About Shaelyn Amaio

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So far Shaelyn Amaio has created 35 blog entries.

Visit Our Historic Gardens Sunday

This Sunday, June 23, three of our lush gardens will be open FREE for Connecticut Historic Gardens Day! Visit our properties in Suffield, Bethlehem, and Hartford to enjoy the seasonal blooms and learn more about the histories of our landscapes. Gardens will be open rain or shine from 12 noon-4 pm. House tours will be available where appropriate with regular admission.

This year, a painting of the Butler-McCook House & Garden was selected for the event’s poster. “Through the Rose Arch,” is a vibrant recreation of what a visitor to the garden would feel while standing under the rose arch, surrounded by the many beautiful plants that Connecticut has to offer. Artist Michelle Harwan states, “the image is a conglomeration of a photo from the Butler-McCook Facebook that I cropped and recomposed, as well as my own addition of what it would look like through the rose arch that is positioned in front of it but not in the photo.”

Michelle Hawran is a visual artist born, raised, and based in Windsor, Connecticut. Since graduating with a BFA from the University of Connecticut in 2016, Michelle splits her time between creating dizzyingly colorful paintings of her own family’s past, crafting meaningful commissions for her clients of their own family memories, and teaching all mediums of art to adults at the Windsor Art Center. She will be painting en plein air in the garden at Butler-McCook on Sunday.

Learn more about our historic gardens »

By |2024-06-20T10:47:11-04:00June 20th, 2024|News|Comments Off on Visit Our Historic Gardens Sunday

High Temperatures Impact Touring

Connecticut is bracing for near-record-high temperatures this week as a heat dome settles over the region. At our historic properties, hot weather creates challenges for people visiting our historic interiors. Many of our museums do not have modern climate control. Due to the increased temperatures, tours may be limited in size or rerouted to avoid particularly warm parts of the house. Some tours may need to be abridged or canceled.

“Our priority is always the safety of our guests, staff, and collections,” said Robert Brock, Interim Executive Director. “During times of extreme weather, our site administrators determine the adaptations that need to be made to balance a great visitor experience with safety for all.”

Please check our website and social media channels for updates before you visit our historic sites, or call the site you would like to visit to confirm operations.

Find museum contact information here »

By |2024-06-18T09:04:18-04:00June 18th, 2024|News|Comments Off on High Temperatures Impact Touring

In community at Hempsted Houses’ Juneteenth Celebration

New London’s Hempsted Houses welcomes community members to its 9th annual Juneteenth Festival, a three-day celebration of progress towards freedom in the United States. Join us on Friday evening for a Campfire Conversation, Saturday for the Juneteenth Celebration, and Sunday morning to reflect during Sunday Services under the tent.

While the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863, Union soldiers in the Civil War were not able to enforce it in areas still under Confederate control. It was not until June 19, 1865, that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, and announced that 250,000 enslaved people in the state had been freed. The date became known as Juneteenth — America’s second independence day — and was long celebrated among African American communities as a celebration of resilience and hope in difficult times. In 2021, Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday.

The Hempsted Houses are proud to partner with organizations like OIC New London, the New London chapter of the NAACP, the New London County Historical Society and the Slave Dwelling Project to commemorate this holiday, and celebrate the history of our site and the neighborhood in which it thrives, one of the earliest historically Black neighborhoods in the country. We hope to see you at this weekend’s festival!

See the full event details here »

By |2024-06-06T13:08:51-04:00June 6th, 2024|News|Comments Off on In community at Hempsted Houses’ Juneteenth Celebration

Welcome back to the Coventry Farmers’ Market!

Opening day of the Coventry Farmers’ Market is this Sunday, June 2! The state’s largest farmers’ market brings fresh local finds to the grounds of the Nathan Hale Homestead every Sunday from 10:00 am-1:00 pm through the end of October. Each week, the staff of the Homestead hosts family-friendly programs including 18thcentury games, hearth cooking, cheese-making, woodworking, and so much more. 

FREE admission to the grounds; fees apply for some programs.

The Nathan Hale Homestead is open from 10 am–2 pm on Sundays. Tours of the museum’s interiors are available for regular admission fees. Feel free to stop in to the Museum Shop to continue your shopping adventure!

See market themes and Homestead programming »

By |2024-06-01T07:22:10-04:00June 1st, 2024|News|Comments Off on Welcome back to the Coventry Farmers’ Market!

A monthlong Pride celebration in East Haddam!

We are pleased to invite you to learn about LGBTQ history during the Palmer-Warner House’s expanded open tour days in the month of June for Pride Month! 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.

On Saturdays, June 1-22 from 12 noon–4 pm, specialty tours of the Palmer-Warner House will introduce visitors to its residents and explore the themes of Equity, Unity, and Reflection. Visitors to the house and grounds can take in A Historic Timeline of Connecticut’s LGBTQ Community on loan from the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History will be on view in the barn. Join us on Saturday, June 29, for our culminating celebration in partnership with the East Haddam Historical Society.

“Connecticut Landmarks takes seriously its responsibility to share the stories of Frederic Palmer and Howard Metzger and the life they built together in East Haddam. We are so 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,” said Shaelyn Amaio, Director of Public Engagement & Marketing for the organization.

Learn more and reserve your tickets today »

By |2024-05-29T16:50:44-04:00May 29th, 2024|News|Comments Off on A monthlong Pride celebration in East Haddam!

Take to the CT Trails this weekend!

The first weekend of June trail lovers across Connecticut head outside to hike, play, ride, explore, climb, run and paddle for Connecticut Trails Day!

In Hartford, Jana Colacino will lead her famous “Discovering Historic Main Street” walking tour on Sunday, June 2, at 10 am. Join an easy 1.5-mile walking tour on the sidewalks of Hartford’s historic Main Street from the Butler-McCook House & Garden to the G. Fox Building to learn how the city has evolved through its significant structures: City Hall, the Wadsworth Atheneum, the Travelers Tower, the Old State House, Center Church and the Ancient Burying Ground.

The walk is free, but advance registration is recommended as capacity is limited and walk-ups will only be accommodated as space allows.

Learn more and register »

By |2024-05-28T14:41:29-04:00May 28th, 2024|News|Comments Off on Take to the CT Trails this weekend!

Restored Flooring in Butler-McCook Visitor Center

In February 2023, Connecticut experienced a cold snap, causing temperatures to plummet rapidly, and without warning. The bathroom pipes in the visitor center at the Butler-McCook House in Hartford burst, flooding the Main Street History Center exhibition. Moisture remediation, including several commercial-grade dehumidifiers and fans were employed and the exposed wood floor, which had been damaged extensively, was removed. Over the past few weeks, an eight-inch character oak floor was installed and stained to match the existing by floor restoration expert Tony Stockley. Butler-McCook House & Garden’s staff have been thrilled to welcome visitors back for tours and events in our Main Street History Center!

By |2024-05-22T16:10:10-04:00May 22nd, 2024|Preservation|Comments Off on Restored Flooring in Butler-McCook Visitor Center

A Note on Our Lilacs

The Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden will be proceeding with this week’s Lilac Walks to share the history of the lilacs and the ways in which we care for them, though with fewer blossoms. While we try to anticipate the peak blooming period for our lilacs every year, we are ultimately at the mercy of Mother Nature. This year, our lilacs enjoyed a warm, wet spring and bloomed a little earlier than we guessed. This week’s heat has further impacted the delicate blooms, and the flowers are now past their prime.

The Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden will be open as planned this week, Wednesday-Sunday from 12 noon-4 pm, with house tours departing every half hour until 3:30 pm.

Plan your visit »

By |2024-05-22T09:27:59-04:00May 22nd, 2024|Lilacs, News|Comments Off on A Note on Our Lilacs

Hempsted Houses Closed Saturday, May 25

Due to unforeseen circumstances related to ongoing restoration work, the Hempsted Houses in New London will be closed on Saturday, May 25. We apologize for any inconvenience.

This season, Connecticut Landmarks is undertaking a significant restoration project on the upper levels of the 1678 Joshua Hempsted House. For the safety of our visitors and our historic property, tours are currently restricted in size and in access. Schedules may have to be shifted throughout the season. Please stay tuned to our website and social media channels for updates.

In light of this, we have reduced admission costs until further notice, and will be focusing on delivering outstanding community-focused events that mainly take place on the grounds of the property. Tours of the houses themselves will be offered as we are able to accommodate them. Thank you for your understanding as we continue to care for the oldest home in New London. Your donations support our work.

Learn more about upcoming programs »

By |2024-05-20T13:18:37-04:00May 20th, 2024|News|Comments Off on Hempsted Houses Closed Saturday, May 25

Tickets on sale to ALL for Afternoon Tea with Martha Hall Kelly

Inspiration is everywhere in the Litchfield hills! Join Martha Hall Kelly to discuss her books (Lilac Girls, Lost Roses, Sunflower Sisters, The Golden Doves) and the history that sparked her imagination over afternoon tea at the exquisite Winvian Farm. This intimate event will include a talk and Q&A from the author herself, as well as a proper English tea served with delicious light refreshments.

Remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, May 15, at 10:00 am. Tickets for this event are very limited, and we anticipate that they will sell out.

Learn more about this signature event »

By |2024-05-15T09:46:43-04:00May 15th, 2024|News|Comments Off on Tickets on sale to ALL for Afternoon Tea with Martha Hall Kelly
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