Connecticut Landmarks

Lilac Walks
2025-05-18 11:30 - 12:15 (America/New_York) | Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, 9 Main St N, Bethlehem, CT, 06751, United States
Thank you for your interest in the lilacs 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.
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.
Register for 11:30 am

Lilac tours take place on select days and require tickets. See the full line-up here. Advance registration is recommended as space is limited and these tours sell out!This tour does not include a house tour; tickets for house tours may be purchased separately.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather, as this program takes place outdoors. In case of cancellation due to severe weather, registrants will be notified at the email address on file.
If you have any questions, please contact Site Administrator Peg Shimer at bellamy.ferriday@ctlandmarks.org or call (203) 266-7596.
CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.

Isham-Terry Open Tour Sunday
2025-05-18 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-06-15 13:00 - 16:00 | Isham-Terry House, 211 High Street, Hartford, CT, 06103, United States
The Isham-Terry House is a time capsule of genteel life in turn-of-the-century Hartford. In 1896, Dr. Oliver Isham purchased the 1854 Italianate house for his medical practice and as a home for himself, his parents and his three sisters. His sisters, Julia and Charlotte, lived in the house until their deaths in the 1970s as urban renewal claimed many of the houses in the once-grand neighborhood. Explore this beloved family home to learn about the booming industries and culture of Hartford in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, understand medical practice and public health at this time, and learn more about the Isham and Terry families through the items they owned.
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Advance registration for tours appreciated, but walk-ups welcome as space permits!
CTL Members, please sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.
Can’t make it on an Open Sunday? Tours are also available by advance reservation! If you have any questions, please email isham.terry@ctlandmarks.org.

[Sold Out! ] Forest Bathing
2025-05-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Nathan Hale Homestead, 2299 South St, Coventry, CT, 06238, United States
Thank you for your interest in this program. We have reached capacity and tickets will not be available at the door. Please sign up for our e-newsletter to be informed of future programs.
Turn off your cell phones, breathe deeply, and observe nature using all your senses through the practice of shinrin yoku, also known as forest bathing. Guests will learn the art of forest bathing with Certified Forest Therapy Guide, Professor Suzanne Hudd.
Register Now

Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather, as this program will take place outdoors. In case of cancelation due to severe weather, registrants will be notified at the email address on file.
If you have any questions, please contact Site Administrator Anne Marie Charland at hale@ctlandmarks.org or call 860.742.6917.
CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.

Bellamy-Ferriday Zinnia Seed Campaign
2025-06-01 - 2025-07-20 | Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, 9 Main St N, Bethlehem, CT, 06751, United States
Help us plant the seeds for the future of the Bellamy-Ferriday Garden with our special zinnia seed campaign! Sponsor a zinnia seed for $10 and a garden stake with your name will be placed next to the spot where the seed is planted. Your sponsorship comes with a garden pass to return to see the plants in bloom.
Those who sponsor a seed while visiting the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden will have the opportunity to plant the seed themselves. Those who sponsor a seed online will be shown where their seed was planted on their next visit to the garden.
All proceeds support garden restoration at the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden.
Reserve your seed now

Thank you to our generous sponsors, Ace Hardware of Bethlehem.
If you have any questions, please contact bellamy.ferriday@ctlandmarks.org or call (203) 266-7596.
CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access Member pricing and other benefits.
A confirmation email with additional information will be sent to the email address used to reserve the tickets. By purchasing tickets to this event, you consent to receive email communications from Connecticut Landmarks. You can revoke your consent to receive marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link found at the bottom of every email.

Exhibition | TRANSPARENT: Creating Advocacy Through Art by Samuel Avery Giardina
2025-06-01 13:00 - 2025-06-28 16:00 | Palmer-Warner House, 307 Town Street, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
Connecticut Landmarks is proud to honor the LGBTQ+ community by welcoming visitors to explore “TRANSPARENT: Creating Advocacy Through Art” by Samuel Avery Giardina. This exhibition is free to the public and is open during the Palmer-Warner House’s open hours through June 28. Located in the Palmer-Warner Barn, this exhibition explores personal identity, transformation, and the profound impact of the LGBTQ+ community throughout history.
Samuel Avery Giardina is a 26-year-old photographer from Berlin, Connecticut. As a transgender artist himself, he has dedicated his career to raising awareness for his community through his work. He started taking photos in 2020, the year he started his transition, and has since then found a passion for telling trans stories through his photography. He’s been able to capture his own journey through his self-portraits while using them as a driving force in creating advocacy for the trans community. He then started documenting other trans people’s experiences through his editorial photography work. Discover Samuel’s work at www.samaverymedia.com.
If you would like to book a tour to accompany your visit, please see the calendar. Tour admission will also include entrance to the Letters of Unity display.

If you have any questions, please contact palmer.warner@ctlandmarks.org.

Garden Talks: Roses
2025-06-05 14:00 - 15:00 | Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, 9 Main St N, Bethlehem, CT, 06751, United States
In 1915, Eliza Ferriday established a formal parterre garden on the Bellamy-Ferriday House’s west side. Over a 70-year period, Eliza and her daughter, Caroline Ferriday, created a garden showcasing their love of roses, lilacs and peonies.  Join former Bellamy-Ferriday Horticulturist George McLeary for a discussion of the history of our roses, their types, and how we care for them.  Following the talk, a guided tour will lead participants through the garden to experience the sweet scents of the roses with practical advice on care and pruning. Light refreshments will be served!
General Admission: $20 | CTL Members: $15
Register Now

House tours available for regular admission. Book your tour today!

If you have any questions, please contact bellamy.ferriday@ctlandmarks.org or call (203) 266-7596.
CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access Member pricing and other benefits.
A confirmation email with additional information will be sent to the email address used to reserve the tickets. By purchasing tickets to this event, you consent to receive email communications from Connecticut Landmarks. You can revoke your consent to receive marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link found at the bottom of every email.

Stories of Freedom: Suffield's Black History
2025-06-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Phelps-Hatheway House, 55 S Main St, Suffield, CT, 06078, United States
In collaboration with the Suffield Historical Society and Kent Memorial Library, join staff to learn the stories of individuals who resided on Suffield’s North and South Main Streets who have long been erased from memory. A reception will follow in the Visitor Center.
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This tour is being offered for FREE as part of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association’s CT Trails Day. Connecticut Landmarks joins outdoors enthusiasts across the state and country to mark Trails Day the first weekend in June each year.
Advance registration recommended as space is limited. Please dress for the weather as this event takes place outdoors.
CTL Members, please sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.
If you have any questions, please email phelps.hatheway@ctlandmarks.org or call 860-668-0055.

Exhibit | Letters of Unity: Building LGBTQ+ Community Through the Written Word
2025-06-07 12:00 - 2025-08-23 17:00 | CT
This exhibit 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 collection and loaned items, this exhibit will weave together your stories with the stories of the house’s previous residents, Frederic Palmer and Howard Metzger, who created a safe space together in East Haddam. This exhibit aims to not only showcase the power of the written word in building community, but also celebrate the resilience, love, and solidarity within the LGBTQ+ community.
On View During Open Hours, Saturday, June 7–Saturday, August 23
Admission included with house tours
Exhibit Ticket Only: $7/Person, $5/Seniors & Students, Free for CTL Members
Learn more about the exhibit here.

Butler-McCook Open Tour Saturday
2025-06-07 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-05 13:00 - 16:00 | Butler-McCook House & Garden, 396 Main Street, Hartford, CT, 06103, United States
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.
Register Now

Advance registration for tours appreciated, but walk-ups welcome as space permits! House tours leave on the hour; last tour departs at 3 pm.
CTL Members, please sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.
Can’t make it on an Open Saturday? Tours are also available by reservation! If you have any questions, please email butler.mccook@ctlandmarks.org.

Discovering Historic Main Street Hartford | CT Trails Weekend
2025-06-08 10:00 - 12:00 | Butler-McCook House & Garden, 396 Main Street, Hartford, CT, 06103, United States
Join an easy 1.5-mile walking tour on the sidewalks of Hartford’s historic Main Street from the Butler-McCook House & Garden to the G. Fox Building to learn how the city has evolved through its significant structures: City Hall, the Wadsworth Atheneum, the Travelers Tower, the Old State House, Center Church and the Ancient Burying Ground.
Register Now

This program is being offered for FREE as part of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association’s CT Trails Day. Connecticut Landmarks joins outdoors enthusiasts across the state and country to mark Trails Day the first weekend in June each year.
This program is part of our Historic Hartford Walking Tours series, where we forge new paths through Hartford’s history! Register for additional walks here.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather, as this program will take place outdoors. In case of cancelation due to severe weather, registrants will be notified at the email address on file.
If you have any questions, contact Assistant Site Administrator Jana Colacino at jana.colacino@ctlandmarks.org.
CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing site to access your benefits.

Phelps-Hatheway Open Tour Sunday
2025-06-08 13:00 - 16:00 | Phelps-Hatheway House, 55 S Main St, Suffield, CT, 06078, United States
Step inside the museum to be transported to the 18th and 19th centuries and learn about the lives of those who built, lived in, and preserved the house. Stop into the visitor’s center for the Pastel Paintings exhibition by artist Gina Trusiewicz. With a longtime interest in art, Trusiewicz developed her craft in an online class during the pandemic. Her interest in nature, animals, and plants, combined with her certification as a Master Gardener, has inspired her work–capturing everyday moments, and the feelings they evoke, in West Hartford or right from her own backyard.

Suffield native Shem Burbank built a center chimney structure in 1761 where he and his wife Anna Fitch Burbank raised nine children. Although well-appointed for the mid 18th century, the Burbank house reflected conservative trends in design popular for the period. Financial hardship forced Burbank to sell his house to Oliver Phelps in 1788. The youngest of 17 children from neighboring Windsor, CT, Oliver Phelps was apprenticed to a Suffield merchant at an early age. During the Revolution, he skillfully served as Deputy Commissary under George Washington. A budding land speculator after the War, Phelps commissioned the addition of a substantial wing decorated with imported Parisian wallpaper in 1794. From the stylish new rooms, Phelps peddled a vision of American expansion to New Englanders looking for a new life in the west. Phelps’ attempts to sell significant swaths of Seneca Nation land as part of Connecticut’s Western Reserve proved unsuccessful; within a decade, his fortunes had collapsed. Understand the role of Connecticut in the American Revolution, examine colonial era trade and commercial exchange, consider land and real estate speculation and Indigenous people’s land rights, and observe the ways we display wealth and status in our homes.
Register Now

Advance registration for tours appreciated, but walk-ups welcome as space permits! House tours leave on the hour; last tour departs at 3 pm.
If you have any questions, please email phelps.hatheway@ctlandmarks.org or call 860-668-0055.
CTL Members, please sign in to our ticketing system to access Member pricing and other benefits.
A confirmation email with additional information will be sent to the email address used to reserve the tickets. By purchasing tickets to this event, you consent to receive email communications from Connecticut Landmarks. You can revoke your consent to receive marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link found at the bottom of every email.

Book Signing: In the Herbarium by Maura Flannery
2025-06-08 13:00 - 16:00 | Phelps-Hatheway House, 55 S Main St, Suffield, CT, 06078, United States
Interested in learning more about the history and importance of preserved plant species known as herbaria? Stop in the visitor center to pick up a signed copy of In the Herbarium and meet its author, Maura C. Flannery. Professor emerita of biology at St. John’s University, New York, and research affiliate in the A. C. Moore Herbarium at the University of South Carolina, Flannery’s book testifies to the central role of herbaria in the history of plant study and to their continued value to biologists, gardeners, artists, students, and citizen-scientists. By sharing the history of herbaria from early collections to present-day digitization, Flannery explores its importance in tracking climate change, molecular evolution, and even how herbaria can be linked to Indigenous peoples, collectors, or scientists.
This event is free and advance registration is not required. Tours of the Phelps-Hatheway House interiors are available with regular admission; view available tours here.

If you have any questions, please email phelps.hatheway@ctlandmarks.org or call 860-668-0055.
CTL Members, please sign in to our ticketing system to access Member pricing and other benefits.
A confirmation email with additional information will be sent to the email address used to reserve the tickets. By purchasing tickets to this event, you consent to receive email communications from Connecticut Landmarks. You can revoke your consent to receive marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link found at the bottom of every email.

Sunset Sounds Concert Series | Miki Yamanaka Trio
2025-06-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Butler-McCook House & Garden, 396 Main Street, Hartford, CT, 06103, United States
Join us as we kick off another summer of great music in our historic garden! Bring a lawn chair and a picnic dinner while you enjoy music in the lovely setting of the Butler-McCook House & Garden. Plus, be sure to take a free tour of the house’s first floor! Concerts happen rain or shine. In case of inclement weather, the concert will move indoors to the Amos Bull Community Room.
Featured Performers: Miki Yamanaka Trio
Japanese-born pianist Miki Yamanaka has called New York City home since 2012 and in the past decade has wasted no time establishing herself as one of the leading personalities of her generation on the piano and beyond. Critics laud her “light, expressive touch and solidly crafted, mainstream approach” – Mike Jurkovic (All About Jazz), while audiences delight in not only her playing, but her vibrant personality as well.
Yamanaka has gained international recognition from her albums as a leader; her most recent and most celebrated release, “Shades Of Rainbow” (Cellar Music), features Jazz masters Mark Turner and her NYC rhythm section, Tyrone Allen and Jimmy Macbride.
The Amos Bull and Butler-McCook Houses will also celebrate featured artist exhibitions of Amanda Roy and Emma Chadwick.
Register Now

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; Bank of America, N.A., as Co-Trustee of the George A. & Grace L. Long Foundation
Registration appreciated, but walk-ups always welcome! See the other programs in our Sunset Sounds Concert Series!
Photo credit: Martina DaSilva
This concert will take place on the terrace at the Amos Bull House, located to the rear of the Butler-McCook garden at 59 S. Prospect Street in Hartford. The grounds open at 5 pm and the performance begins at 6 pm. Please note that metered street parking is usually readily available in the area, and free after 6 pm. Visitors may park and enter at the Butler-McCook entrance on Main Street, or the Amos Bull entrance on S. Prospect Street.
This program takes place outdoors. In case of inclement weather, the concert will move indoors to the Amos Bull Community Room. Registrants will be notified at the email address on file in the case of cancellation. If you have any questions, contact Assistant Site Administrator Jana Colacino at jana.colacino@ctlandmarks.org.
CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing site to access your benefits.

While there is no admission fee for Sunset Sounds, donations to support ongoing programming at the Butler-McCook House & Garden are always appreciated!

Juneteenth Festival | Community Celebration
2025-06-14 11:00 - 16:00 | Hempsted Houses, 11 Hempstead Street, New London, CT, 06320, United States
Our Juneteenth Celebration commemorates the end of slavery in the United States after the Civil War. Partnering with the New London NAACP and OIC New London, the Hempsted Houses are home to this yearly community event highlighting the African American history of the Hempsted Houses and the surrounding New London neighborhood. Join us as we engage in activities encouraging conversations about emancipation, cultural awareness, and civic responsibility.
Register Now

Registration appreciated, but walk-ups always welcome!
Supported in part by: The Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, and the Chelsea Groton Foundation, Inc.
In partnership with: New London NAACP, OIC, and the New London County Historical Society
This program takes place outdoors. In case of cancellation due to severe weather, registrants will be notified at the email address on file. If you have any questions, contact Site Administrator Lynette Fisher at hempsted@ctlandmarks.org.
CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.

International Knit-in-Public Day
2025-06-14 12:00 - 15:00 | Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, 9 Main St N, Bethlehem, CT, 06751, United States
Caroline and Eliza Ferriday were knitters, sewists and interested in the fiber arts. Celebrate your love of yarn at the Ferriday home by bringing your project, a comfy folding chair or blanket, and enjoying the beautiful grounds! Meet fellow knitters and share your projects and techniques. Grounds fees will be waived for those who have knitting projects with them.
House tours available for regular admission. Book your tour today!

If you have any questions, please contact Site Administrator Peg Shimer at bellamy.ferriday@ctlandmarks.org or call (203) 266-7596.

CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing site to access your benefits.

Progress Flag Field
2025-06-14 13:00 - 2025-07-12 16:00 | Palmer-Warner House, 307 Town Street, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
The Progress Flag Field honors the legacy of Frederic Palmer and Howard Metzger, who created a welcoming space for friends, family, and the LGBTQ+ community. This installation serves as a place for reflection, with each flag representing the diverse identities within the community. It honors those who fought for equality and celebrates unity, resilience, and the importance of safe spaces.
A Closing Ceremony will take place on Saturday, July 12 at 4 pm after the Queer Independence Discussion Panel. We hope you will join us for readings and thoughts from our panelists, Sam Giardina, Dean Massey, and Clare McCarthy.
Sponsor a Flag, Share a Story
Each Progress Flag in our field represents a powerful act of love, remembrance, or hope. Whether you’re celebrating someone’s journey, honoring a life lost, or standing in solidarity with those still seeking acceptance, your sponsorship helps build a visible, vibrant symbol of support. Dedicate your flag with a name, a memory, or a message — every story matters.
Sponsor a Flag

On Display June 14-July 12 from dawn to dusk at the Palmer-Warner House. Purchase tickets to tour the house or view our Letters of Unity exhibit here.
If you have any questions, please contact palmer.warner@ctlandmarks.org.
CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.

Talking About Preservation: History Moving Forward with Connecticut Landmark
2025-06-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Program
Join us on Wednesday, June 18th as our staff present at Preservation Connecticut’s Talking About Preservation series! As one of Preservation Connecticut’s preservation partners in the state, we are excited to present about our nine historic house museums, four stewardship properties, and preservation work underway across various sites (plus events coming up this summer!). We will also share updates on the 18th-century Réveillon wallpaper conservation project at the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden in Suffield. This is a virtual program and registration is required.
Register through Preservation Connecticut

Garden Talks: Invasives
2025-06-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, 9 Main St N, Bethlehem, CT, 06751, United States
For over 100 years, the Bellamy-Ferriday Garden and its diverse collection of flowers have been maintained, first by the Ferriday’s, and now by staff, to ensure the preservation of the Ferriday’s legacy and the ecological health of the region. Join Todd Mervosh, noted expert on invasive plants in our region, for a discussion of how to identify, remove, and prevent invasive plant species in your garden. Following the talk, a guided tour will lead participants through the garden. Light refreshments will be served!
General Admission: $20 | CTL Members: $15
Register Now

House tours available for regular admission. Book your tour today!

If you have any questions, please contact bellamy.ferriday@ctlandmarks.org or call (203) 266-7596.
CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access Member pricing and other benefits.
A confirmation email with additional information will be sent to the email address used to reserve the tickets. By purchasing tickets to this event, you consent to receive email communications from Connecticut Landmarks. You can revoke your consent to receive marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link found at the bottom of every email.

CANCELED: Make Music Day New London | Choosing Freedom
2025-06-21 13:00 - 17:00 | Hempsted Houses, 11 Hempstead Street, New London, CT, 06320, United States
Update: Thank you for your interest in Make Music Day New London: Choosing Freedom. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have unfortunately had to cancel this event. Make Music Day Hartford will proceed as planned. Please click here to view other events at the Hempsted Houses.
New London joins cities worldwide on the longest day of the year to celebrate the annual Make Music Day. This event is open to all audiences and will have a special focus on African American music, such as freedom songs, songs to support justice, songs for protection, as well as songs of praise.
This internationally recognized day of music began over 40 years ago and is now celebrated in 120 countries with thousands of free concerts. Learn more and find a Make Music Chapter near you at makemusicday.org

Make Music Day Hartford | Ed Fast & Congabop
2025-06-21 18:00 - 20:00 | Butler-McCook House & Garden, 396 Main Street, Hartford, CT, 06103, United States
Hartford joins cities worldwide on the longest day of the year to celebrate the annual Make Music Day Hartford. Bring a picnic and your dancing shoes to the garden of the Butler-McCook House and join the party in Hartford’s best kept secret—our historic garden oasis–with perennial crowd favorite Ed Fast and Congabop. 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.
This internationally recognized day of music began over 40 years ago and is now celebrated in 120 countries with thousands of free concerts. Learn more and find a Make Music Chapter near you at makemusicday.org
Register Now

Registration appreciated, but walk-ups always welcome!
This program takes place outdoors. In case of cancellation due to severe weather, registrants will be notified at the email address on file. If you have any questions, contact Assistant Site Administrator Jana Colacino at jana.colacino@ctlandmarks.org.
CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing site to access your benefits.

Weaving Workshop – Make Your Own Kitchen Cleaning Set
2025-06-22 10:00 - 13:00 | Nathan Hale Homestead, 2299 South St, Coventry, CT, 06238, United States
Step back in time to learn a craft from the 18th century, with some modern tools to make the process a bit easier! Learn to make your own kitchen cleaning set including a whisk broom and your choice of one to two other kitchen tools, including a cake tester, pot scrubber, or mushroom brush. All materials included.
Register Now

This program is part of the Nathan Hale Homestead’s 18th-Century Living series. Visitors will get a first-hand experience of life in the 18th century. See the full line-up here.
If you have any questions, please contact Site Administrator Anne Marie Charland at hale@ctlandmarks.org or call 860.742.6917.
CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.

Connecticut Historic Gardens Day
2025-06-22 12:00 - 16:00 | CT
On Historic Gardens Day, sixteen historic gardens around the state welcome you to explore a variety of beautiful garden styles from different periods. Enjoy free admission to visit the gardens of three participating Connecticut Landmarks sites! Advance reservation for house tours via the link below for each property. Gardens will be open rain or shine.
Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden
Roam the beautiful, landscaped areas of our 10-acre property. Over a 70-year period, Eliza Ferriday and her daughter, Caroline, created a garden showcasing their love of roses, lilacs and peonies. Today, the garden is maintained by staff. Bellamy-Ferriday joined CT Historic Gardens in 2004 as a founding member. Our staff will be on hand to answer questions.
Book a guided tour of the museum interiors »

Butler-McCook House & Garden
Inspired by their European travels, Eliza Butler and Mary Sheldon adapted an original plan by the Swiss landscape architect Jacob Weidenmann for their Victorian ornamental garden on Hartford’s Main Street. The formal parterre garden features low boxwood hedges with beds of roses, perennials, and annuals connected by winding stone paths. It is lovingly cared for by the West Hartford Garden Club. Butler-McCook joined CT Historic Gardens in 2004 as a founding member.
Book a guided tour of the museum interiors »

Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden
The grounds of this 18th-century home on Suffield’s historic Main Street feature a formal parterre garden designed by landscape architect Mary Wells Edwards, a large herb bed, and scattered flowering shrubs. Suffield Garden Club members will be on hand to answer questions about the garden’s history and its inventory. Phelps-Hatheway became the 15th member of CT Historic Gardens in 2018.
Book a guided tour of the museum’s interiors »

CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.

QUIZTORY: Decades Edition
2025-06-27 18:30 - 20:30 | Nathan Hale Homestead, 2299 South St, Coventry, CT, 06238, United States
So, you think you know trivia? Now you can prove it! Don your thinking caps and dress as your favorite decade for tavern-style trivia in the Nathan Hale Homestead barn. Teams of up to six will compete in a general knowledge trivia competition. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams, best team name, and best top two costumes. Teams are welcome to bring their own snacks and refreshments.
Register Now

If you have any questions, please contact Site Administrator Anne Marie Charland at hale@ctlandmarks.org or call 860.742.6917.
CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.

[CANCELED] Housing Discussion
2025-06-28 13:00 - 14:30 | Hempsted Houses, 11 Hempstead Street, New London, CT, 06320, United States
Please note: Due to unforeseen circumstances this event has been canceled. We hope to reschedule it for a later date. Please subscribe to our e-newsletter and follow our social media channels for updates.

Join us for a conversation regarding housing in the Black communities of New London and surrounding towns. Our guest speakers, including the Hempsted Houses’ Assistant Site Administrator Nicole Thomas and retired state prosecutor and local resident Lonnie Braxton, will share stories from their youth in New London County and the state of minority housing during their teenage and young adult years. We will discuss how housing changed from adolescence through adulthood, and where they think things went wrong. How can we work in partnership with our communities to fix these issues?

$8/Person, Free for CTL Members

If you have any questions, contact hempsted@ctlandmarks.org.
Image Credit: Walling, H. F. & Baker, W. E. (1854) Map of New London County, Connecticut. [S.l] [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2001620486/.
CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.

Flag Field for Heroes Opening Ceremony
2025-07-06 10:00 - 11:30 | Nathan Hale Homestead, 2299 South St, Coventry, CT, 06238, United States
Where better to honor those who have served our country than the birthplace of our Connecticut State Hero? In partnership with the Coventry Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Coventry American Legion. Patrons can sponsor an American flag in honor of a military service member, veteran, or hero. Each flag will be fitted with a tag listing the honoree’s name, branch of service, and period of service. Flags will be on display from dawn to dusk until July 26, in front of the home that sent six sons to fight in the American Revolution. The Opening Ceremony will include patriotic poem readings, fife and drum music, and brief words from some of our veterans.

If you have any questions, please contact Site Administrator Anne Marie Charland at hale@ctlandmarks.org or call 860.742.6917.
CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.

8th Annual Flag Field for Heroes
2025-07-06 12:00 - 2025-07-26 17:00 | Nathan Hale Homestead, 2299 South St, Coventry, CT, 06238, United States
Where better to honor those who have served our country than the birthplace of our Connecticut State Hero? In partnership with the Coventry Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Coventry American Legion. Patrons can sponsor an American flag in honor of a military service member, veteran, or hero. Each flag will be fitted with a tag listing the honoree’s name, branch of service, and period of service. Flags will be on display from dawn to dusk through July 26, in front of the home that sent six sons to fight in the American Revolution.
The Opening Ceremony on Sunday, July 6, at 10 am will include patriotic poem readings, fife and drum music, and brief words from some of our veterans.

If you have any questions, please contact Site Administrator Anne Marie Charland at hale@ctlandmarks.org or call 860.742.6917.
Correction: Previous versions of this event listing erroneously stated that this would be the 9th annual Flag Field for Heroes at the Nathan Hale Homestead. The first program year was 2018, so we have corrected our event listings to reflect that 2025 is the 8th Annual Flag Field.
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Sunset Sounds Concert Series | Nigel Bello and Friends
2025-07-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Butler-McCook House & Garden, 396 Main Street, Hartford, CT, 06103, United States
Bring a lawn chair and a picnic dinner while you enjoy music in the lovely setting of the Butler-McCook House & Garden. Plus, be sure to stay for a free tour of the house’s first floor! Audio tours are available via the IZI.Travel app for the historic garden. The Amos Bull and Butler-McCook Houses will also celebrate featured artist exhibitions. Concerts happen rain or shine. In case of inclement weather, the concert will move indoors to the Amos Bull Community Room.
Featured Performers: Nigel Bello and Friends
Nigel Bello is an 18-year-old trombonist from Hartford, CT. His father, Nelson, introduced him to the trombone at the age of 6 and he has been playing for the past 13 years. Nigel has studied with Steve Davis, Dr. Emmett Goods, and Hommy Ramos. He has shared the stage with musicians such as Zaccai and Luques Curtis, Nat Reeves, Gary Bartz, and Steve Davis. In 2023, he traveled to France with the New Jersey Youth Symphony’s Jazz Orchestra as their second-chair trombone. Nigel has also played in many professional settings, such as opening the Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz Series and the Greater Hartford Jazz Festival, as well as accompanying musicians such as Michael Stuart, Frankie Ruiz Jr., Johnny Rivera, Nino Segarra, and many others. He now attends Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, continuing his musical journey.
Nigel Bello and Friends includes: Nigel Bello-trombone, Felipe Fournier-vibes, Luis Quintero-percussion, Zaccai Curtis-piano, Nathan Edwards-tenor sax, Nelson Bello-percussion, Luques Curtis bass
The Amos Bull and Butler-McCook Houses will also celebrate featured artist exhibitions of Luis Cotto and Emma Chadwick.
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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; Bank of America, N.A., as Co-Trustee of the George A. & Grace L. Long Foundation
Registration appreciated, but walk-ups always welcome! See the other programs in our Sunset Sounds Concert Series!
This concert will take place on the terrace at the Amos Bull House, located to the rear of the Butler-McCook garden at 59 S. Prospect Street in Hartford. The grounds open at 5 pm and the performance begins at 6 pm. Please note that metered street parking is usually readily available in the area, and free after 6 pm. Visitors may park and enter at the Butler-McCook entrance on Main Street, or the Amos Bull entrance on S. Prospect Street.
This program takes place outdoors. In case of inclement weather, the concert will move indoors to the Amos Bull Community Room. Registrants will be notified at the email address on file in the case of cancellation. If you have any questions, contact Assistant Site Administrator Jana Colacino at jana.colacino@ctlandmarks.org.
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While there is no admission fee for Sunset Sounds, donations to support ongoing programming at the Butler-McCook House & Garden are always appreciated!

Queer Independence Discussion Panel
2025-07-12 13:00 - 16:00 | Palmer-Warner House, 307 Town Street, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
Engage in a thought-provoking free community panel discussion on queer independence with Sam Avery, Dean Massey, and Clare McCarthy. Moderated by Lynette Fisher and Andy King, this panel will offer the opportunity to connect with diverse voices from across generations as they reflect on past, present, and future LGBTQ+ resilience, self-determination, and community support. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate the strength of queer identities. The Progress Flag Field Closing Ceremony will take place at 4 pm after the panel and final house tour. It will include readings and thoughts from our panelists.
Samuel Avery Giardina is a 26-year-old photographer from Berlin, Connecticut. As a transgender artist himself, he’s dedicated his career to raising awareness for his community through his work. He started taking photos in 2020, the year he started his transition, and has since then found a passion for telling trans stories through his photography. He’s been able to capture his own journey through his self-portraits while using them as a driving force in creating advocacy for the trans community. He then started documenting other trans people’s experiences through his editorial photography work.
Dean Massey is an urban planning researcher at Northeastern University and lives in Providence, Rhode Island. He has strong ties to Connecticut: he grew up in a small-town east of the river filled with historic cemeteries, studied at Connecticut College, and worked at the Connecticut General Assembly. In his spare time, he enjoys visiting house museums, tracking down gravestones by masters like Zerubbabel Collins, and hiking in the woods. He has visited every Connecticut Landmarks property, starting with the Nathan Hale Homestead as a child. Dean found his way to the Palmer-Warner House last year where he shared his love of cemetery history through Following Death: Cemetery Walk & Talk. Massey will return to lead Following Death again this year on October 25 – registration available soon!
Clare McCarthy is, first and foremost, an educator. A former Latin teacher of 33 years, she is skilled at communicating complex and often unfamiliar material clearly and in engaging ways. She opened Transqat Enterprises, a transgender advocacy business, in 2022 to combat mis- and disinformation on the topic and to provide a safe space to learn. Clare produces and hosts Transqat the Podcast, a series of long-form conversations with a wide array of exciting and informed guests. An engaging and thoughtful public speaker, she works with organizations of all sorts to promote a better understanding of trans issues, blending humor, vulnerability, research, and lived experience. Clare is an author with Oliver Heber Books, and she freelances as an authenticity reader with Penguin Random House.

Andy King (he/they) is a museum interpreter for the Palmer-Warner House and the Hempsted Houses. They received their B.A. in History and M.A. in Public History from Central Connecticut State University. Andy worked at the LGBTQ+ Center and served as the Vice President of Pride Club, hosting community events, running trainings, and providing resources for the campus’s queer community. For his M.A. capstone project, he amended the National Register of Historic Places nomination form to include Frederic Palmer’s life and work in the site’s historic narrative. Andy manages interpreters at Mystic Seaport Museum and volunteers for Stonington Pride.
Passionate about the LGBTQ+ community, Lynette Fisher is the Site Administrator for Connecticut Landmarks Southeast Region, which includes the Palmer-Warner House, Hempsted Houses, and Amasa Day House.

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Registration includes admission to the Letters of Unity exhibit. House tours must be booked separately; see our website for details.
If you have any questions, please contact palmer.warner@ctlandmarks.org.
CTL Members, sign in to our ticketing system to access your benefits.
