Are you passionate about LGBTQ+ history and storytelling? Do you have letters, diaries, photographs, postcards, newspapers, magazines, audio recordings, or other personal accounts highlighting how written words have built and nurtured LGBTQ+ communities? The Palmer-Warner House, a Connecticut Landmarks museum, wants to hear from you!

Letters of Unity: Building LGBTQ+ Community Through the Written Word is a new exhibit debuting this June that will celebrate the power of written communication in shaping LGBTQ+ identity, activism, and community. From love letters to zines and personal diaries to protest flyers, these artifacts tell the stories of resilience, connection, and creativity that have sustained LGBTQ+ communities across generations. Using the Palmer-Warner House’s collections and donated items, this exhibit will weave together your stories and those of the home’s previous residents Frederic Palmer and Howard Metzger, who created a safe space together in East Haddam.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: May 16, 2025

Interested in contributing items? View submission guidelines here »

All of our historic house museums are seeking excellent storytellers with an interest in local history to connect with our audiences of all ages. Does that sound like you? Part time seasonal Museum Interpreter positions are now open, offering roughly 10-12 hours per week from May-October at our historic sites around the state.

Learn more on our Opportunities page »

2024 was an exciting season of educational programming, engaging events, and preservation efforts that brought people from near and far to begin their conversation with history at our historic sites. Our seven historic house museums are starting points for deeper exploration and greater appreciation of the Connecticut experience. We welcome you to read our 2024 annual report to learn about all we have done this year and how you can support opportunities to help connect people to history! We can’t wait to welcome you back next season for events (new and returning favorites), programs, field trips, and house tours.

Read our Annual Report »

Enjoy an afternoon’s vocal and instrumental performance at Hartford’s Isham-Terry House by Andrew Wilcox (piano) and Mae Czuba (vocals) to hear the late-19th and early-20th century songs that would have filled the Ishams’ parlor, drawing upon the sheet music in the Isham-Terry collection and representing the lives and interests of the household’s amateur musicians. The performers will play music from the collection, and sheet music will be on display during the event! This event will be held on Sunday, November 10th from 2 pm-3 pm.

The artwork pictured is from the covers of the early 20th century sheet music from the Isham Family collection. “The Angle Worm Wiggle” cover features Sophie Tucker, known as “The Last of the Red-Hot Mamas,” who grew up in Hartford and paved the way for other female performers.

Purchase Tickets »

October marks the 88th anniversary of Connecticut Landmarks, originally known as the Antiquarian & Landmarks Society. Since October 15, 1936, our organization has been dedicated to preserving and interpreting the 11 historic properties and collections in our care.

Much has changed over the course of 88 years, but our commitment to inspiring an understanding of our complex past through our historic sites remains central to all we do. Our programs and tours have welcomed visitors to our historic sites to explore the lives of Connecticut residents, connect with their ancestors, share historically marginalized stories, learn new skills, and feel empowered to use the lessons of the past to make the world a better place today. We’re eager to continue welcoming families, friends, and history-lovers to our historic properties, programs—new additions and beloved favorites—and share with you the exciting preservation efforts to come.

Donate today »

The Nathan Hale Homestead is a Wheels to Learning program venue for the 2024-2025 school year. Wheels to Learning is a pilot program that seeks to understand if providing funding for transportation will increase access to out-of-classroom enriching learning experiences. K-12 public school teachers within Windham County can apply to the program for grants to support busing costs for field trips through the Wheels to Learning website. Connecticut Landmarks is also grateful to have received a quick grant from The Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Arts to support field trip programming.

The Nathan Hale Homestead engages visitors in understanding the commitments of those who have patriotically served their country through sacrifice, starting from the story of schoolteacher-turned-spy Nathan Hale. Students explore the American Revolution, what it means to be a spy throughout history, and life on a colonial farm. Staff and costumed guides lead interactive, informative activities where students learn about the uses of herbal medicines in the 18^th-century home; experience marching to the commands of an officer; or participate in 18^th-century lessons of reading, writing, and arithmetic before taking part in recess with historical wooden toys.

“Every season, we invite hundreds of students to step into the shoes of an 18^th-century spy, soldier, student, and seamstress. It has been wonderful to watch these young scholars find joy in the past, and we are looking forward to welcoming more students through our participation in Wheels to Learning,” said Anne Marie Charland, site administrator at the Nathan Hale Homestead.

Book your field trip »

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

Tickets for our annual spooktacular at the Nathan Hale Homestead have now sold out! To those who secured tickets, watch your email for additional information and don’t forget to share your photos by tagging the Nathan Hale Homestead’s Instagram account!

Want to make sure you have early access to next year’s dates when they go on sale? Join today!

See all dates and learn more »