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Museum
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During the celebration of the Order's 100th anniversary in
1982, the Knights opened a museum in its headquarters
building in New Haven. A growing collection mandated
a new and much larger museum facility. The Order's history
is now showcased in an attractive setting two blocks
away from the Supreme Council office.
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Knights of Columbus Museum
1 State Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Telephone: 203-865-0400
Contact: Kathy Cogan
Telephone: 203-865-0320
Email: kathy.cogan@kofc.org
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PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
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Lobby and Atrium
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The massive main lobby welcomes visitors as they begin a
dramatic journey through the history of the Knights
of Columbus. The two-story atrium beckons guests to
explore temporary exhibits in the upper lobby. Above
the staircase hangs an ancient cross that was atop St.
Peter's Basilica for nearly 400 years.
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Theater
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A short film introduces visitors to the origins and works
of the Knights of Columbus, the largest lay Catholic
organization in the world. The film also serves as a
preface to the Museum, which was the top ranked religious-themed
museum in the nation by U.S.A. Today in 2002.
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Father Michael J. McGivney Gallery and Reliquary
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Fr. McGivney, who founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882,
is being considered for sainthood by the Vatican. The
McGivney Gallery profiles his life and the reliquary
contains second class relics obtained during the exhumation
of his remains in 1981. The centerpiece of this gallery
is a life-sized statue of Fr. McGivney by renowned sculptor
Stanley Bleifield.
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Christopher Columbus Gallery
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Learn the reasons for the name "Knights of Columbus"
and the patronage of the Catholic explorer by the Knights.
Significant artifacts in this gallery include the glazed
ceramic tiles brought by the admiral on his second voyage
in 1493 and used in construction and decoration of the
Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. Other pieces in this
gallery depict many of the various celebrations and
observances associated with
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Columbus through the years,
including the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and the
1992 Christopher Columbus Quincentennial.
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The Papal Gallery
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Guests feel as though they are transported to Rome, the Eternal
City, in this gallery which traces the Order's interactions
with the Vatican since 1882. The Papal Gallery includes
artwork, artifacts, archival material, papal medals,
photographs and films, some dating back to 1896.
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The Wall of History
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The Knights of Columbus Wall of History runs for 170-feet,
as it relates the mission and works of the Order at
its founding through the present. A visual timeline,
the Wall of History uses artifacts, objects, photographs
and striking graphics to document the organizations
major achievements.
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Media Information Center
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Using touch-screen monitors, visitors can interactively explore
the Order's origins, organization and outreach. Documenting
"Knights in Action," the Media Information
Center is located midway along the Wall of History.
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Library and Archives
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This repository for rare books and documents from the Order's
archives, features more than 400 Columbus-related volumes.
Use of materials for scholarly intent is with permission
and by appointment only. More information is available
in our Archives Section.
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Museum Gift Shop
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This unique store offers Knights of Columbus keepsakes, religious
books, children's books, devotional aids, seasonal gifts,
and videos. Items relating to the permanent collection
and temporary exhibits are also available for purchase.
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The Courtyard
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The museum building envelops a beautiful exterior, center
courtyard that remains green year round. In the elevated
center court are fountains and cascading waterfalls,
crowned by a dramatic Bleifield statue of "Columbus,
the Evangelizer." In a meditative corner, a bronze
plaque memorializes Knights lost while serving in World
War II.
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