Sullivan Museum and History Center
Exterior view of Sullivan Museum and History Center
Uncover the Past. Connect with the Present.
The Sullivan Museum and History Center is one of the most unique features of Norwich.
Here, you can see artifacts connected to Captain Alden Partridge, the visionary who started it all, along with thousands of pieces that bring the Norwich story to life. Whether you're a student, alum, visitor, or just curious, the museum invites you to explore the people, events, and ideas that shaped two centuries of history.
Experience History Up Close
Step beyond the classroom and into a living story. At the Sullivan Museum, artifacts aren’t locked behind glass—they’re touchpoints for conversation, discovery, and inspiration.
The Sullivan Museum and History Center is a place where history feels personal. You’re encouraged to dive in, ask questions, and discover something new with every visit. Many exhibits are tied to student work, campus events, or broader themes in American and world history. Whether you're visiting in person or browsing from home, the museum is here to engage your curiosity and welcome you into the past, present, and future of Norwich University.
About the Museum
Named for General Gordon R. Sullivan '59, the 16,000 sq. ft. museum honors a lifetime of leadership and service. It also holds the distinction of being Vermont’s only Smithsonian Affiliate. Artifacts are rotated regularly to help preserve them, creating a fresh experience each time you visit. The collection includes everything from cadet uniforms and battlefield letters to original artwork and even full-scale rockets.
Recent Exhibits
Engaging exhibits, artifact displays, audio, and visual installations bring the story of Norwich and its alumni to life. Our exhibitions tell the story of Norwich founder Capt. Alden Partridge (1785 -1854), the career of Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan (Class of 1959), former chief of staff of the Army and namesake of the museum. Exhibits throughout the museum present Norwich objects related to military history, academics, music, and sports.
Browse the Collection
View a selection of objects, artifacts, and artworks from our growing collection of over 20,000 items online. The Norwich University Archive's collection is continually evolving and our knowledge of the collection changes as we research particular areas like uniforms, ephemera, military service, artists, and more.
Contact us to learn more about our collections or to locate a particular item at smhc@norwich.edu.
Art You Can Feel. Stories You Won’t Forget.
As the Marine Corps nears 250 years of service, step inside its story, told not through textbooks but through the eyes and hands of those who lived it. Through paintings, sketches, sculpture, and posters, this exhibit offers a deeply human look at conflict, resilience, and duty.
"On the Road" is a national traveling exhibit on loan from the National Museum of the Marine Corps and sponsored by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. It features original works by Marines and combat artists who served beside the action.
A moving tribute of courage and sacrifice, only at Norwich’s Sullivan Museum and History Center through January 2026.
Plan Your Visit to the Sullivan Museum and History Center
Hours of Operation:
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Admission:
Free; accessible via Kreitzberg Library or the front entrance at the Bicentennial Stairs
Address:
158 Harmon Drive, Northfield, VT 05663
Contact Us:
1 (802) 485 - 2183
smhc@norwich.edu
norwich.edu/museum
Museum staff are available to assist you during regular operating hours by phone, email, or voicemail.
If you contact us outside of operating hours or on weekends, please leave a voicemail or send an email with your name, phone number, and the reason for your inquiry. We will get back to you as soon as possible once the museum us open.
Forge Deeper Connections
There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes at the Sullivan Museum. From special events and speaker series to membership opportunities and ways to give, we invite you to take a closer look. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, we also connect you with resources and experiences that go beyond our walls. Whether you're looking to learn, support, or get involved, there’s always more to explore.
Support the Sullivan Museum and History Center
Contributions: Your support helps us preserve, share, and grow the Sullivan Museum’s one-of-a-kind collections. Every contribution makes a difference. To make a gift, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 802-485-2300.
Gifts to the Collection: If you’re considering donating items to the Sullivan Museum and History Center, the museum staff would like to hear from you. While not every object is most appropriate for our collection, we are particularly interested in artifacts that help us tell the Norwich University story.
Please contact Museum staff at (802) 485-2183 or smhc@norwich.edu to provide us with information about your potential gift.
Become a Museum Associate
The Sullivan Museum Associates form the basis of the Sullivan Museum’s membership program.
Supporters who donate $25 or more to the Sullivan Museum Associates become members of the Sullivan Museum with all requisite membership benefits.
Supporters who donate $100 or more become dual members of the Sullivan Museum Associates and the Smithsonian.
If you're a Norwich University student, you are eligible to receive a complimentary Sullivan Museum Associates Membership by contacting the Museum.
Learn more about Membership
Educational Programs and Speakers
The Sullivan Museum offers a range of educational programming throughout the academic year.
These include in-person and virtual Lunch and Learn sessions, evening events with guest speakers, gallery talks and guided tours led by museum staff or subject experts, and collaborative programs with academic departments and other university offices.
Museum events are open to students, faculty, staff, and the public, and are designed to encourage conversation, curiosity, and deeper engagement with history and current topics.
See upcoming Norwich eventsCelebrating 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.
Did you know?
The Sullivan Museum and History Center is the only Smithsonian Affiliate in Vermont—connecting local stories to national history.