Mission:

The Manchester Historical Society educates the public about the history of Manchester, Connecticut; collects, preserves, interprets, and exhibits information and artifacts about the town and its diverse population, and advocates for the preservation of significant historic resources.

Vision:

The Manchester Historical Society will be the premier resource for information about the history and heritage of Manchester, Connecticut that includes the Native American culture and the growth of the agricultural, industrial and suburban communities of the Northeast. It will attract visitors of all ages from around the country to its exhibitions and programs. Its efforts will reflect the diversity of the community and will remain connected to the community.

About the Manchester Historical Society
In 1965, a small group of dedicated citizens incorporated the Manchester Historical Society. Their original purpose was to save the historic Timothy Cheney house on East Center Street from destruction. They dedicated themselves to implementing the resolutions of incorporation: to preserve "irreplaceable historic Manchester landmarks and act as a watchdog group" to save valued antiquities.
Now, over thirty-five years later, we can point to the progress that has been made. The Society manages three museums: The Cheney Homestead at 106 Hartford Road, given to our society through a gracious bequest of the Cheney family in 1969; The Old Manchester Museum at 126 Cedar Street, the result of a restoration of the town-owned Cheney School building by a handy group of volunteers who donated many hours of labor performing carpentry, plumbing, lighting and heating work, painting and carpeting. The museum opened in 1985 and has three floors of collections.