Hopkins Parent Outing Committee Gets Lost in New Haven

Sonali Bedi ’28 Assistant News Editor

On October 23, the Hopkins Parent Outing Committee hosted their fall event at the Lost in New Haven (LINH) museum. The event consisted of a private tour led by Amy Caplan ’91, the museum’s Director of Development, and was organized by Madeline Fejos ’90 and Annie Adams, co-chairs of committee and parents to students in the classes of ’26 and ’31, respectively.

The two co-chairs prioritize easy parking and a central location in a venue for outings. They were looking for “a venue that was interesting and fun, as well as a place to socialize,” according to Fejos. “Hopkins history and New Haven history are so intertwined, it seemed like a natural fit for an outing,” Adams stated. Still, above all else, “the goal is simply to bring people together, to get to know your fellow Hopkins parents, and enjoy a fun activity,” she added.

Lost in New Haven uses a unique approach to achieve this synthesis between enrichment and connection, and the museum’s Media Coordinator, John Guillemette highlighted the difference between LINH and other museums, saying, “some museums request silence… not us. We’re loud and we’re a cultural space built to encourage socialization and total immersion.”

In September 2024, the Hopkins History Department visited and toured LINH to explore a potential field trip for U.S. History classes. It left an impression on many, including history teacher Megan Maxwell, who “found LINH fascinating, not just for the sheer number of items curated in the museum, but by the manufacturing history of this city.” Scott Wich, Hopkins history teacher and Head Advisor to the Class of 2028, who also attended the department trip, added that “as a nearly lifelong New Havener, [he] was absolutely enthralled and astounded by what they've collected at LINH. It’s an amazing place.”

After moving locations a few times, LINH opened in 2017. Their current space is in a renovated paint warehouse, which features “an active bar, maximalist aesthetic, controlled lighting, and a future of evening social programming,” John Guillemette, LINH’s Media Coordinator, added.The museum’s collection has continued to grow, and “there is not a single artifact, out of tens of thousands, that is not tied to some facet of New Haven’s past or present,” commented Guillemette.

Much of LINH’s collection aims to spotlight the innovation and creativity that is an integral part of New Haven’s modern identity. Guillemette commented on the foundation of this: “In many ways, New Haven’s story is the quintessential American story, having been settled early in colonial history and following major chapters—Revolutionary, Abolitionist, Industrial, and wartime through midcentury—with tremendous historical contributions to each chapter.” Ravi Camenga ’28, who has visited LINH, thinks that “the museum is unique because it is full of memorabilia unique to New Haven.”

Throughout these defining periods of history, New Haven was defining itself as a city full of innovators and workers. Guillemette provided an extensive list of “firsts” or inventions that originated in the city, notably the stopwatch, cotton gin, submarine, steamboat, and game rules of American Football– specifically invented by the Father of American Football and Hopkins alumnus, Walter Camp. He added that “historical knowledge of a city is essential for the city to grow in ways that maintain its spirit and extend its opportunities equitably.”

LINH also allows visitors to explore the museum at their own pace, giving the opportunity to absorb information and history as they walk through. Camenga commented on this, “I like that you can walk around freely in it and it’s not super guided like other museums.” Guillemette explained this, saying, “here, visitors get every New Haven story at once. We’re committed to active archiving—recognizing that history unfolds every day, including today.”

Active archiving serves as a way to directly connect past and present. Maxwell agreed with this: “museums like Lost in New Haven...are necessary as immediate, accessible connections to the past.” Additionally, Guillemette noted that “to concern oneself with history is to author one’s future. There is a constant communion between the past and present. The result can be a human aspiration for a future that does not condemn any location, artifact, culture, or person to the margins but invites everything in.”

Back

online edition

The Student Newspaper of Hopkins School

Hopkins Parent Outing Committee Gets Lost in New Haven