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Home2024-11-20T15:21:07-05:00

Thank you for a wonderful 2024 season!

Your Home for History

Connecticut Landmarks is a state-wide network of historic house museums sharing 400 years of New England history. Our museums are starting points for deeper exploration and greater appreciation of the Connecticut experience. Our real-life stories, as told through our houses, collections, and programs, make history matter.

Plan your visit today »

Your Home for History

Connecticut Landmarks is a state-wide network of historic house museums spanning 400 years of New England history. Our museums are starting points for deeper exploration and greater appreciation of the Connecticut experience. Our real-life stories, as told through our houses, collections, and programs, make history matter.

Plan your visit today »

What’s new?

Making Music Together at the Isham-Terry House!

Enjoy an afternoon’s vocal and instrumental performance at Hartford’s Isham-Terry House by Andrew Wilcox (piano) and Mae Czuba (vocals) to hear the late-19th and early-20th century songs that would have filled the Ishams’ parlor, drawing upon the sheet music in the Isham-Terry collection and representing the lives and interests of the household’s amateur musicians. The performers will play music from the collection, and sheet music will be on display during the event! This event will be held on Sunday, November 10th from 2 pm-3 pm.

The artwork pictured is from the covers of the early 20th century sheet music from the Isham Family collection. “The Angle Worm Wiggle” cover features Sophie Tucker, known as “The Last of the Red-Hot Mamas,” who grew up in Hartford and paved the way for other female performers.

Purchase Tickets »

Connecticut Landmarks Celebrates 88th Anniversary

October marks the 88th anniversary of Connecticut Landmarks, originally known as the Antiquarian & Landmarks Society. Since October 15, 1936, our organization has been dedicated to preserving and interpreting the 11 historic properties and collections in our care.

Much has changed over the course of 88 years, but our commitment to inspiring an understanding of our complex past through our historic sites remains central to all we do. Our programs and tours have welcomed visitors to our historic sites to explore the lives of Connecticut residents, connect with their ancestors, share historically marginalized stories, learn new skills, and feel empowered to use the lessons of the past to make the world a better place today. We’re eager to continue welcoming families, friends, and history-lovers to our historic properties, programs—new additions and beloved favorites—and share with you the exciting preservation efforts to come.

Connecticut Landmarks would not exist without the dedication of its staff, volunteers, and board members – past, present, and future. Most importantly, our organization thrives because of our visitors, members, and generous donors. Thank you for your continued support!
As we usher in the next 88 years, please consider supporting the future of Connecticut Landmarks with a donation or membership. Your gift will support the important preservation and storytelling work we do for years to come.

Donate today »

The Nathan Hale Homestead is a Wheels to Learning Program Venue

The Nathan Hale Homestead is a Wheels to Learning program venue for the 2024-2025 school year. Wheels to Learning is a pilot program that seeks to understand if providing funding for transportation will increase access to out-of-classroom enriching learning experiences. K-12 public school teachers within Windham County can apply to the program for grants to support busing costs for field trips through the Wheels to Learning website. Connecticut Landmarks is also grateful to have received a quick grant from The Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Arts to support field trip programming.

The Nathan Hale Homestead engages visitors in understanding the commitments of those who have patriotically served their country through sacrifice, starting from the story of schoolteacher-turned-spy Nathan Hale. Students explore the American Revolution, what it means to be a spy throughout history, and life on a colonial farm. Staff and costumed guides lead interactive, informative activities where students learn about the uses of herbal medicines in the 18th-century home; experience marching to the commands of an officer; or participate in 18th-century lessons of reading, writing, and arithmetic before taking part in recess with historical wooden toys.

“Every season, we invite hundreds of students to step into the shoes of an 18th-century spy, soldier, student, and seamstress. It has been wonderful to watch these young scholars find joy in the past, and we are looking forward to welcoming more students through our participation in Wheels to Learning,” said Anne Marie Charland, site administrator at the Nathan Hale Homestead.

Book your field trip »

Join Us!

You are invited to join a community of people finding inspiration in our state’s heritage. Membership support is the foundation of Connecticut Landmarks and your gateway to exploring Connecticut history. Experience the richness of all of our historic properties as often as you wish; choose from more than 85 programs, special events, and behind-the-scenes tours each season; and enjoy discounts on program tickets and in our museum stores.

Learn About Membership »

Join us!

You are invited to join a community of people finding inspiration in our state’s heritage. Membership support is the foundation of Connecticut Landmarks and your gateway to exploring Connecticut history. Experience the richness of all of our historic properties as often as you wish; choose from more than 85 programs, special events, and behind-the-scenes tours each season; and enjoy discounts on program tickets and in our museum stores.

Learn About New-and-Improved Membership »

Holiday Lantern Tours

December 14 @ 4:00 pm5:00 pm

Holiday Lantern Tours

December 15 @ 4:00 pm5:00 pm

Making History Together

Capture authentic New England charm when you host your next social event at one of Connecticut Landmarks’ historic houses and gardens. Each exquisite property creates the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable occasion. Now booking 2025 weddings and 2024 events!

Facility Rental Details »

Make Your Own History

Capture authentic New England charm when you host your next social event at one of Connecticut Landmarks’ historic houses and gardens. Each exquisite property creates the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable occasion. Now booking 2025 weddings and 2024 events!

Facility Rental Details »

Fence Restoration Progress at Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden

Restoration work is underway on the south section of the Phelps-Hatheway fence! Possibly created for Sumner Fuller in the 1920’s, the Neo-classical picket fence with decorative post toppers will receive repairs and be power washed, primed, and repainted. Thanks to the generous support of the 1772 Foundation in cooperation with Preservation Connecticut, as well as of the Town of Suffield, we are able to undertake this important preservation project.

Connecticut Landmarks has contracted the expertise of Kronenberger & Sons Restoration for this project. Their team has removed some of the toppers and will reconstruct them over the winter. Others will be repaired in situ. Check back to our website and social media pages for progress! We hope you’ll enjoy watching the project unfold as you walk or drive by.

The first image shows the fence line in the late 19th century before Sumner’s exquisite remake!

Historic Preservation Updates at Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden

Fink and Son Woodworking and Carpentry have been hard at work at the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden to give its quoins and Pine Room porch much needed care! When Oliver Phelps purchased the Burbank House in 1788, he made many changes to the original structure, including adding quoins at each corner. These wooden decorations were added to give the look of stone to the facade. Over time, the quoins on the northeast side of the house have suffered from rot and decay. Ben and his assistant Steve used their expertise to replicate and replace the quoins to prevent further damage of this beautiful detail.

The Pine Room porch has similarly experienced damage due to an influx of water, and thus termite, activity. Fink and Son dismantled a majority of the porch, and Connecticut Landmarks is currently awaiting inspection from a structural engineer to determine the safety of the foundation before the porch can be repaired. Updates on this project can be found on our preservation blog and social media.

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