Welcome to The Sullivan Museum and History Center!
MISSION: To demonstrate who we are in the present through interaction with our past, our community, our beliefs, and the vision that we hold for the future.
The Sullivan Museum and History Center is connected to the Kreitzberg Library building on the Norwich University campus. This 16,000-square foot facility boasts FREE admission to all and features permanent and changing exhibitions.
The museum’s permanent exhibitions tell the story of the university’s founder, Capt. Alden Partridge (1785 -1854), the history of Norwich University, and the experience of its students and alumni. Changing exhibitions cover a wide range of topics marking significant anniversaries, highlighting the contributions of the Norwich community, and showcasing the museum’s eclectic collection of objects.
The museum offers opportunities for visitors, students, faculty and alumni to, in the words of Norwich University President Emeritus Richard W. Schneider, “immerse themselves in the heritage of this great institution.”
Did you know?
The Sullivan Museum and History Center is a Smithsonian Affiliate, and it is currently the only institution in the state of Vermont to hold this distinction.
Celebrating GEN Gordon R. Sullivan (’59)
The Sullivan Museum and History Center is named in honor of GEN Gordon R. Sullivan, USA ’59. GEN Sullivan was the highest-ranking alumnus of Norwich University and served as the 32nd Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1991 to 1995.
GEN Sullivan retired in 1995 after thirty-six years of active military service. He continued to honor active-duty personnel and veterans of the United States Army as President and Chief Executive of the Association of the United States Army and as Chairman of the Marshall Legacy Institute. As Chairman of The Army Historical Foundation, he oversaw a successful capital campaign spearheading the construction of the Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir, VA. Here, at Norwich University, GEN Sullivan served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1995-2016.
The Sullivan Museum and History Center owes a profound debt of gratitude to GEN Sullivan. GEN Sullivan served as the President of the Museum Associates, the affinity group for the Sullivan Museum and History Center, and he worked with museum staff to grow membership, to increase awareness in and of the institution, and to support initiatives to preserve the memories of all Norwich alumni.
GEN Gordon Sullivan passed away on Jan. 2, 2024, and his contributions to the United States, to Norwich University, and to the Sullivan Museum and History Center will not be forgotten. Plan a visit to the museum to learn more about GEN Sullivan’s career, his commitment to the museum, and his dedication to the citizen-soldier ideal championed by Norwich University founder, CAPT Alden Partridge.
Plan Your Visit
The Sullivan Museum and History Center is located at 158 Harmon Dr., Northfield, VT 05663
Museum Hours:
Summer Term (May 1 – September 1):
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Academic Year (September 1 – April 30):
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Admission to the museum is FREE. The museum can be accessed through the Kreitzberg Library or via its own front entrance at the base of the Bicentennial Stairs.
The museum is handicap accessible. If you require the use of a wheelchair during your visit, please contact museum staff in advance.
Museum Policies:
- No food or drink is allowed inside any of the museum’s exhibition spaces
- No flash photography is permitted in the museum’s exhibition spaces
- Visitors can take flash-free pictures, and they are permitted to record video in the museum’s exhibition spaces unless a particular object or item bears a “No Photography” label
- Visitors are asked not to touch displays, cases, or objects Per Norwich University policies, the museum welcomes all service animals, but no other animals will be permitted entry
If you have any questions or if you need more information, contact the museum at (802) 485-2183 or smhc@norwich.edu.
Collections and Exhibitions
The Sullivan Museum and History Center stewards 20,000 objects representing the history of Norwich University and the experience of its faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
Speakers and Educational Programs
The Sullivan Museum and History Center sponsors a variety of educational programs throughout the year. Follow us on Facebook to more about the museum’s Lunch and Learn lecture series, tours, and educational programs.