American Clock & Watch Museum
American Clock & Watch Museum
4.5
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Join us for a fascinating trip back in time. This fascinating museum boasts one of the largest displays of American-made timepieces in the world. Designated as one of Connecticut's cultural treasures, the museum was founded in 1952, officially opened to the public in 1954, and has been a destination for visitors from all over the world for almost 70 years. Partially housed in a historic 1801 home, the property boasts approximately 10,000 sq. ft of exhibit space spread across eight gallery spaces. With over 1500 timekeepers on display and many that chime & strike on the hour, you're sure to find something to pique your interest! The gift shop has a wide variety of clock-related gifts and books. The museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. Museum members admitted FREE, Adults $8, Seniors $7, Students 6-17 (or with college ID) $5, Children under 6 admitted FREE. Group tour rates available for 10 or more visitors. Call for details.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingWhat is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
134 within 5 kms
Attractions
47 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
114 reviews
Excellent
78
Very good
31
Average
3
Poor
2
Terrible
0
R C
Nashua, NH19 contributions
Jul 2022
An excellent display of small & large clocks and watches dating back to the 1700s. Each item had a card wth dates and origin with detailed information.. Excellently laid out. The only person on duty started the self-guided tour with a very good explanation of what to look for prior to sending us off on our own. She was always available to answer questions and actually went on the internet to answer questions I had. Vey helpful.
Written 28 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
b w
Coral Springs, FL112 contributions
Oct 2022
Wow, this place exceeded expectations. I was overwhelmed by the massive amount of beautiful clocks and all things related to clocks and watches. And the home in which the museum is housed (pun intended) was really lovely also.
Written 6 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
paul2k147
Amityville, NY6 contributions
Sept 2021
We traveled as a club to Bristol CT from Long Island NY. My only complaint is we only allowed ourselves a couple of hours here! We really, really needed another day or two just inside this museum, so my wife and I are already planning to come back!
Tip #1 - GO FIND THE clock with the flying regulator. It's absolutely amazing to see!!
Tip #2 - Ask more questions. The staff is SUPER helpful and very knowledgeable.
Tip #3 - Allow extra time here as you won't want to leave!
Tip #1 - GO FIND THE clock with the flying regulator. It's absolutely amazing to see!!
Tip #2 - Ask more questions. The staff is SUPER helpful and very knowledgeable.
Tip #3 - Allow extra time here as you won't want to leave!
Written 25 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rosy1970
Westport, CT125 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
The museum was bigger and more interesting than I had expected. There are so many beautiful clocks and a lot of interesting information. We learned about Connecticut’s role in manufacturing clocks and in the industrial revolution in America. I highly recommend this museum. The set up is very well done and the staff is nice and helpful!
Written 19 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HappyCouple2867
21 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
My second visit to the museum. $6 entry fee there is a family discount. Not a good place for young kids however a good example of history of clocks in ct.
Written 25 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TracyM6942
Framingham, MA11 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
Enjoyed this even though I am not a clock person. Interesting to walk around and see all the difference clocks and how they work. Cheap for 1-3 hours of entertainment. I thought, wrongly, that many of the clocks would "go off" at noon and that was disappointing for me. Unfortunately, only a few of the clocks were in working order. Still very neat to walk around and I liked it! :)
Written 20 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bangsibear
Cambridge, MA221 contributions
Jul 2014 • Business
Bristol CT was the birthplace of the American clock industry and this small museum is a tribute to that legacy. Although they may not suggest it, start with the history exhibition near the back of the museum to get a good overview of the industry and its place in American history. Then wander through the two historic buildings to marvel at the beautiful collection of clocks (and smaller collection of watches). If you are visiting with kids, ask for the scavenger hunt.
Written 17 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ricky R
Bristol Connecticut USA129 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
Bristol CT was once the clock making hub of the country manufacturing and shipping millions of clocks and watches per year all over the world with the best known brands being Sessions and Ingraham. This museum preserves that great history, Great exhibits and knowledgeable people. Great for adults and older kids who have an interest. Even if you never thought much about clock making or don't have a family connections like lots of us locals, you will mostly likely still find it fascinating. 12 noon is a good time to be there.
Written 1 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alftul
New York City, NY542 contributions
May 2013 • Friends
If you are in or near city of Bristol in Connecticut don’t listen to the folks who say that this city can boast with the ESPN headquarters only. If you are American patriot, if you love our history and something beautiful, interesting and unusual, find their local ( and All The Country!) pride - American Clock & Watch Museum. You will never regret and, believe me, all your smart friends will be happy to follow your steps. Here you can forget your current problems, because in this great museum almost nothing is close to TODAY. You easily step far back in time, because (very few know that!) here, in Bristol they had a center of American clock industry within several centuries. I really enjoyed their finest collection of American-made (and not only!) timekeepers, many unique masterpieces among them. If you are an artist, if you like precision mechanics, if you could understand great artistic design, this place is for you. I has visited the museum on May 18th and was pleasantly surprised to see here a huge group if tourists from new York. Now watch my photo report and see to yourself if this great museum is worth of your time. You’ll be happy, because museum’s people can not only keep the collection of timepieces, but they have got a talent to make a masterpiece of the piece of your personal time, which turns here into your own Collection of The Great Pleasure. Look at the portrait of the executive director of the museum, Ms. Jennifer Carroll and you’ll realize that only happy director of the happy place can look the way she does. Thanks again!
alftul
alftul
Written 21 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
starla729
Burlington, CT166 contributions
Oct 2011 • Couples
I've lived in Bristol for years but never been to this museum. One rainy day I decided to check it out!
Admission is very reasonable ($5). When we arrived we were instructed to start at the section that went over the history of clock making. I found this to be very interesting. There were lots of real samples of how the progression of clock making changed over the years.
In addition to the written material that accompanied the displays, you could dial a special number on your cell phone and listen to an audio about each exhibit you were at. The exhibits were numbered, and that corresponded with the prompts that you could enter on your phone. I found it enjoyable to listen to the audio while looking at the exhibits.
After the clock making history exhibit, there were at least 5 more rooms to explore, all with multiple clocks and watches. All of the pieces were nicely labeled with descriptions. The layout was done very well. The collection is pretty extensive. There are some really beautiful clocks and watches. My personal favorite was the Dickory Dickory Dock Clock.
I recommend checking out this museum if you are in the area. It's a fun way to spend an afternoon and I really did learn a lot while browsing around!
Admission is very reasonable ($5). When we arrived we were instructed to start at the section that went over the history of clock making. I found this to be very interesting. There were lots of real samples of how the progression of clock making changed over the years.
In addition to the written material that accompanied the displays, you could dial a special number on your cell phone and listen to an audio about each exhibit you were at. The exhibits were numbered, and that corresponded with the prompts that you could enter on your phone. I found it enjoyable to listen to the audio while looking at the exhibits.
After the clock making history exhibit, there were at least 5 more rooms to explore, all with multiple clocks and watches. All of the pieces were nicely labeled with descriptions. The layout was done very well. The collection is pretty extensive. There are some really beautiful clocks and watches. My personal favorite was the Dickory Dickory Dock Clock.
I recommend checking out this museum if you are in the area. It's a fun way to spend an afternoon and I really did learn a lot while browsing around!
Written 3 November 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is Scandal and Scoundrels still on exhibit? What are the hours of the museum?
Written 31 May 2018
Yes as of Mothers Day weekend, and it is very cleaver the way the museum presents it.
Written 2 June 2018
Showing results 1-1 of 1
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing