Connecticut Landmarks is pleased to announce that our Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Robert Brock as our new Executive Director. He has been serving as Interim Executive Director since April, though he joined Connecticut Landmarks as Deputy Director in 2019. Mr. Brock came to Connecticut Landmarks from St. Louis, where he was Director of Visitor Experience at the Missouri Historical Society, which saw over 500,000 visitors a year under his leadership. A Hartford resident, he holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a M.S. in Public Policy from the University of Massachusetts Boston.

“Bob has done a great job leading the organization as interim Executive Director during a time of transition and at our busiest time of the year,” remarked Deborah Ullman, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “His broad professional experience and commitment to historic preservation makes him uniquely suited to this role. As we wrap up a busy fall of site-based programs, we look forward to several preservation projects and planning for another season of engaging programs.”

Join us in congratulating Bob, and make sure to say hello when you see him at one of our fall programs! If you have any questions or would like to schedule a meeting, email robert.brock@ctlandmarks.org

In a first-time collaboration, Waterbury’s Mattatuck Museum is sharing pieces from its significant art and history collections with visitors to the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden in Bethlehem. Works exploring the themes of women, 20th-century art, and local art will complement the historic house’s beautiful furniture, art, and objects. The works will be on view during Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden’s regular hours from Saturday, September 21 to Sunday, October 20.

“The Mattatuck Museum is thrilled to be collaborating with another Connecticut institution! This is a fantastic opportunity to engage with new audiences and connect our collection to local history,” said Becca Lo Presti, Assistant Curator at the Mattatuck Museum.

Visitors will be immersed in photographs, mixed media collages, oil paintings, and sculptures nestled among the rooms of the 18th-century home that Reverend Joseph Bellamy built, and 20th-century philanthropist Caroline Ferriday made her summer home.

On view will be works by Julia Milch Singer, Alan Cohen, Leo Manso, Fred Staloff, Babette Bloch, Juan Nito Cruz, Tom Baril, Eva Fuka, Joe Stein, William Merritt Post, and Mia Brownell. Peruse the halls and discuss the artworks, their significance, and thematic connections to the house’s history as you learn about the ways that beliefs and values can guide one’s actions by interpreting the lives, actions, and commitments of the house’s former residents.

“I am delighted to see the Ferriday family’s beloved summer home in a new context by exhibiting these amazing works of art in conversation with the history of the home,” said Peg Shimer, Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden’s Site Administrator. “This collaboration is a testament to the work both organizations do to inspire a deeper understanding of the past and create space to nurture learning.”

On Saturday, September 21, Connecticut Landmarks and Mattatuck Museum members will receive free tour admission to celebrate the exhibition opening. Complimentary celebration packets with refreshments will be distributed after tours. Supplies are limited and pre-registration is recommended to reserve your packet. Throughout the run of the exhibition, Mattatuck Museum members will receive $10 tour admission with proof of membership.

Book your tour »

For nearly 90 years, Connecticut Landmarks has preserved the legacy of our historic sites and their stories through our preservation work, educational programs, and engaging events. August marks Make a Will month, and there is no better time than now to start thinking about your legacy. As someone who has connected with our historic sites, been captivated by their history or architecture, or simply have recognized our legacy of preservation and education work, we ask that you consider including us in your will as you plan for your future.

By creating a will, you can ensure that your assets are distributed to your wishes and continue to support the causes you care about. By including Connecticut Landmarks in your planned giving, you will ensure that you are an instrumental part in the legacy of stewarding the important historic sites in our care.

Your legacy gift helps our organization continue to preserve the places where Connecticut history was made; welcome thousands of school groups, history enthusiasts, and families from across the country; and host programs and events that immerse visitors in the past for generations to come.

Together, we can ensure that your legacy lives on and continues to make a difference.

Create Your Legacy Gift »

Did you know that six of Connecticut Landmarks’ historic sites are among the more than 2,000 museums who are part of the Blue Star Museums program this summer?

Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America to offer free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families each summer.

Active-duty U.S. military personnel and up to five family members can visit the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, Nathan Hale Homestead, Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden, Isham-Terry House, Butler-McCook House & Garden, and the Palmer-Warner House for free on open tour days. Please visit each property’s page for open hours and contact information for specific questions. This program ends on Labor Day (September 2nd). Present your military ID to our museum staff upon arrival to register your group for a tour.

We look forward to welcoming you and your families to our historic properties!

Read Blue Star Museums FAQ here »

You won’t want to miss this Thursday’s (8/8/24) Sunset Sounds Concert Series!

Will Goble Quintet will put on an unforgettable performance with Will Goble on bass, Dave Adewumi on trumpet, Nathan Edwards on tenor sax, Ryan Sands on drums, and Willerm Delisfort on keys.

Music will happen rain or shine in the intimate setting of our community room of Amos Bull House from 6-8 pm, 59 S Prospect in Hartford at the rear of our historic Butler-McCook House & Garden.

If the performance is held outdoors, please note that the grounds may still be damp from this week’s storms. Please dress accordingly and don’t forget your lawn chairs, rainboots, and picnic dinner!

Contact jana.colacino@ctlandmarks.org with any questions.

Registration appreciated, but walk-ups always welcome!

Sponsored by: the Richard P. Garmany Fund at Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s United Arts Campaign with major support from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; and the Evelyn W. Preston Memorial Trust Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee. 

See all upcoming music programs here »

Hartford’s summer air will once again be filled with vibrant jazz melodies against the backdrop of sunset skies. Every second Thursday from June through September, bring a lawn chair and a picnic dinner while you enjoy music and an artist’s exhibition in the lovely setting of the Butler-McCook House & Garden during our Sunset Sounds Concert Series. The series kicks off this Thursday with Jen Allen “Heart Alchemy.”  Be sure to stay for a free tour of Butler-McCook House’s first floor! Audio tours are available via the IZI.Travel app for the historic garden. The Amos Bull House will also celebrate a featured artist’s exhibition in our community room.

On Friday, June 21, perennial crowd favorite Ed Fast and Congabop returns to Hartford’s best kept secret—our historic garden oasis–as we join cities worldwide on the longest day of the year to celebrate the annual Make Music Day Hartford. Bring your dancing shoes and have no doubt that this will be an exciting performance filled with Fast’s original tunes and rumbafied standards and his stellar line-up of performers, including legendary percussionist Sammy Figueroa.

Registration appreciated, but walk-ups always welcome to all music performances!

See Other Programs in Sunset Sounds Concert Series »