Nineteen museums within Connecticut are participating in Smithsonian magazine's 12th annual Museum Day Live! on Saturday, September 24.

On that day only, participating museums across the United States emulate the spirit of the Smithsonian Institution's Washington D.C.-based facilities, which offer free admission every day, and open their doors for free to those who download a Museum Day Live! ticket.

Inclusive by design, the event represents Smithsonian's commitment to make learning and the spread of knowledge accessible to everyone.

"Museums are keepers of the public trust and provide people the rare opportunity to interact with real treasures, rather than just view them online. Museum Day Live! gives the public a chance to experience a new museum or an old favorite and immerse themselves in art and culture which is so beneficial to our society," said Louise DeMars, New England Carousel Museum executive director. The Bristol museum is one of those in Connecticut selected to participate in this year's event.

Also participating will be American Clock & Watch Museum, in Bristol; The Bruce Museum, Greenwich; Connecticut Historical Society and Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, both in Hartford; Custom House Maritime Museum and Lyman Allyn Art Museum, both in New London;

Danbury Museum & Historical Society; Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington; Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center; The Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury; New Britain Museum of American Art;

New Haven Museum (New Haven Museum & Historical Society) and Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, both in New Haven; Old Tolland County Court House Museum and Old Tolland County Jail & Museum, both in Tolland; Roseland Cottage, Woodstock; Walsh Gallery at the Fairfield University Art Museum, Fairfield; and William Benton Museum of Art, Storrs.

The Museum Day Live! ticket is available for download at www.smithsonian.com/museumday. One ticket will gain entrance to two participating venues.

Organizers are asking those who participate in Museum Day Live! 2016 to share their experiences through social media: @MuseumDay #BoundlessCuriosity and/or #MuseumDayLive