“Ancient Discovery: Centaur Skeleton Unearthed from 1980”

Beginning Saturday, May 30, and continuing through Labor Day weekend, the People’s United Bank Gallery exhibition hall at the Barnum Museum — featuring artifacts and a display of some of the restored items from the permanent collection — will be open for viewing and exploration on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The newest “artifact” (and latest Barnum hoax) is the Centaur of Tymfi, which was unveiled on April Fools’ Day last year in a spirit of good fun. The skeleton, a gift from the University of Wisconsin, depicts a half-man, half-horse beast.

Also featured are various artifacts including furniture, paintings and a building model of Iranistan, one of Barnum’s Bridgeport homes. The museum also has new prints, bookplates and clocks featuring the Iranistan image surrounding the model display.

The historic landmark is closed to the public as repair work (and renovation) of the municipal building continues following a direct hit by a tornado in 2010. For the time being, events and displays are presented in the modern museum annex, owned by People’s Bank, which did not sustain any tornado damage.