Ever wonder what it was like to work in the 18th century? Travel back to the colonial era with the Nathan Hale Fife and Drum encampment as they recreate life as a Revolutionary War soldier. Learn about 18th-century tools and techniques used in the historic trades with demonstrations by woodworker, carpenter & Joiner John Baron and Blacksmith Baird Wech-Collins who will forge a variety of tools and hardware.

This FREE family-friendly event on the verdant grounds of the Hempsted Houses in New London takes place Saturday, July 27, from 12 noon-3 pm. Advance registration is available, but walk-ups are always welcome!

Details and registration here »

This annual spooktacular at the Nathan Hale Homestead invites visitors to put on their walking shoes, grab a flashlight, and explore the property and house, all the way up to the dark, shadowy attic. Prepare to be scared while surrounded by the very history that spawned the stories. 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.

People are dying to join the event, taking place select Thursdays and Fridays in September and October. Space is limited and these tours sell out, so act fast!

Tickets will be available to Connecticut Landmarks Members on Thursday, July 11 at 10 am! Members will be notified via email when tickets go on sale. Not yet a member? Join today!

Remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public Thursday, August 1 at 10 am. Sign up for our e-newsletter to be notified when tickets are available.

See all dates and learn more »

The Palmer-Warner House will host a Celtic celebration on Saturday, September 14, from 11 am-2 pm with Summer Pipes & Cider!

Sip cider and connect with Scotland during a trail walk around the beautiful Palmer-Warner grounds led by Coreyanne Armstrong and Portland & District Pipers. Enjoy local cider and bourbon tastings designed to take your imagination to the Scottish Moors. Bring your friends to test your knowledge in a round of Celtic-themed pub trivia, with prizes for first- and second-place teams.

Tickets for the event are available now through our website.

If you have any questions, please email Site Administrator Lynette Fisher at palmer.warner@ctlandmarks.org. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to see you in September.

Join the fun before tickets sell out »

The Nathan Hale Homestead is proud to honor those who have served our country each July with the annual Flag Field for Heroes event, which blankets the front lawn of the birthplace of Connecticut’s State Hero with dozens of American flags, each honoring a service member, veteran, or other hero. The moving display will be in place in front of the home that sent 6 sons to fight in the American Revolution from dawn to dusk July 6-July 27.

“Over the years I have watched this program emerge into an inspirational event displaying over 200 flags.  Our Flag Field for Heroes has flag honorees dating from the French Indian War to men and women serving today,” remarked Anne Marie Charland, Site Administrator for the Nathan Hale Homestead.

Patrons can sponsor an American flag on our website now. A free opening ceremony takes place July 6, featuring speakers and patriotic music.

Special thanks to our partners for this event, the Coventry Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Coventry American Legion.

Reserve your flag today »

Connecticut Landmarks’ offices and sites will be closed on Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Tours of the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden will not be available. Sites with regular Friday hours will resume operations as scheduled.

As we celebrate the 248th anniversary of the founding of our country, Connecticut Landmarks is also considering how an understanding of our history can help build a brighter future for all Americans. We seek to bring in new visitors, new viewpoints, and new experiences that will impact a wide range of people. This is an ongoing process and one that requires all of us to work toward the same goals to create a state whose understanding of its diverse past inspires its people to move forward together as one.

Support our work to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 »

Connecticut Landmarks seeks a Rental Associate to coordinate a wide range of rental events (including weddings, social, corporate, and community events) at the Nathan Hale Homestead, the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden, and the Butler-McCook House & Garden.

Our Rentals Associate is the first line of contact with our clients, representing the organization during client meetings; coordinating events from contracting to implementation; working with site staff to ensure appropriate scheduling; ensuring the safety of our historic properties and collections; and supporting client satisfaction. This is a wonderful opportunity for someone with event management experience who wants to work in the cultural heritage arena.

See the full description and apply today »

We have an incredible evening of Latin Percussion planned Friday June 21 in celebration of Make Music Day 2024! You won’t want to miss it!

Ed Fast and Conga Bop will be joined by the legendary Sammy Figueroa and Anthony Carrillo on percussion for an unforgettable performance.

Music will happen rain or shine in the intimate setting of our community room of Amos Bull House from 7-9 pm, 59 S Prospect in Hartford at the rear of our historic Butler-McCook House & Garden.

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

See all upcoming music programs here »

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 »

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 »

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 »