A carefully curated collection of artifacts that help tell New Haven’s story — from the iconic red door that beckoned hamburger aficionados to Louis’ Lunch, to the first pedal bicycle invented in 1864 by Pierre Lallement — is slated to make its public debut next spring.New Haven native, artist and designer Robert Greenberg is working […]
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A carefully curated collection of artifacts that help tell New Haven’s story — from the iconic red door that beckoned hamburger aficionados to Louis’ Lunch, to the first pedal bicycle invented in 1864 by Pierre Lallement — is slated to make its public debut next spring.
New Haven native, artist and designer Robert Greenberg is working around the clock with a goal to open his highly anticipated “Lost in New Haven” museum in April.
Greenberg recently received unanimous approval from New Haven’s City Plan Commission to transform a vacant, industrial building at 80 Hamilton St., into a permanent home for his massive collection dedicated to all things New Haven.
The more than 18,000-square-foot space will take visitors back in time with exhibits showcasing the history of the Elm City from its earliest beginnings to modern day.
Greenberg’s diverse collection has grown to more than 10,000 treasures, including a steel rail that held the bones of the original Brontosaurus from the Peabody Museum; one of the city’s first elevators built in 1877; early pizza boxes from Sally’s Apizza; and the neon sign from the old Cutler’s record store.
Also part of Greenberg’s collection are Vintage lollipop tins from the Bradley Smith Co., in honor of George Smith inventing the lollipop here in 1908, and The Door’s frontman Jim Morrison’s famous mug shot, when New Haven police arrested him in 1967.
Greenberg said he hopes the museum will serve as “a hub of tourism” for residents, out-of-towners, and school kids, and will be a stop for bicycle and walking tours. The Hamilton Street site is on a bus route with easy access to nearby Interstate I-91.
“It will be a magical place for New Haven,” he said.
Greenberg previously had his collection housed at the former ACME Furniture building on Crown Street, which was run by his family for decades before closing in 2016.
He moved the collection to a warehouse on Grand Avenue after that, but in 2020 when his lease expired, Greenberg was on the hunt for a permanent home.
He purchased the Hamilton Street building for $1 million last August thanks to the help of four donors who Greenberg said he has promised to pay back in five years.
In the midst of working to make handicapped-accessible improvements, installing restrooms and adding bicycle racks outside, Greenberg is painstakingly creating vignettes inside, with hopes of evoking fond memories of the many industrial innovations, cultural happenings and events that helped shape New Haven over the past 384 years.
For example, one exhibit highlights Yale University’s “Handsome Dan” bulldog mascot with a collection of leather and felt pennants depicting the popular pooch through the years. There’s also vintage sports memorabilia, like an early brown leather Yale football helmet.
Greenberg said he inherited his deep love of New Haven from his grandfathers.
“My grandfathers got me into collecting all things to do with New Haven as a kid,” Greenberg said.
Going to weekly flea markets and festivals as a boy led to his love for hunting, gathering and collecting stuff, he said.
A destination
Greenberg is well-known in the arts world. During his years working in New York City, he designed special edition T-shirts for the Hard Rock Café and the Statue of Liberty’s 1986 centennial celebration, among his many credits.
Coming back to his hometown after 26 years in the Big Apple, to create his art installation is a dream come true for Greenberg, he said.
“When this opens, I want the community to feel like we’re telling their story,” Greenberg said.
Alexis Gage, a goldsmith, has set up her Alexis Gage studio inside the museum space. She met Greenberg a few years ago, and when she learned of his vision to bring New Haven’s history to life, she was onboard.
“The things I learned about the city of New Haven from Robert made me more and more excited, because sometimes the history can be a little hidden,” Gage said. “Working here, I am surrounded by creativity. And to have a space that’s unique to New Haven, people will want to come visit the museum as a destination to learn what New Haven is all about.”
Gage has also created a Lost in New Haven jewelry collection, with some pieces created from fragments of artifacts Greenberg found on past archaeological digs. Greenberg also designed a Lost in New Haven T-shirt. The items will be sold at a small retail shop within the museum.
The museum will be a nonprofit and its revenue streams will include admission fees and donations. Greenberg said he also plans to hold tours, rent the space for public and private events (he’s in the process of applying for a liquor license so he can open a bar inside), sell merchandise and teach art classes, putting his degree from the Rhode Island School of Design to work.
Laura Brown, executive director of New Haven’s City Plan Department, said the “museum will be a tremendous addition to the preservation of New Haven’s unique history.”
