Haddam Shad Museum

                         

The Haddam Historical Society is pleased to announce the grand reopening of the Haddam Shad Museum on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 12 Noon at 272 Saybrook Road in Higganum, CT.

The museum was moved to its present location in 2023 and has undergone an extensive restoration including the addition of a barrier free access ramp. The former Maynard’s Shad Shack features many important and unique artifacts related to this once-important local industry and is the only museum in the country solely devoted to shad fishing.

Join us for an official ribbon cutting with short remarks.  The event will also feature shad planking, shad boning and net repair demonstrations as well as live music, children’s craft, and refreshments. Meet local shad fishermen, enjoy their fish tales and learn about Connecticut’s state fish. The event is free and open to the public.

Rain date for the event is Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 12 noon.

For additional information please contact Elizabeth Malloy, HHS Executive Director at director@haddamhistory.org or 860-345-2400

 

The Haddam Shad Museum, founded by Dr. Joseph Zaientz of Haddam Neck, focuses on the importance of the shad fishing industry to Haddam and the lower Connecticut River Valley. Housed in the former Bill Maynard Shad Shack, the museum features many important and unique artifacts related to this once-important local industry and is the only museum in the country solely devoted to shad fishing.

 In 2023 the museum was moved to its new location at the former Haddam Elementary School and we have just completed a two-year restoration of the building and the construction of a barrier free access ramp. The museum will resume its normal operating hours in April of 2026. We are open on Sundays during Shad Season

Shad Museum Season 2026
April 12 to June 14, 2026 
Sundays only from 11 am to 3 pm 
Also by appointment 860-345-2400

Please help us preserve, protect and promote this very special Haddam landmarks for generation to come.

Friends of the Haddam Shad Museum

Shad $1000
Buck $500
Roe $250
Fry $100
Dart $50
Drift Net $30

To Donate to the Shad Museum Restoration and Reopening CLICK HERE

 

The museum is staffed by local volunteers and fishermen, who are knowledgeable with both commercial and sport shad fishing, and are available to answer questions. The museum also has demonstrations of boning and planking shad.

 

The History of Shad Fishing in Connecticut

Shad, the Connecticut state fish, has been harvested in town since its founding in 1662. From 1760 through the 19th century, shad fishing was a successful commercial enterprise and was said to be “an industry of much profit and importance” in Haddam.

In 1814 there were at least 17 locations in town where shad were caught and that year saw a catch of 200,000. Over most of the history or shad fishing, it was done by ‘haul seining’ during the daytime, but this practice stopped in the 1950s when the fish became less numerous and river travel increased. Shad fishing now is done by law at night with ‘drift nets.’ Boning shad was and is today considered an art form.

Address

272 Saybrook Road (on the far side of the playground)
Higganum, CT 06441

Hours

2026
Sundays only 11 am to 3 pm
April 12, 2026 to June 14, 2026

Also by appointment 860-345-2400

For additional information, call the Haddam Historical Society at 860-345-2400