Fifteen years after a tornado damaged Bridgeport's Barnum Museum, the restoration of the building has entered a new phase.

In June 2010, a EF-1 tornado heavily damaged the museum, specifically its third floor.

The museum was also damaged over the next two years, during Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy.

The museum was able to receive state and federal funding to begin construction, but the work was delayed when during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the completion of the exterior, the museum has recently received a state grant that the city will match to begin the interior remodel.

Its executive director says she is excited for Bridgeport to have their museum back.

"What the Barnum Museum will be at the end of the day is an immersive museum that you're going to step back in time. It's going to be emotional, it's not just going to be the traditional object in the case, and you move to the next bit of label copy. It will take you back in time and find connections in a way that all of our guests can really understand history," says Kathleen Maher.

During the construction process, the museum made a YouTube channel and created "Showman's Shorts."

The digital short-form video series is produced by the museum and educates people on the life and legacy of P.T. Barnum and 19th century America.

The series recently received a New England Emmy in the Historical/Cultural – Short Form Content category.