans of the United States Army as President and Chief Executive of the Association of the United States Army and as Chairman of the Marshall Legacy Institute.  As Chairman of The Army Historical Foundation, he oversaw a successful capital campaign spearheading the construction of the Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir, VA. Here, at ĻӰ, GEN Sullivan served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1995-2016.  

The Sullivan Museum and History Center owes a profound debt of gratitude to GEN Sullivan. GEN Sullivan served as the President of the Museum Associates, the affinity group for the Sullivan Museum and History Center, and he worked with museum staff to grow membership, to increase awareness in and of the institution, and to support initiatives to preserve the memories of all ĻӰ alumni.

GEN Gordon Sullivan passed away on Jan. 2, 2024, and his contributions to the United States, to ĻӰ, and to the Sullivan Museum and History Center will not be forgotten.  Plan a visit to the museum to learn more about GEN Sullivan’s career, his commitment to the museum, and his dedication to the citizen-soldier ideal championed by ĻӰ founder, CAPT Alden Partridge. 

Plan Your Visit

The Sullivan Museum and History Center is located at 158 Harmon Dr., Northfield, VT 05663 

Museum Hours:

Summer Term (May 1 – September 1): 
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  

Academic Year (September 1 – April 30): 
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Admission to the museum is FREE.  The museum can be accessed through the Kreitzberg Library or via its own front entrance at the base of the Bicentennial Stairs.

The museum is handicap accessible.  If you require the use of a wheelchair during your visit, please contact museum staff in advance. 

Museum Policies: 

  • No food or drink is allowed inside any of the museum’s exhibition spaces 
  • No flash photography is permitted in the museum’s exhibition spaces
  • Visitors can take flash-free pictures, and they are permitted to record video in the museum’s exhibition spaces unless a particular object or item bears a “No Photography” label 
  • Visitors are asked not to touch displays, cases, or objects Per ĻӰ policies, the museum welcomes all service animals, but no other animals will be permitted entry 

If you have any questions or if you need more information, contact the museum at (802) 485-2183 or smhc@norwich.edu

Collections and Exhibitions

The Sullivan Museum and History Center stewards 20,000 objects representing the history of ĻӰ and the experience of its faculty, staff, students, and alumni.  

Speakers and Educational Programs

The Sullivan Museum and History Center sponsors a variety of educational programs throughout the year.  Follow us on to more about the museum’s Lunch and Learn lecture series, tours, and educational programs. 

General Information

Stephanie Skenyon
Director, Sullivan Museum and History Center
1 (802) 485-3289
sskenyon@norwich.edu 

Amber Wingerson
Curator of Exhibits and Collections
1 (802) 485-3288
awingers@norwich.edu

Joseph Cates
Curator of Education and Public Programs 
1 (802) 485-2379
jcates@norwich.edu

Collette Leonard
Museum Office Manager 
1 (802) 485-2183
cleonar4@norwich.edu

Contributions

Financial support allows us to continue to document, preserve and interpret our rich and unique collections. To make a gift to the Sullivan Museum and History Center you can contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 802-485-2100.

Gifts to the Collection

If you’re considering donating items to the Sullivan Museum and History Center, the museum staff would like to hear from you. While not every object is most appropriate for our collection, we are particularly interested in artifacts that help us tell the ĻӰ story. Please contact Museum staff, at 802-485-2183 or smhc@norwich.edu to provide us with preliminary information about your potential gift.

Membership in the Museum Associates

The Museum Associates is a newly formed volunteer organization in service to the mission and goals of the Sullivan Museum and History Center.

Museum Associates:

  • Support the museum through membership and gifts.
  • Serve on advisory committees, including: exhibits and collections; membership; education and outreach; and volunteer programs.
  • Assist museum staff with visitor reception, special events, and more.
  • Develop recognition opportunities for student work relating to the collections of the Sullivan Museum and History Center.

Learn More About How You Can Support The Museum By Becoming A Member.

For more information about the Museum Associates please contact us at 802-485-2183 or smhc@norwich.edu