The Stamford Museum & Nature Center is a museum, working farm, and nature preserve in North Stamford, Connecticut, combining a historic mansion, a planetarium, and animal exhibits. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was updated in July 2026, the SM&NC’s 90th anniversary year. The Planetarium & Astronomy Center is a newly built facility currently running summer break hours through 23 August, with extended Friday and Saturday evening sessions from 7 to 10pm.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Daily, 9am–5pm; final entry 30 minutes before closing |
| Ticket prices | Adults $20; seniors $18; children (3–15) $15; under 3 free |
| Address | 39 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford, CT 06903 |
| Nearest transport/parking | No direct transit; free on-site parking |
| Typical time needed | 2–4 hours |
The Stamford Museum & Nature Center opening hours
The Stamford Museum & Nature Center is open daily, 9am to 5pm, with final entry 30 minutes before closing; gates close promptly at 5pm.
Founded in 1936, the SM&NC celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2026, marked by a year-long birthday celebration alongside its usual programming.
The site closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, and New Year’s Eve and Day. The Bendel Mansion galleries and Heckscher Farm follow the same daily 9am to 5pm hours, while Heckscher WILD! runs a separate schedule, open April through November, weekdays noon to 4pm and weekends 11am to 4pm. The Planetarium & Astronomy Center is currently on summer break hours through 23 August, open daily except Mondays, 9am to 5pm, with additional Friday and Saturday evening sessions from 7 to 10pm.
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The Stamford Museum & Nature Center ticket prices
General admission costs $20 for adults, $18 for seniors aged 65 and over, and $15 for children aged 3 to 15; children under 3 and members enter free.
Discounted rates apply for several groups: veterans of any age pay $10 year-round, students with valid ID pay $18, and AARP cardholders receive $2 off. Admission is free for SNAP/EBT cardholders (up to 4 people, with photo ID), visitors borrowing a pass through the Library Membership program, and anyone arriving on the city bus with a bus pass or transfer ticket.
Through Labor Day, active-duty military, National Guard, and Reserve personnel receive free admission for themselves and up to five family members, as part of the Blue Star Museums programme.
Opening hours and admission fees were checked on the official Stamford Museum & Nature Center hours page and last updated in July 2026.
How to get to the Stamford Museum & Nature Center
The Stamford Museum & Nature Center has two entrances on Scofieldtown Road in North Stamford: the main entrance at 39 Scofieldtown Road for the museum and Heckscher Farm, and the north entrance at 151 Scofieldtown Road, a quarter mile further, for the Planetarium & Astronomy Center and Farmhouse.
There’s no direct public transit to the site, though visitors arriving on a city bus with a valid pass or transfer ticket receive free admission.
Parking at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center
Free parking is available at both entrances.
How long to spend at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center
Most visitors spend two to four hours at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center, exploring Heckscher Farm, the trails, and the Bendel Mansion galleries.
Visitors adding a planetarium show or visiting Heckscher WILD! should allow extra time, since both run on their own schedules within the wider site.
Accessibility at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center
The site is wheelchair accessible throughout, with accessible parking, entrances, and restrooms. Wheels in the Woods is a universally accessible trail through the property’s forest.
A Visitor Social Story, an illustrated guide to the site, is available online to help visitors with social or sensory sensitivities prepare for their visit in advance.
Inside the Stamford Museum & Nature Center: what to see
Heckscher Farm, a working farm with barnyard animals, is reached by a footbridge over a pond from the main visitor path.
Heckscher WILD! is home to the centre’s exotic animals, open seasonally from April through November.
The Bendel Mansion, on a hilltop above the grounds, houses art exhibitions and museum galleries.
The Planetarium & Astronomy Center is a newly built facility offering both daytime and evening shows.
Overbrook Nature Center and the Otter Pond, nearby, are home to native wildlife exhibits, including a resident owl and a family of otters.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit earlier in the day to have time for both the farm and the planetarium before closing. |
| Crowds | Family Fest Sundays and other seasonal festivals draw the largest crowds. |
| Layout | Start at the main entrance for the farm and mansion, or the north entrance for the planetarium. |
| Entry process | Pre-purchase admission and planetarium tickets together online to save time and money. |
| On-site logistics | Leave strollers outside the Bendel Mansion galleries, since they aren’t permitted inside. |
Frequently asked questions about the Stamford Museum & Nature Center
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Stamford Museum & Nature Center free to visit? | No, though several discounts and free-entry programmes are available. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | Not required, though pre-purchasing online can combine admission with a planetarium show. |
| Is the Stamford Museum & Nature Center open on Mondays? | Yes, the main site is open daily; only the Planetarium and gift shop close on Mondays. |
| Is the site wheelchair accessible? | Yes, throughout, including a dedicated universally accessible trail. |
| Can veterans visit for free? | Veterans pay a discounted $10 year-round; active-duty military receive free admission through Labor Day. |
Things to do near the Stamford Museum & Nature Center
The Bartlett Arboretum, a 93-acre public garden, is about 10 minutes away.
Mianus River Park, with wooded trails along the river, is about 15 minutes away.
Downtown Stamford, with restaurants and shops, is about 15 minutes away.
Cove Island Park, a waterfront park on Long Island Sound, is about 20 minutes away.
The Bruce Museum in Greenwich, an art and natural history museum, is about 20 minutes away.
What to visit tomorrow
The Discovery Museum and Planetarium in Bridgeport is about 30 minutes away.
Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport is about 30 minutes away.
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is about 30 minutes away.
Trailside Nature Museum in Cross River, New York, is about 30 minutes away.
The Greenwich Audubon Center is about 20 minutes away.
