Knights Of Columbus Open Museum In City Of Order’s Founding

NEW HAVEN — After six years of planning and construction, one of the state’s newest attractions opened this past spring. Emphasizing the need to preserve a commendable and noteworthy history of volunteerism and community services, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson cut the ribbon and helped unveil the visually dramatic Knights of Columbus Museum.

The museum is celebrating its grand open with free admission for all of its visitors during the first year of operation. It is located at 1 State Street, directly across from New Haven Coliseum in the former Community Services Building.

Mr Anderson noted that the purpose of the free admission is to “invite our neighbors, the residents of Connecticut, all Americans, and all international visitors, to learn about the remarkable history, purpose and dedication of the 1.6-million-member international Knights of Columbus. It is the largest Catholic fraternal and family order in the world.” Knights of Columbus was founded in New Haven in 1882.

Mr Anderson added that the museum’s appeal would bring in many visitors of all creeds, not just Catholics.

“The history of the Knights of Columbus is also the history of world, through war and peace, through persecution and prosperity,” he said. “The Order is also uniquely American in its origin. It was founded here 119 years ago.

“Yet, through its long history, and its long international expansion, the Knights have remained faithful to their founding, bedrock principles: Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. These are admirable principles which all good people embrace. We welcome everyone to talk through our history,” Mr Anderson continued.

The new museum mixes history and art, temporary and permanent exhibitions, and programs.

The museum idea was born 20 years ago, as the Knights prepared to commemorate the 100th anniversary of their founding. Father Michael J. McGivney held the first Knights meetings in the basement of St Mary’s Church, on Hillside Avenue in New Haven.

In 1980, the Knights of Columbus headquarters, an impressive 300-foot-high skyscraper on the opposite side of the Coliseum, began collecting significant items from its past and documenting its relevant history. Then-Supreme Knight Virgil C. Dechant realized the possibilities of the treasure chest of history and art that was available.

“With 11,500 local Knights of Columbus branches around the globe, the collection of significant artifacts and mementos soon grew beyond the capacity of the existing museum, as did the volume of visitor requests. The need for a new, much larger museum soon became obvious,” remarked Mr Dechant.

More than six years in the planning, conversion and construction, the result is an emotional, state-of-the-art experience for people of all ages.

There is an easy, self-guided flow to the museum, facilitated by the design of the building and a printed guide supplied to each visitor. As visitors begin their tour, they are shown an introductory film in the theatre. It provides a six-minute preview and explanation of the permanent exhibitions.

Inside the Father Michel J. McGivney Gallery and Reliquary, the story is told of the soft-spoken, gentile young priest who helped to make history. Although he died at the early age of 38, his legacy lives on in the Order that he founded. Father McGivney is under consideration for sainthood by the Vatican.

The epic story of navigator and explorer Christopher Columbus is presented next in the Columbus Gallery. As the Catholic discoverer of the Americas, his impact on world history made him the most appropriate patron of the Order. Included are artifacts from Columbus’ second voyage of exploration in 1493, the 1892 Columbus Exposition, and the recent 1992 quincentenery commemorations.

A majestic 17th Century statue of Saint Peter, the first pope, welcomes visitors to the Papal Gallery and to the magnificence and solemnity of Vatican City. The gallery documents the Knights of Columbus’ close working relationship with the Holy See in Rome.

The largest gallery is the Wall of History. Visitors begin the journey with the birth of the Order and follow its growth through secular and religious conflicts, through wars and international upheavals, through the Depression, fascism and communism, to the dawn of the new millennium. As the “Defenders of the Faith,” the Knights remain faithful to their founding principles, and to their commitment to the preservation of the family.

Noteworthy in the “Wall of History” is an enormous decorative vase presented to the Knights by the government of France for the Order’s outstanding war relief work for the troops on the Western Front during World War I. Visitors will also see the 1946 application for membership in the Knights of Columbus of a young correspondent then living in Boston – Navy veteran John F. Kennedy.

As visitors enter the Library Gallery they are able to read excerpts from some of the rare books and documents from the Order’s archives.

The last permanent gallery is the States Gallery, where valuable artifacts and mementos are displayed from the 11,500 Knights’ councils located around the world.

The “Changing Exhibits Gallery” and the “Upper Lobby” are used for temporary exhibitions, program and events. Located next to the exit, the museum’s gift shop offers unique mementos, books, clothing and gifts.

Free parking is available under the museum building in an open-air garage. The entrance is on State Street, southbound, opposite New Haven Coliseum.

The Connecticut-based award-winning architectural firm of Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo & Associates completely redesigned the interior of the 77,000-square-foot structure, and the result is outstanding. The building now seems to have always been intended to be a visually dramatic museum, with impressive lines of sight that draw the visitor into the different galleries.

Conversion of the building into a museum was undertaken by the general contractor Petra Construction of North Haven.

The museum is currently open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, including all holidays. Winter hours, effective after the first Tuesday after Labor Day, are Wednesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. The museum will open at 11 am on Sunday (closing at 5 pm) during winter months. It will be closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Good Friday.

For general information, call 203-865-0400. For group tour information and reservations, call 203-865-0320.