Did you know that six of Connecticut Landmarks’ historic house museums 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.

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 between tomorrow and September 1st. Please visit each property’s page for open hours and contact information. 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 »

Spring Lilac Walks are one of our most-anticipated events of the year at the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden. Unfortunately, the cold winter and recent bouts of significant rain have impacted the quality and visibility of this year’s blooms, and the plants are now past their prime. Scheduled Lilac Walks will proceed to highlight the remaining flowers and discuss the gardens’ history and care, and the House is open for tours during its regular hours of operation.

Those who purchased tickets refer to the email sent to the address used during registration for additional information.

We appreciate our visitors’ flexibility as Mother Nature can be a challenging collaborator!

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Connecticut Landmarks has made the difficult decision to postpone A New Page with Martha Hall Kelly, originally scheduled for this Friday, May 16, at 1:00 pm. Those who purchased tickets should refer to the notice sent to the email address provided during registration for more information and next steps. We apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment.

We have worked with Winvian Farm, the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, and the author herself to reschedule the event for Friday, October 3, 2025. The serene grounds of Winvian Farm will set the scene as best-selling author Martha Hall Kelly discusses her newest novel, The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club. Attendees to this intimate event will enjoy a talk and Q&A from the author herself over delicious light refreshments and tea service. Tickets are now available.

We appreciate your flexibility and hope to be able to celebrate The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club in your company later this year.

Learn more about this signature event »

The first weekend in May marks Connecticut Landmarks’ opening weekend. Our historic sites and their staff welcome visitors to open the door to the past with tours, hands-on programs, and special events. Tours of our seven historic house museums are available from May through October. Days and times vary by location. Make your reservations today!

Our 2025 season features new events including Forest Bathing, Drum Circles, hands-on print-making and flower-pounding, and temporary exhibits such as Letters of Unity: Building LGBTQ+ Community Through the Written Word opening in June at the Palmer-Warner House. Returning favorites include Things That Go Bump in the Night at the Nathan Hale Homestead; the Hempsted Houses’ Juneteenth Festival; Suffield Garden Club’s 47^th Annual May Market at the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden; and the Sunset Sounds Concert Series at the Butler-McCook House & Garden. Details and registration for all events can be found on our events calendar.

We look forward to welcoming you to our sites this season!

Connecticut Landmarks is hiring for several part-time positions.

• Museum Interpreters lead interactive visitor tours, programs, events, and hands-on activities at the various historic sites owned and operated by Connecticut Landmarks, with key openings at our sites in Hartford, Coventry, East Haddam, and Bethlehem. No tour experience necessary — training provided!
• The Preservation Assistant performs regular maintenance and repair tasks and minor restoration projects at all 12 of CTL’s historic properties. The Preservation Assistant will be required to have the necessary trades skills to perform routine maintenance on and repairs to the buildings and landscapes.
• Two Gardeners sought to care for the historic gardens—museums in and of themselves—at three of our properties. One will be based at the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden in Bethlehem; the other will serve the North Central region at the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden in Suffield and the Butler-McCook House & Garden in Hartford.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled.

Job descriptions, information and application instructions available here »

Connecticut Landmarks is pleased to announce the appointment of Shaelyn Amaio as Deputy Director of Connecticut Landmarks effective April 1st.

Shaelyn grew up in Connecticut, where her tourism journey began as a ride operator at Lake Compounce when she was in college. Shaelyn has worked as a museum educator, strategic planner, and project manager at museums and design firms in New England, New York, and Alabama. A Central Connecticut State University alumna, she also earned a graduate certificate in museum education from Tufts University and a M.A. in museum anthropology at Columbia University. She first came to Connecticut Landmarks from the New York Transit Museum on an IMLS-funded project in December of 2018, and her responsibilities slowly increased to include oversight of visitor experience, interpretation, and marketing. Shaelyn’s expanded role will include responsibility for site operations, membership programs, marketing, and financial management.

“Having worked at Connecticut Landmarks for 6 years, I am continually impressed by the dedication of my colleagues and the significance of the stories we share,” she said. “Museums can be tools to help us imagine a brighter world, and I look forward to continuing the work.”

If you see Shaelyn at one of our sites this season, say hello! She can also be reached by email at shaelyn.amaio@ctlandmarks.org.

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 »