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So far Olivia Grella has created 37 blog entries.

Secure Tickets for Celebrating Réveillon This Sunday!

Last year, you joined us in Suffield to celebrate the start of conservation work on the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden’s 18th-century wallpaper. This Sunday (11/2), we invite you to return to celebrate the conclusion of this wonderful project with special guest speakers who will address the unique nature of the papers and the importance of the conservation work. Following the presentations, there will be a champagne toast to the project and the future of Phelps-Hatheway’s exquisite collection – featuring delicious macarons. As daylight wanes, explore the museum to hear from Studio TKM conservators and museum staff who will be answering questions about the history of the house and the wallpaper project.

Old York Historical Society’s Research Center Director, Peggy Wishart, will introduce guests to the fascinating history of wallpaper. Steve Larson, co-founder of Adelphi Paper Hangings, will speak on the company’s esteemed production of historically accurate, block-printed reproductions of 18th– and 19th century papers. Presentations will end with Deborah LaCamera, Partner and Senior Conservator at Studio TKM Associates, who will provide updates on the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden project, the team’s findings, and the conservation process.

Support for this program comes from the Suffield Greater Together Community Fund. Proceeds support wallpaper conservation. See full presenter bios here.

Learn More & Get Tickets »

By |2025-10-27T12:24:50-04:00October 27th, 2025|News, Uncategorized, Wallpaper|Comments Off on Secure Tickets for Celebrating Réveillon This Sunday!
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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!

Discover more about the Hempsted Houses »

By |2025-10-15T12:26:21-04:00October 15th, 2025|Hempsted 2025, Preservation|Comments Off on Completion of Restoration Work at the Hempsted Houses
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Things That Go Bump in the Night SOLD OUT

Our perennially popular Halloween program at the Nathan Hale Homestead is SOLD OUT for 2025. No tickets will be available at the door. If you would like to be among the first to access sales for next year’s programs when they become available, please sign up for our e-newsletter.

And remember, CTL Members have exclusive access to tickets when they go on sale! Not yet a member? Join today to unlock all the perks of membership, including discounts, presales, and exclusive events.

These special, candlelit tours will take guests around the property and into the house, all the way up to the dark, shadowy attic. Hear long-standing and new Homestead ghost stories from staff members and spooky encounters reported by guests, as featured on the Syfy channel’s Ghost Hunters.

Still looking for a creeptastic night out? Limited tickets remain for Tools of the Trade: Paranormal Edition, where staff will demonstrate tools used in paranormal investigations inside the Hale Homestead on Halloween night!

Learn More & Get Tickets »

By |2025-09-22T12:51:01-04:00September 22nd, 2025|News, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Things That Go Bump in the Night SOLD OUT
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Significant Restoration Work Underway at the Hempsted Houses

Have you seen the new sign outside our museum? We are pleased to announce that significant restoration work on the upper levels of the 1678 Joshua Hempsted House is currently underway. Connecticut Landmarks and Crosskey Architects have contracted the expertise of Kronenberger & Sons Restoration to complete this project to restore the 350-year-old house’s structural integrity. This work couples with the installation of two commercial-grade dehumidifiers installed in the house to help control moisture and mitigate pest damage. These important preservation efforts ensure our ability to continue engaging visitors in stories about colonial life and northern slavery through the history of the Hempsted and Jackson families in the spaces where they lived – empowering folks to begin their conversation with history and make a difference today.

We would like to thank DeStefano & Chamberlain, Preservation Connecticut, the CT State Historic Preservation Office, Crosskey Architects, and Kronenberger & Sons Restoration for their guidance and expertise with this project. We also want to extend our gratitude to the supporters of the Hempsted Houses. Your commitment to our work, the history of the property, and presence during events, tours, and programs makes the experiences at our museum even more meaningful. We look forward to welcoming you for generations to come!

Click here to discover more about the Hempsted Houses, restoration work, and impact on tours » 

By |2025-10-01T10:51:38-04:00September 5th, 2025|Hempsted 2025, Preservation|Comments Off on Significant Restoration Work Underway at the Hempsted Houses
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Connecticut Landmarks Presents on Current Preservation Projects

Aileen Bastos, Lynn Mervosh, and Olivia Grella presented last week at Preservation Connecticut‘s Talking About Preservation webinar series. As one of Preservation Connecticut’s preservation partners in the state, we were excited to present about our nine historic house museums, four stewardship properties, and preservation work underway across various sites (plus events coming up this summer!). We also shared updates on the 18th-century Réveillon wallpaper conservation project at the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden in Suffield.

Watch the presentation »

By |2025-06-24T09:39:50-04:00June 24th, 2025|Preservation|Comments Off on Connecticut Landmarks Presents on Current Preservation Projects
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Change in Musician Lineup for July Sunset Sounds Concert

Due to scheduling conflicts, the Sunset Sounds Concert on Thursday, July 12 at 6 pm will now feature a performance by Nigel Bello and Friends. The original performance by Kellin Hanas Quintet will be rescheduled for 2026. Stay tuned to our website, social media and program guide for event updates! 

Nigel Bello is an 18-year-old trombonist from Hartford, CT.  His father, Nelson, introduced him to the trombone at the age of 6 and he has been playing for the past 13 years. Nigel has studied with Steve Davis, Dr. Emmett Goods, and Hommy Ramos. He has shared the stage with musicians such as Zaccai and Luques Curtis, Nat Reeves, Gary Bartz, and Steve Davis. In 2023, he traveled to France with the New Jersey Youth Symphony’s Jazz Orchestra as their second-chair trombone. Nigel has also played in many professional settings, such as opening the Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz Series and the Greater Hartford Jazz Festival, as well as accompanying musicians such as Michael Stuart, Frankie Ruiz Jr., Johnny Rivera, Nino Segarra, and many others. He now attends Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, continuing his musical journey.

Nigel Bello and Friends includes: Nigel Bello-trombone, Felipe Fournier-vibes, Luis Quintero-percussion, Zaccai Curtis-piano, Nathan Edwards-tenor sax, Nelson Bello-percussion, Luques Curtis bass.

Admission to the concert is free. The Amos Bull and Butler-McCook Houses will also celebrate featured artist exhibitions of Luis Cotto and Emma Chadwick.

See full event listing »

 

By |2025-06-17T11:54:57-04:00June 17th, 2025|News|Comments Off on Change in Musician Lineup for July Sunset Sounds Concert
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Celebrate Pride Month with Connecticut Landmarks

Commemorating the Stonewall Uprisings in June 1969, Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate LGBTQ+ identities and communities, more deeply understand LGBTQ+ histories, and laud progress towards freedom and acceptance. Connecticut Landmarks takes seriously its responsibility to share the stories of Frederic Palmer and Howard Metzger and the life they built together at the Palmer-Warner House. We are grateful for the opportunity to be in community with our LGBTQ+ friends and allies and look forward to celebrating and learning with you throughout Pride Month and all year long.

Join us in East Haddam each Saturday in June from 1 pm-4 pm for the Palmer-Warner House’s Pride of Place tour, which will explore the lives of previous residents Frederic Palmer and Howard Metzger and the broader themes of identity, resilience, and legacy that define the LGBTQ+ experience. Purchase tickets here »

Beginning June 7, “Letters of Unity: Building LGBTQ+ Community Through the Written Word” will celebrate the power of written communication in shaping LGBTQ+ identity, activism, and community. This display will be on view in the barn during open hours, and admission is included with house tours.

On Saturday, June 14 at 1 pm, join us for the installation of the Progress Flag Field. This installation serves as a place for reflection, with each flag representing the diverse identities within the community. It honors those who fought for equality and celebrates unity, resilience, and the importance of safe spaces. Whether you’re celebrating someone’s journey, honoring a life lost, or standing in solidarity with those still seeking acceptance, your sponsorship helps build a visible, vibrant symbol of support. Please consider dedicating a flag with a name, a memory, or a message — every story matters. Sponsor a flag here ».

We are also proud to honor the LGBTQ+ community by welcoming visitors to explore a special exhibit on display in the barn, TRANSPARENT: Creating Advocacy Through Art by Samuel Avery Giardina. This powerful exhibit explores personal identity, transformation, and the profound impact of the LGBTQ+ community throughout history.

By |2025-06-06T11:32:30-04:00June 6th, 2025|News|Comments Off on Celebrate Pride Month with Connecticut Landmarks
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