Connecticut Landmarks’ historic house museums are emerging from their winter hibernation to welcome visitors back to explore Connecticut’s history. With a new strategic plan recommitting the nonprofit organization to its long-held values of preservation, storytelling, and education, staff have worked diligently to prepare engaging public programs, special events, and immersive tours at the organization’s museums. Current and planned preservation projects taking place are ensuring that the museums look their best leading up to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States next year.
Photo collage of activities at Connecticut Landmarks’ historic house museums.
Connecticut Landmarks’ historic properties include the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden in Bethlehem, the Isham-Terry House and Butler-McCook House & Garden in Hartford, the Hempsted Houses in New London, the Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry, the Palmer-Warner House in East Haddam, and the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden in Suffield. Discover more about each property at ctlandmarks.org/properties.
Celebrating its 90th anniversary next year, Connecticut Landmarks’ museums have been places of dialogue, reflection, and discovery for decades. Connecting people to the state’s revolutionary contributions and complex past so we can continue to move forward has been, and will remain, an integral component of the visitor experience. The public is encouraged to read more about Connecticut Landmarks’ strategic priorities at ctlandmarks.org/about-ctl.
Looking for the perfect summer itinerary or road trip? Visitors can plan their journey through history at each museum, where they will find stunning gardens, architectural gems, and fascinating stories told in the places where history happened. Join museum interpreters to learn more about how industry has reshaped public health and the city of Hartford, to understand 20th-century LGBTQ+ history through the life of an East Haddam preservationist, to examine the ways architecture reflects and shapes culture in Suffield, and much more.
In addition to tours, visitors can engage in workshops, demonstrations, panels, free summer concerts and art exhibits, holiday events, walking tours, and garden programs. Be sure to check out new programs including “The History of the Martini with Litchfield Distillery,” “Basket Making Workshop – Make Your Own Kitchen Cleaning Set,” “Historic Hartford Walking Tour: Hartford Women,” “Music from A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Stories of Freedom: Suffield’s Black History” walking tour, “Queer Independence Discussion Panel,” and “Pirate Days.”
Returning favorites include the Hempsted Houses’ “Juneteenth Celebration,” the Palmer-Warner House’s “Pipes & Cider,” “Holiday Lantern Walking Tours” at the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden, “Sunset Sounds Concert Series” at the Butler-McCook House & Garden, “Things That Go Bump in the Night” at the Nathan Hale Homestead, and “Lilac Walks” in the Bellamy-Ferriday Garden. Details and registration for all events can be found at ctlandmarks.org/events/.
Connecticut Landmarks’ digital program guide, which introduces members and other stakeholders to all the programs planned for the operating season, can be found at ctlandmarks.org/programguide.
Tours of the seven historic house museums are available from May through December. Days and times vary by location. For open tour hours, please visit ctlandmarks.org/properties/.
Visitors are encouraged to convert their tour admission into a yearly Connecticut Landmarks membership. Members experience the richness of all seven historic house museums as often as they wish; choose from more than 85 programs, special events, and behind-the-scenes tours each season; and enjoy discounts on program tickets and in museum stores. The highest-level membership tiers offer exclusive access to an annual Members’ Reception, luncheon with Executive Director Robert Brock, rental discounts, private group tours for members and their friends, plus more. North American Reciprocal Membership (NARM) tiers are also available, granting access to over a thousand cultural institutions across the nation.
Public libraries, historical societies, and universities can open the doors of history to their students, volunteers, staff, and patrons with organizational membership levels that offer free admission to all seven of Connecticut Landmarks’ historic house museums, among other benefits. For more information and to purchase a general or organizational membership, please visit ctlandmarks.org/memberships/.