The first thing you’ll probably notice when visiting our museum is the 38-foot-tall Uncle Sam keeping watch over our parking lot. ‘Meet me at Uncle Sam’ was a common phrase spoken by patrons of the Great Danbury State Fair during fair week. Part of Danbury’s history revolves around the yearly agricultural event that ran for 112 years.

From 1971 to the fair’s closing in 1981, Uncle Sam stood on the fairgrounds welcoming all. After the fair closed, he was purchased by the Fairy Tale Magic Forest Theme Park in Lake George, New York, where he resided for 37 years. In late 2018, the park closed, and Uncle Sam was slated to be sold to Troy, New York. Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton stepped in, outbid Troy, and had the 4,500 pound fiberglass statue trucked back home. His restoration was funded by corporate partners and service organizations.

‘Sam’ was originally set to stand near Interstate 84, but those plans were scrapped, and we were chosen to be his new permanent home. Construction in our parking lot began in spring, and he was dedicated on July 25, 2019. He is The World’s Tallest Uncle Sam, and more importantly a part of Danbury’s story.