Saying good-bye in the Victorian Era was a complicated process. Join this fact-based exploration of a Victorian wake presented in partnership with the researchers and performers at Escapism Productions.
The Coventry Farmers’ Market on the grounds of the Nathan Hale Homestead is an experience not to be missed. This market carries the tradition of being the largest farmers’ market in the state, featuring some of the best of Connecticut-grown, Connecticut-made products in one of the most unspoiled countryside settings in the state. Each week, the staff of the Homestead will lead a family-friendly activity to connect the history of the site with the theme of the market. Admission to the Nathan Hale Homestead is by regular admission and is not included in the Farmers’ Market program.
Immerse yourself in 18th century chocolate making during this lecture. Guests will be invited to enjoy samples of chocolate and hot cocoa. Like what you sampled? Chocolate bars will be available for sale in the Nathan Hale Homestead Gift Shop.
Toast the start of conservation work with the team working to stabilize the Réveillon wallpaper adorning the Phelps-Hatheway House. Enjoy exclusive access to the expertise of conservation scientists from Studio TKM Associates, who will explain and demonstrate their work caring for the papers. Attendees of this intimate gathering are invited to learn about the house and its residents while imagining the turbulence of the 1790s as two nations attempted to assert their independence—and their identities.
Enjoy an afternoon’s vocal and instrumental performance 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.
Suffield’s South Main Street bears a particular charm as the holidays approach. The “grand dames” of this historic thoroughfare are festively lit and decorated to celebrate the season. Join our costumed guides as they transport guests to the time before electricity illuminated our homes. Beginning promptly at 4 pm, the Holiday Lantern Tour will lead visitors of all ages from the King House to High Street and finally to the exquisite Phelps-Hatheway House.
Suffield’s South Main Street bears a particular charm as the holidays approach. The “grand dames” of this historic thoroughfare are festively lit and decorated to celebrate the season. Join our costumed guides as they transport guests to the time before electricity illuminated our homes. Beginning promptly at 4 pm, the Holiday Lantern Tour will lead visitors of all ages from the King House to High Street and finally to the exquisite Phelps-Hatheway House.
Traverse the streets and sites of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Hartford to commemorate this illustrious native son. Highlights include the Butler-McCook House & Garden, Olmsted’s birth site, Bushnell Park, the Capitol Grounds, High Street, Ann Street, and Keney Clock Tower, with optional visit (by car) to Olmsted’s gravesite in Old North Cemetery at the conclusion.
Leaving from the Butler-McCook House & Garden, this walk will proceed north up Main Street to the G. Fox Building along the east side, and return to Butler-McCook along the west side with a collaborative stop at the Ancient Burying Ground. This walk is a variant of our “Discovering Main Street Hartford” walk, discussing changes to Main Street and encouraging participant discussion about what has been saved and why, as well as inviting participants to share their recollections about Main Street and its importance.
Visit the Butler-McCook House & Garden, the only 18th-century home remaining on Hartford’s Main Street, for a guided tour to learn about the McCook family, who loved music, art, and travel through explorations of the museum’s collections which include paintings, Japanese samurai armor, furniture, and toys.
Join us on this new walk for 2025, as we cover what may seem like familiar geographic ground of Main Street, only with new stories to tell as we celebrate the lives of Hartford Women. Learn about Hannah Bunce Watson, Caroline Hewins, Elizabeth Colt, Beatrice Fox Auerbach, Ann Uccello & Carrie Saxon Perry, Ella Grasso, Katharine Houghton Hepburn, Mary Townsend Seymour and CT Suffragists, the Beecher sisters, and more.
Welcome spring with the return of Phelps-Hatheway’s Mother’s Day Tea in the historic Pine Room! Chef Renee Scharoff from Blonde on the Run Catering has prepared delectable savories and sweets to mark the occasion–accompanied by steaming pots of tea. After the celebration, join interpreters in the museum to hear of the women who called this place home and who continue to dedicate their lives to preserving this Suffield landmark.
When you think of the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, you think of lilacs. Each spring, the stunning variety of lilacs curated by Caroline Woolsey Ferriday and her mother scent the gardens and show off their fleeting blossoms in shades of purples, pinks, and even whites. Walk the grounds and garden with our guide to learn about the long history of the lilacs on the property and how we care for them.
When you think of the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, you think of lilacs. Each spring, the stunning variety of lilacs curated by Caroline Ferriday and her mother scent the gardens and show off their fleeting blossoms in shades of purples, pinks, and even whites. Tour the gardens to learn about the long history of the lilacs on the property and how we care for them.
Join the Avon Free Public Library and Isham-Terry volunteer interpreter, Jan Beatty for a virtual tour of the Isham-Terry House.