WINSTED - Hartford has a trash museum; Brookline, Massachusetts, has a Museum of Bad Art; and Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, has a National Mustard Museum.
But no one had an American Museum of Tort Law -- until now.
This week, the 6,500-square-foot museum opened its doors to the public.
The Tort Law Museum is dedicated to increasing understanding of tort law -- the law of wrongful injury - and the role it plays in protecting the freedom of Americans.
Building the museum has been the longtime vision of legal legend and consumer champion Ralph Nader, a Winsted resident and the museum president.
"As far as we know this is the only law museum in the country," said Museum of Tort Law executive director, Rick Newman. "The law is so important in protecting our rights and our health and safety, it's an important institution.
The American Museum of Tort Law, which occupies an old bank on Main Street (Route 44), showcases exhibits like the Chevy Corvair, a beautiful sports car from the 1960s that had fatal design flaws.
There are also exhibits like the most dangerous toys and groundbreaking cases like those that helped to take down big tobacco.
"Every aspect of human life is safer because of tort law," Newman said.
The American Museum of Tort Law is open every day except for Tuesday and is located at 654 Main Street in Winsted. For more information click here.
