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 »

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 »

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 »

Beginning August 10, the Palmer-Warner House in East Haddam will be open for tours on the second Saturday of each month, May-October, from 1 pm-4 pm. Visitors will be able to plan a tour of the house in conjunction with a visit to any number of attractions in the beautiful East Haddam area. New exterior signage and freshened-up interiors will also support this shift to a seasonally-operating historic house museum from an appointment-based experience. Connecticut Landmarks’ collections team continues their documentation work, and infrastructure improvements and capital investments are in progress at the site.

“This is an important new phase of the operations of this site that complements the slate of innovative public programming already taking place,” remarked Director of Public Engagement & Marketing Shaelyn Amaio. “I am so grateful for Site Administrator Lynette Fisher’s vision, initiative, and care in seeing this through.”

With the addition of Open Tour days at the Palmer-Warner House, Connecticut Landmarks’ interpretive arc spans from 1678 (Hempsted Houses) to 2005 (Palmer-Warner House).

See all upcoming Open Tour days »

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 »

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 »