Support the Phelps-Hatheway Wallpaper Conservation Project this #GivingTuesday! Learn more »
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.
What’s New?
Winter Clothing Drive
Connecticut Landmarks’ Hempsted Houses have partnered with the Homeless Hospitality Center in New London, Fiddleheads Food Co-op, and the Covenant House of New London to help give the gift of warmth to the New London community this winter season with a winter clothing drive. All donated items will go to the Homeless Hospitality Center and the Covenant House who will distribute the clothing to those in need. Your support is greatly appreciated!
From December 5, 2025 through January 10, 2026, we will be accepting new hats and gloves in all sizes, and new and gently-used coats in all sizes. Donations of children’s winter coats are especially appreciated.
Drop-Off Location (look for designated donation box):
- Fiddleheads Food Co-op, 13 Broad St, New London (view map) during business hours (8 am-9 pm)
Finding Patterns in the Past this Giving Tuesday
At Connecticut Landmarks, preservation, education, and storytelling are at the heart of our mission. At the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden, our 18th-century Réveillon wallpaper conservation project has allowed us to continue to care for an important historic resource, partner with some of the region’s most dedicated researchers, scientists, and artisans, and encourage visitors to find their home in history through educational, hands-on programming. We hope you will enjoy the video above for a look into 18th-century wallpaper-making and contemporary conservation techniques with conservators from Studio TKM Associates.
With support from the National Park Service’s Save America’s Treasures, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and generous donors, we have reached 90% of our fundraising goal for this conservation project and hope you will consider a donation this #GivingTuesday to help us reach the final 10%!
If 100 people donate just $20 today, we will reach our goal of raising $2,000 in one day!
18th-Century Réveillon Wallpaper Conservation Techniques with Studio TKM Associates
Last week, Connecticut Landmarks’ Marketing & Communications Manager, Olivia, met with the conservators from Studio TKM Associates to discover more about conservation techniques used on the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden’s 18th-century Réveillon wallpaper. In this video, the conservation team shares insights into 18th-century wallpaper-making techniques, discusses the importance of using the electromagnetic spectrum and digital microscopes along with their work with Dr. Erin Mysak from Harvard University, and explores a brief history of the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden!
With support from the National Park Service’s Save America’s Treasures, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and generous donors, we have reached 90% of our fundraising goal for this conservation project and hope you will consider a donation this giving season to help us reach the final 10%!
Discover more about the wallpaper conservation project and support the work »
Preservation Updates
18th-Century Réveillon Wallpaper Conservation Techniques with Studio TKM Associates
Last week, Connecticut Landmarks’ Marketing & Communications Manager, Olivia, met with the conservators from Studio TKM Associates to discover more about conservation techniques used on the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden’s 18th-century Réveillon wallpaper. In this video, the conservation team shares insights into 18th-century wallpaper-making techniques, discusses the importance of using the electromagnetic spectrum and digital microscopes along with their work with Dr. Erin Mysak from Harvard University, and explores a brief history of the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden!
With support from the National Park Service’s Save America’s Treasures, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and generous donors, we have reached 90% of our fundraising goal for this conservation project and hope you will consider a donation this giving season to help us reach the final 10%!
Discover more about the wallpaper conservation project and support the work »
Completion of Restoration Work at the Hempsted Houses
After beginning significant structural work in September on the 1728 addition of the 1678 Joshua Hempsted House, Connecticut Landmarks is excited to announce the museum is ready to re-open its 350-year-old doors to visitors!
Over the course of the project, Kronenberger & Sons Restoration expertly corrected structural deficiencies in the house by adding new beams and Lally columns in the cellar as well as reinforcing the summer beam and installing a new support post in Nathaniel’s Kitchen. Their team also installed new support posts in the second-floor bedchamber and added new headers and collar ties in the rafters in Adam’s Garret. Last week, our wonderful collections team carefully reinstalled collection pieces in each room, including Nathaniel’s Kitchen and Chamber pictured above.
DeStefano & Chamberlain, Preservation Connecticut, the CT State Historic Preservation Office, Crosskey Architects, and Kronenberger & Sons Restoration played crucial roles in guiding this project to completion. Funding for this work was possible through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development. All aspects of the project were carefully planned in compliance with the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office and United States Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this project to help us preserve such an important historic landmark in New London. We’re able to keep history standing strong because of you!
We hope you will join us on 10/25 for Hempsted Halloween. This family-friendly event is free, and first-floor tours of the Joshua Hempsted House will be available! Interested in by-appointment tours or field trip opportunities? Please contact hempsted@ctlandmarks.org. Stay tuned to our website for a special ‘Re-Welcoming’ to the property next Spring!