Adams Schoolhouse
Westport Road Easton, CT
Open: Memorial Day, the Christmas season, and other times by appointment.
A mid-19th century 1 room school house, complete with furnishings and trappings from the period.
Connecticut has rich variety of historic homes, museums, cemeteries, trails
Connecticut is home to some of the deepest history of the Colonial and American Revolutionary periods, and there is much to learn and enjoy at its many historic houses and museums. Among the dozens listed below, some highlights of locations open to the public include the Ancient Burying Ground in Hartford, with gravestones from 1648; the homes in Hartford of authors Mark Twain and Harriett Beecher Stowe; several locations of the Underground Railroad; several museums honoring the history of the railways and trolleys in the state; the Amistad Museum; a textile industry museum; the grounds and architecture of Yale University, and much more.
Bates Scofield House
45 Old Kings Highway North Darien, CT Phone: 203-655-9233
Open: Thursday and Sunday 2 - 4 pm
Headquarters of the Darien Historical Society, this saltbox was built in 1736, and is now maintained by the society with exhibits of 18th century furniture, costumes and a quilt collection. A working herb garden is grown outside the home. Small admission fee for tours.
Boothe Memorial Park & Museum
5774 Main Street Stratford, CT 06614 Phone: 203-381-2046
This 32-acre former homestead of the Boothe Family (1663-1949) offers with picnic facilities, rose garden, and wedding garden. Buildings on National Historic Landmark site with displays of early farm equipment, carriages and baskets; trolley history, toll booth exhibit.
Hours: Park grounds are open year-round, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Museums and displays are open June 1 through October 1, Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m.
Admission: Free
Hours: Park grounds are open year-round, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Museums and displays are open June 1 through October 1, Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m.
Admission: Free
Bush Holley House
39 Strickland Road Greenwich, CT Phone: 203-869-6899
Open: Tuesday-Sunday, noon-4 p.m.
The circa 1730 National Historic Landmark Bush-Holley House was home to Connecticut’s first art colony. The site was the home and business headquarters of colonial merchant and mill owner David Bush, his wife Sarah, their children and their slaves. From 1890 to 1920, the house was run as a boarding house and was a gathering place for artists, writers, and editors. Admission: adults, $6; seniors and students, $4; children under age 6 and members, free. Free admission on Tuesday
Catharine B. Mitchell Museum and Captain David Judson House
967 Academy Hill Stratford, CT 06615 Phone: 203-378-0630
Open: June–October; Wednesdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Catharine B. Mitchell Museum exhibits local Native American artifacts and displays devoted to early town government, early African-American history, changing exhibits. Captain David Judson House (1750) furnished with period accessories and furniture. Open June through October, Wednesdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: Adults, $5; seniors, $4; students, $2.
Coley Homestead
104 Weston Road Weston, CT Phone: 203-226-1804
Open: Tours by appointment
19th century farm, with historical tools, woodworking implements, barn and authentic outhouses. Free admission.
East Village Barn Hill Schoolhouse
Old Tannery and Wheeler Roads Monroe, CT
Phone: 203-261-8554 Open: By appointment only
1 room schoolhouse, built in 1790. Contains authentic colonial and victorian school material.
East Village Meeting Hall
East Village and Barn Hill Roads Monroe, CT Phone: 203-268-5048
Open: By appointment only
Completed in 1811, this meeting house features an antique pump organ.
Eliot Beardsley Homestead
31 Great Ring Road Monroe, CT Phone: 203-268-5048
Historic home, built in 1760. Museum exhibits.
Fairfield Historical Society
636 Old Post Road Fairfield, CT Phone: 203-259-1598
Open: Monday - Friday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm; Sat and Sun, 1 - 5 pm
350 years of Fairfield history is detailed here through permanent and changing exhibits. The society is also home to a library and gift shop. Walking tours are scheduled throughout the year. Admission: Adults $3, children $1.
Hoyt - Barnum House
713 Bedford Street Stamford, CT Phone: 203-329-1183
Open: May - September, Sundays 12 - 4 pm; also by appointment
Originally a blacksmith's home, now restored and set up for exhibits. A donation from visitors is requested.
Hurlbutt Street Schoolhouse
157 Hurlbutt Street Wilton, CT Phone: 203-762-7275
Open: Tours by appointment only
A one room schoolhouse built in 1834. A donation is requested.
Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum
Mathews Park, 295 West Ave. Norwalk, CT 06850 Phone: 203-838-9799
Open: Mid-March to January 1; Wednesday-Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. or by appointment
America's first chateau; 62-room Victorian palace with stenciled walls, inlaid woodwork and skylit rotunda; gift shop. National Historic Landmark. Guided and audio tours. Admission: Adults, $8; seniors and students, $5; children under age 12, free
Mill Hill Historic Park
Wall Street and East Avenue Norwalk, CT Phone: 203-846-0525
Open: Memorial Day - Labor Day, Sundays 1 - 4 pm
Sites include the Governor Thomas Fitch Law Office, Cemetery, Schoolhouse, and Town House Museum. A donation is requested from visitors.
New Canaan Historical Society
13 Oenoke Ridge New Canaan, CT 06840 Phone: 203-966-1776
Open: Town House: Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Other buildings: summer hours, Tuesday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; other months, Wednesday and Thursday, 2-4 p.m. Call for Sunday hours.
The historic society maintains several buildings, housing a variety of exhibits. Buildings include the old Town House, with its costume collection, changing exhibits, library of genealogy and local history; the Pharmacy (1845); the Hanford-Silliman House (1764), the Rock Schoolhouse (1799), the John Rogers Sculpture Studio (1878), and the Tool Museum and Print Shop. Donation requested.
Ogden House and Gardens
1520 Bronson Road Fairfield, CT 06824 - 2828 Phone: 203-259-1598
Built in the 18th century, this traditional New England farmhouse is host to exhibits detailing the daily lives of colonial Americans. The property also has a wildflower garden and a kitchen garden.
Open: Sundays, June to September, 1 to 4 p.m. and by appointment. Fee charged.
Open: Sundays, June to September, 1 to 4 p.m. and by appointment. Fee charged.
Putnam Cottage
243 East Putnam Avenue Greenwich, CT 06830 Phone: 203-869-9697
Centuries of history
Known as Knapp’s Tavern during the American Revolution, this Colonial house dates to the early 1700s. It is furnished with period antiques and artifacts and includes a Colonial herb garden and carriage shed. Located on the Boston Post Road, it has been a tourist destination for almost 100 years.
Hours: Tours by appointment only during January, February and March. In season, open Sundays, 1-4 p.m. and by appointment. Call for group tour information. Fee charged.
Hours: Tours by appointment only during January, February and March. In season, open Sundays, 1-4 p.m. and by appointment. Call for group tour information. Fee charged.
Seely - Dibble - Pinkney House
Pinkney Park Rowayton, CT
Open: By appointment only
Home, built in 1820, set on the water. A barn and an oyster shed are also on the site.
Shelton History Center
70 Ripton Road Shelton, CT Phone: 203-925-1803
Open: Second and fourth Sunday of each month.
A group of buildings set on 1 acre, including the Marks-Brownson House (1803), the Trap Falls Schoolhouse (1872) and the Wilson Barn. The Barn exhibits historic farming and gardening tools. Admission: $2 adults, $1 children.
Stamford Historical Society Museum
1508 High Ridge Road Stamford, CT 06903 Phone: 203-329-1183
Open: Tuesday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Closed major holidays.
Permanent and changing exhibits, principally local history. Research and genealogy library. Hoyt-Barnum House (c.1699), 713 Bedford St., restored blacksmith’s home, open by appt. Thrift shop. Admission: Adults, $5; students, $3.
Stamford Museum & Nature Center
39 Scofieldtown Road Stamford, CT 06903 Phone: 203-322-1646
Open: Monday-Saturday and holidays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Main Building galleries closed Mondays January to March.
Experience nature, science and the outdoors at this 118-acre site. Includes New England working farm, hiking trails, picnic area, nature's playground, boardwalk (accessible to wheelchairs), galleries for interactive exhibitions with hands-on area for children, two stores, special events, planetarium. Observatory Friday evenings (weather permitting). Admission: Adults, $6; seniors and children age 4 to 14, $5.
The Barnum Museum
820 Main St. Bridgeport, CT 06604 Phone: 203-331-1104
Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30; Sunday, noon-4:30 p.m.
Dedicated to the life of Circus imnpresario Phineas Taylor Barnum and those who were influenced by his presence in their lives. 1892 building houses exhibits including a miniature circus model, ancient mummy, historic costumes, Tom Thumb carriages. Museum store. Admission: Adults, $5; seniors and students, $4; children age 4-17, $3.
The Connecticut Freedom Trail
Sites throughout Connecticut
The Connecticut Freedom Trail is list of over 60 historic locations throughout the state. Each location played an important role in the African-American journey from slavery to freedom in Connecticut. Places in addition to those listed on the Amistad Trail include historic homes, churches, graves, monuments, and sites on the Underground Railroad.
Walters AME Zion Church
423 Broad Street Bridgeport, CT
Established in 1882, the church is a focus for the city's "Little Liberia" community, important to Bridgeport's Afro-American history.
Weir Farm National Historic Site
735 Nod Hill Road Wilton, CT Phone: 203-834-1896
Open: Year Round; April - October, daily; November - March, Mon - Fri
A national park that was the impressionist artist J. Alden Weir's summer home. The park hosts many exhibits and special programs. Visitors can enjoy fishing, hiking and nature trails.
Wheeler House
25 Avery Place Westport, CT Phone: 203-222-1424
Open: Tues - Sat, 10 am - 3 pm
Home of the Westport Historical Society, this Victorian has one unique feature: An octagonal barn. Visitors will also see a fully furnished kitchen, bedrrom and parlor. A donation is requested.
Wilton Heritage Museum
249 Danbury Road (Route 7) Wilton, CT 06897 Phone: 203-762-7257
Open: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 1-4 p.m. for special exhibitions; call for tour and exhibition schedules.
Two 18th-century classic center-chimney houses feature period rooms furnished to show the development of domestic life in New England homes 1740-1910. 19th-century barn contains changing exhibits, toy loft, costume and textile collection. Blacksmith's shop, tool exhibition. Admission: Adults, $4; senior, $3; children, free.
Amasa Day House
Moodus Green (Routes 149 and 151) East Haddam, CT 06469 Phone: 860-247-8996
Open: Mid-May to mid-October, Sunday, 1-4 p.m.
A Federal style house (1816) remained in the hands of Day's heirs until 1967. Furnished primarily with Day family possessions. Admission: Adults, $4; children, $2.
Ancient Burying Ground
60 Gold Street Hartford, CT Phone: 860-280-4145
The Ancient Burying Ground, at the corner of Main and Gold streets in Hartford, is the oldest historic site in Hartford and the only one surviving from the 1600s. From 1640, four years after the arrival of the first English settlers, until the early 1800s, it was Hartford's only graveyard. During that period anyone who died in town, regardless of age, sex, race, economic status, or religion, was interred here. The oldest gravestone is believed to be that for Timothy Stanley, who died in 1648. About 6,000 men, women, and children are believed to have been interred in the Ancient Burying Ground, which was originally considerably larger than it is today.
Andrews Homestead
424 West Main Street Meriden, CT Phone: 203-237-5079
Open: By appointment
Austin F. Williams House
127 Main Street Farmington, CT
A local abolitionist, Austin Williams, built this site as a home for the Amistad Africans during their stay in Farmington. He later built his own home nearby and converted the first structure into a carriage house. The home also served as a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Barnes Museum
85 North Main Street Southington, CT 06489 Phone: 860-628-5426
Open: Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 1-5 p.m.; Thursday, 1-7 p.m.; September-June, first and last Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Closed major holidays.
Built in 1836, this house belonged to the same family for over a century. Exhibits feature original furniture and household items, as well as a historical library. Admission: $2.
Benjamin Douglas House
11 South Main Street Middletown, CT
A stop on the Underground Railroad. Currently a private home and not open to the public.
Benton Homestead
Metcalf Road Tolland, CT Phone: 860-870-9599
Open: May - Mid October, Sunday 1-4 pm
This 1720 colonial was used as a prison for Hessian soldiers during the Revolutionary war. The original paneling and architecture are still in place. Admission: Adults $2.
Brace/Stephen House
1349 Main Street Newington, CT
A stop on the Underground Railroad. Currently a private home and not open to the public.
Buttolph-Williams House
249 Broad Street Wethersfield, CT Phone: 860-529-0612
Open: May 1 - October 31, Wed - Mon, 10 am - 4 pm.
A mansion built during the late 19th century, with furnishings on display.
Canal House and Pitkin Basin
128 Garden Street Farmington, CT
In this spot, one of the Amistad Africans, Foone, lost his life. In his memory, the other Africans began their journey to other towns to raise money for their trip back to Africa at this site.
Canton Historical Museum
11 Front Street Collinsville, CT 06019 Phone: 860-693-2793
Open: April-November, Wednesday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m. and Thursday, 1-8 p.m.; December-March, Saturday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m.
The history of Canton is chronicled in this museum. Collins Company tools and exhibits, Canton history, Victorian antiques and clothes, toys, dolls, farming equipment, railroad diorama, general store and post office, research library. Admissions: Adults, $3; seniors, $2; children (age 6-15), $1; 5 and under, free.
Cheney Homestead
106 Hartford Road Manchester, CT
Telephone: (860) 643-5588 Open: Thurs and Sun, 1 - 5 pm (closed holidays), and by appointment
Built in 1780, the home was the birthplace of the Cheney brothers, the founders of the Connecticut silk industry. The home contains 18th and 19th century furniture and artwork. There is also a restored 18th century schoolhouse on the property. Admission $1, adults; children free.
Company of Military Historians
Westbrook Place, North Main Street Westbrook, CT Phone: 860-399-9460
Comstock Covered Bridge
Comstock Bridge Road, off Route 16 East Hampton, CT Phone: 860-267-2519
Open: Daily, dawn to dusk
Adjacent to Salmon River State Park, this covered bridge is one of only two remaining in Connecticut. The bridge crosses the Salmon River, and is open to pedestrians only.
Connecticut Fire Museum
58 North Road East Windsor, CT 06088 Phone: 860-623-4732
Open: May and June, Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; July and August, Monday and Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; September-October, Saturday and Sunday, noon-4 p.m.
Exhibits detail the history of firefighting. Includes models and authentic historic firefighting trucks and equipment. Adults, $7; seniors, $6; children age 6-12, $5; children age 5 and younger, free.
Connecticut Historical Society
1 Elizabeth Street at Asylum Avenue Hartford, CT Phone: 860-236-5621
Open: Year-round, except Holidays, Tuesday - Sunday, 12 - 5 pm
Established in 1825, The Connecticut Historical Society is a non-profit organization, which collects, preserves and interprets the history of the diverse people - past and present - who have made Connecticut their home. The Society houses a museum with one of the largest collections of Connecticut furnture, silver, pewter, costumes, graphic materials and tavern signs in existence. A library holds 100,000 manuscripts and nearly 3 million volumes. Events and lectures are scheduled throughout the year. A current exhibit, Amistad -- A True Story of Freedom, is a comprehensive look at the African's revolt on the slave ship Amistad in 1839, and the events that followed. The interactive, multimedia exhibition features 5 galleries, historic artifacts, and special sound and light effects.
Connecticut River Museum
67 Main St., Steamboat Dock Essex, CT 06426 Phone: 860-767-8269
Open: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Housed in an 1878 Steamboat Dock warehouse located on the waterfront, the museum tells the Connecticut River Valley story in four galleries, with a working reproduction of the American Turtle, America’s first submarine. Gift shop. Admission: Adults, $6; seniors and students, $5; children age 6-12, $3; 5 and under free.
Connecticut Trolley Museum
58 North Road (Route 140) East Windsor, CT 06088 Phone: 860-627-6540
Open: Charters from January through March; April to Memorial Day, Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 1-4 p.m.; Memorial day to Labor Day, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; Sundays in October, Pumpkin Patch rides
Three-mile round trip ride on antique trolleys. Tour the Visitor's Center display and stationary trolleys. Gift shop, deli and cafe. Admission: Adults, $7; seniors, $6; children age 2-12, $4. Includes admission to the nearby Connecticut Fire Museum.
Day-Lewis Museum
158 Main Street Farmington, CT 06032 Phone: 860-678-1645
Open: March – November, Wednesday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.; closed August
Yale University-owned Indian archaeology museum displaying artifacts found on site. Housed in authentic post and beam building, last of Tunxis Indian homes. Adjacent dig site. Admission Adults, $2; seniors and children, $1.
Elijah Lewis House
1 Mountain Spring Road Farmington, CT
A privately owned home that was once a stop on the Underground Railroad. Not open to the public.
Enoch Kelsey House
1702 Main Street Newington, CT Phone: 860-666-7118
Open: May - October, Sat - Sun, 1 - 4 pm; Jan - Feb, Sun 1 - 4 pm
This home, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1799. The home is decorated with hand-painted murals, and still contains the original fireplaces, a beehive oven and paneling. $2 admission.
Faith Congregational Church
2030 North Main Street Hartford, CT
One of earliest African-American churches founded in Connecticut.
Farmington Historical Society
Main Street Farmington, CT Phone: 860-678-1654
The Farmington Historical Society collects information and documents relating to the history of the area. They offer guided tours of the town's historical locations, including a tour focusing specifically on Amistad sites.
Fire Museum
230 Pine Street Manchester, CT 06040 Phone: 860-649-9436
Open: Mid-April-Mid-November, Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, noon-5 p.m.
Located in turn-of-the-century firehouse with hand- and horse-pulled firefighting equipment, 1860 steam fire engine, 1915 water tower, antique firefighting items, reference library, gift shop. Admission: Adults, $4; seniors and firefighters, $2; children age 5 and older, $1.
First Church Cemetery
Route 151 East Haddam, CT
Venture Smith, a slave who purchased his freedom as well as his family's, was buried here in the 18th century.
First Church of Christ Congregational
Main Street Farmington, CT
One of the oldest churches in Northern Connecticut, the structure is a National Historic Landmark. Church members were active supporters of the Amistad Africans, providing them with housing, clothing and education while they lived in Farmington.
Francis Gillette House
540 Bloomfield Avenue Bloomfield, CT
A stop on the Underground Railroad. Currently a private home and not open to the public.
Frank T. Simpson House
27 Keney Terrace Hartford, CT
Simpson holds a special place in Connecticut's history: He was the first employee of the first Connecticut state civil right agency.
Gay-Hoyt House Museum
18 Main Street (Route 41) Sharon, CT 06069 Phone: 860-364-5688
Open: Tuesday-Friday, 1-4 p.m. or by appointment
Built in 1775, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, featuring furniture, paintings, photographs, textile collection, hands-on history room for children, changing exhibits. Admission: free.
Gaylordsville Historical Society
P.O. Box 25 Gaylordsville, CT 06755 Phone: 860-350-0300
Open: July - August, Sundays, 2 - 5 pm
General Mansfield House
151 Main Street Middletown, CT Phone: 860-346-0746
Open: Sunday 2 - 4:30 pm, Monday 1 - 4 pm
Exhibits highlight Middletown history, particularly the Civil War era. Admission: $2 adults, $1 children under 13.
General William Hart House
350 Main Street Old Saybrook, CT 06475 Phone: 860-388-2622
A Georgian-style Colonial built in 1767, featuring an herb garden and intricate decor. Of particular interest are the eight corner fireplaces. Notice the nine-window facade with 12 over 12 panes, the cornices, cornerboards and graduated clapboards.
Hours: June 12- September 13, Friday - Sunday, 12:30 - 4 p.m. Donation is requested.
Hours: June 12- September 13, Friday - Sunday, 12:30 - 4 p.m. Donation is requested.
Gillette Castle State Park and Mansion
67 River Road, off Route 82 East Haddam, CT 06423 Phone: 860-526-2336
One of the most remarkable parks in the state, Gillette Castle State Park features a mansion built in 1919 for actor William Gillette, who was famous for his role as Sherlock Holmes. Tours are given on days that the mansion is open (call for exact times). The park itself is set on the Connecticut River and features fishing areas, short hiking trails and picnic spots. The Castle is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day. Staff are available to assist with questions about the castle interior and its history. The grounds are open year round.
Glebe House and Gertrude Jekyll Garden
Hollow Road / P.O. Box 245 Woodbury, CT 06798 Phone: 203-263-2855
Farmhouse built in 1740 is set in the picturesque Litchfield Hills in historic Woodbury’s village center. It offers a glimpse of Revolutionary War-era Connecticut. Birthplace of the Episcopal Church in the New World and graced by the only existing American garden planned by Gertrude Jekyll.
Hours: May-October, Wednesday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m.; November, weekends only, 1–4 p.m. Fee charged.
Hours: May-October, Wednesday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m.; November, weekends only, 1–4 p.m. Fee charged.
Glenbrook
11 Mountain Spring Road Farmington, CT
Built in 1832 by John Treadwell Norton, who became a major supporter of the Amistad Africans. The house is currently a private residence.
Gunn Memorial Library & Museum
Wykeham Road and Route 47 Washington, CT 06793 Phone: 860-868-7756
Open: May-December, Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, noon-4 p.m., closed major holidays. January-April by appointment only.
Local history museum in c.1781 house with changing exhibits. 1908 library includes Connecticut Room with state, local, and geneaological books. Admission: Donation.
Harriet Beecher Stowe House
77 Forest Street Hartford, CT 06105 Phone: 860-522-9258
Open: Tours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4:30 p.m.; open on Mondays, Memorial Day to Columbus Day and December. Closed major holidays.
Her words changed the world with "Uncle Tom's Cabin," the groundbreaking anti-slavery novel (1852). Tour the Victorian Gothic home (1871), the Katharine Seymour Day House (1884), and the Victorian grounds and gardens. Stowe Visitor Center showcases exhibitions, museum shop.
Admission: Adults, $8; seniors,$7; children age 4-12, $4.
Harrison House
124 Main Street Branford, CT Phone: 203-488-4828
Open: June 1 - October 1, Thu - Sat, 2 - 5 pm
This traditional colonial saltbox, built in 1724, has been restored and accurately decorated with 18th century furniture and decor. Outside the home, visitors will find a barn exhibiting antique farming implements and an herb garden. Free admission.
Hart Porter Homestead
456 Porter Street Manchester, CT
A stop on the Underground Railroad. Currently a private home and not open to the public.
Hartford Ancient Burying Ground
Gold and Main Streets Hartford, CT
Open: Year-round
In this cemetery visitors will find the graves of Thomas Hooker (founder of Hartford) and other settlers, as well as many Revolutionary War soldiers. Admission is free. Tours are available July - Aug at 1:45 pm.
Hatheway House
55 South Main Street Suffield, CT 06078
This mansion is a showplace for the history of the 18th century including a formal Colonial garden. Exhibits include French wallpaper and neo-classical architecture.
Hours: Open for afternoon tours on designated days from May 15 to October 15, or by prior appointment. Call for current schedule. Fee charged.
Hours: Open for afternoon tours on designated days from May 15 to October 15, or by prior appointment. Call for current schedule. Fee charged.
Hicks-Stearns Museum
42 Tolland Green Tolland, CT 06084 Phone: 860-875-7552
Open: Mid-March to mid-December by appointment only
This structure has an interesting history: Originally a tavern built in the 18th century, it was later turned into a 19th century home. The house contains antique family heirlooms, which are on display during much of the year. In December, the site becomes a Victorian Christmas Open House.
Hill-Stead Museum
35 Mountain Road Farmington, CT 06032 Phone: 860-677-4787
Open: May-October, Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; November-April, Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
National Historic Landmark. Colonial Revival style house (1901) set on 150 acres with sunken garden. Collection of French Impressionist paintings, decorative arts and original furnishings. Hour-long guided tour. Admission: Adults, $9; seniors, $8; students, $7; children age 6-12, $4.
Hillside Cemetery
Route 44 North Canaan, CT
19th century cemetery features the graves of the Freeland family. Milo Freeland is said to have been the first African-American to enlist as a Union soldier during the Civil War.
Historical Museum of Medicine and Dentistry
230 Scarborough Street Hartford, CT Phone: 860-236-5613
Open: Mon - Fri, 10 am - 4 pm
This museum details the medical and dental instruments and medications of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. There is a library on the premises. Donations from visitors are accepted.
Hotchkiss - Fyler House
192 Main Street Torrington, CT Phone: 860-482-8260
Open: April 1 - December 31, Mon - Fri 9 am - 4 pm, Sat 10 am - 3 pm
Built in 1900, this mansion is elaborately decorated, and features furnishings and family artifacts. Permanent and changing exhibits on local history. Admission: $2 adults, children under 12 free.
Huguenot House
Martin Park, 307 Burnside Avenue East Hartford, CT Phone: 860-568-6178
Open: Memorial Day - September, Thursday and Sunday, 1-4 pm
Historic property features a restored colonial home onced own by a saddlemaker, a schoolhouse built in 1820, and an 1850 blacksmith shop.
Institute for American Indian Studies
88 Curtis Road Washington, CT Phone: 860-868-0518
Open: Monday - Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm, Sunday, 12 - 5 pm
The institute focuses on the history of native peoples in America. The permanent exhibit, "As We Tell Our Stories: Living Tradition in the Algonkian Peoples of New England" features artifacts from as far back as 10,000 years, a simulated archaeological site, a recreated 17th century Algonkian village, rock shelter and garden, and a furnished longhouse. Topical films are shown on weekends.
Isaiah Tuttle House
4040 Torringford St. Torrington, CT
A stop on the Underground Railroad. Currently a private home and not open to the public.
Iwo Jima Memorial Monument
Ella Grasso Boulevard New Britain, CT Phone: 860-666-5521
Open: Daily, 9 am - sunset
Commemorates the American soldiers killed at Iwo Jima.
James Mars' Grave
Center Cemetery, Old Colony Road Norfolk, CT
An 18th century African-American slave, Mars was one of the first to become free under Connecticut's landmark gradual emancipation law. He eventually wrote his own autobiography.
James Pharmacy
2 Pennywise Lane Old Saybrook, CT
This turn-of-the-century pharmacy was run by Anna Louise James, the first African-American woman in the United States to get a pharmacist license. She operated the pharmacy from 1911 to 1967.
John Brown Birthplace
John Brown Road Torrington, CT
Perhaps the most famous abolitionist of the Civil War era, Brown became reknowned for his raid on Harper's Ferry, VA. His roots and his life, however, began in this home in Torrington.
Joseph Rainey House
299 Palisado Avenue Windsor, CT
Home of the first African-American to be elected to Congress as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Kellogg-Eddy House
679 Willard Avenue Newington, CT Phone: 860-666-7118
Open: Mar - Dec, Sat-Sun 1 - 4 pm; Jan - Feb, Sun, 1 - 4 pm
This 1808 colonial home was built by General Martin Kellogg III. The restored property features a parlor with hand-carved woodwork. A visitor donation is requested.
Lock 12 Historical Park
487 North Brooksvale Road (Route 42) Cheshire, CT 06410 Phone: 203-272-2743
Open: Biking trail and picnic area open year-round, call for museum schedule.
Restored section of Farmington Canal (1828-48). Park also includes museum, lockkeeper's house, helicoidal bridge, 2.9-mile hiking/biking trail, picnic area. Admission: Free.
Luddy/Taylor Connecticut Valley Tobacco Museum
Northwest Park, 135 Lang Rd. Windsor, CT 06095 Phone: 860-285-1888
Open: March – Mid-December, Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, noon-4 p.m. and by appointment
Displays of artifacts and history of "Tobacco Valley." Tobacco curing shed houses exhibits of early and modern equipment. Other facility exhibits photographs, writings, and other documents. Admission: Free.
Martha A. Parsons House
1387 Enfield Street Enfield, CT Phone: 860-745-6064
Open: May - October, Sundays 2 - 4:30 pm, and by appointment.
Built in 1782, this house focuses on the life of one family over the period of 180 years. The only house in the U.S. with George Washington Memorial wallpaper (produced following the Revolutionary War). Open in December for a Christmas display. Free admission.
Meriden Historical Society
540 West Main Street Meriden, CT Phone: 203-639-1913
Open: By appointment
For over a century, the historical society has been preserving artifacts and documents detailing the history and life in the local area.
Merwinsville Hotel
Browns Forge Road Gaylordsville, CT Phone: 860-354-5986
Open: July - September, Sundays 2 - 4 pm
This hotel was finished in 1843, and holds exhibits of an antique wine cellar, railroad station waiting room, and hotel artifacts and memorabilia. Admission is free, donations are accepted.
Mine Hill Preserve
Mine Hill Road Roxbury, CT
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the preserve is set on a former iron ore mine and blast furnace. Granite quarries on the property provided stones used in the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and Grand Central Station in New York City. A looping trail of under 4 miles will take hikers along the Donkey Trail (where donkeys used to pull ore wagons), past mine shafts and tunnels, and old mine and furnace foundations. Side trails will take hikers to the granite quarries.
Museum of Connecticut History
231 Capitol Ave. Hartford, CT 06106 Phone: 860-566-3056
Open: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Closed on state holidays
Historic documents, including Connecticut's Royal Charter, are just part of the exhibit material in this museum. Special exhibits feature Colt firearms, Connecticut's Governors and changing exhibits. Admission: free.
Museum on the Green
1944 Main Street Glastonbury, CT 06033 Phone: 860-633-6890
Open: Monday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; third Sunday of each month, 1-4 p.m.; and by appointment
Former Town Hall (c. 1840) displays local history, early industry, Native American artifacts, changing exhibits; genealogical and research library. Adjacent to old town cemetery (1690). Admission: free.
Nathan Hale School House
Main Street East Haddam, CT Phone: 860-873-9547
Open: Memorial Day - Labor Day, weekends and holidays, 2 - 4 pm
Revolutionary War hero and CT state hero Nathan Hale taught in this one-room schoolhouse during 1773 - 1774. Set in the rear of St. Stephen's Church, which contains one of the oldest church bells in the U.S., cast in 815 AD. Admission: 25 cents.
New Britain Industrial Museum
185 Main Street New Britain, CT 06051 Phone: 860-832-8654
Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 2-5 p.m.; Wednesday, noon-5 p.m.; and by appointment
This history of manufacturing in Central Connecticut is detailed in this museum, featuring exhibits of products made in the region over the past 200 years. Admission: free.
New Milford Historical Society Museum
6 Aspetuck Avenue New Milford, CT 06776 Phone: 860-354-3069
Open: May-October, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, 1-4 p.m. and by appointment
Main gallery contains works by artists Ralph Earl and Richard Jennys, Connecticut furniture, New Milford pottery. Boardman Store (1796). Knapp House (c.1810). Special events; research on local history and genealogy. Admission: Adults, $3; students, $2.
Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
227 South Main Street West Hartford, CT Phone: 860-521-5362
Open: Thursday-Monday, 1-4 p.m., closed Tuesday and Wednesday
The restored 18th-century birthplace of author and educator Noah Webster offers tours of the historic home, changing exhibits about West Hartford, a gift shop, and public programs. It is a National Historic Landmark. Admission: Adults $6, AAA members and seniors $5, Students 6-18 or with ID $4, children 5 and under free.
Noden-Reed Park Museum
58 West Street Windsor Locks, CT 06096 Phone: 860-627-9212
Open: May-October, Sunday, 1 -5 p.m. and by appointment
A 22-acre park with 1840 house and 1826 brick barn contain period artifacts. Site of Connecticut's first Christmas tree. Admission: free.
North Cemetery
North Main Street Hartford, CT
Historic 19th century graveyard includes those of several African-Americans who fought in the Civil War.
Northeast States Civilian Conservation Corps Museum
166 Chestnut Hill Road (Route 190) Stafford Springs, CT 06076 Phone: 860-684-3013
Open: Memorial Day-Labor Day, Saturday, Sunday, holidays, noon-4 p.m.
Housed in original (c.1935) CCC camp building with documents and memorabilia. Exhibits include campsite life, work areas, photographs, equipment, and tools. Admission: Free.
Old Manchester Museum
126 Cedar Street Manchester, CT 06040 Phone: 860-647-9983
Open: Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 1-4 p.m. and by appointment
Local historical artifacts including Pitkin Glass Works, Cheney Brothers Silk Mills, Bon Ami Soap Co., military memorial. Manchester Sports Hall of Fame, research and genealogy library, gift shop. Admission: Adults, $2; children age 16 and younger, free.
Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine
Newgate Road East Granby, CO Phone: 860-566-3005
Open: Mid May - October 31, Wed - Sun, 10 am - 4:30 pm
On this site, in 1707, the first copper mine in America was started. In 1773 a prison was also constructed at the site, where supporters of Great Britain were held during the American Revolution. A tour of the mine, as well as numerous exhibits are open to the public. The site also features hiking trails, a picnic area and is a National Landmark. Admission: Adults $3, seniors and children over 5 $1.50.
Old State House
800 Main Street Hartford, CT Phone: 860-522-6766
Open: Tues - Fri, 11 am - 5 pm; Sat, 10 am- 5 pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
Connecticut's original statehouse is the oldest in the U.S. Many historic events took place here, including the signing of the first written Constitution in the nation, and the Amistad and Prudence Crandall trials. The site contains a the restored, original Senate chamber and a Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington. Free admission.
Old Stone Schoolhouse
Coppermine and Red Oak Hill Roads Farmington, CT Phone: 860-674-9931
Open: May - October, Sundays, 2-4 pm
One-room school, built in 1790, with a chapel and community hall added later. Exhibits feature the history of Farmington and the surrounding area.
Oliver Ellsworth Homestead
778 Palisado Avenue Windsor, CT Phone: 860-688-8717
Open: May 15 - October 15, Tues/Wed/Fri, 10 am - 5 pm
One of the "founding fathers" of our country, Ellsworth helped create the Constitution. His home, built in 1781, offers a history of the man and his family, which owned the property until 1903. Admission: Adults, $2; children under 12 free.
Palisado Cemetary
Palisado Avenue Windsor, CT
This cemetary contains the grave of Nancy Toney, who was one of the last slaves living in Connecticut.
Pine Grove School House
West Avon Road Avon, CT Phone: 860-678-7821
Open: June - September, Sundays 2-4 pm and by appointment
Actively used until 1949, this schoolhouse was originally built in 1865, and has been restored. Museum includes a working wood stove, antique desks, the outhouse and the original sliding chalkboard.
Plainville Historic Center
29 Pierce Street Plainville, CT Phone: 860-747-0081
Open: May - December, Wed and Sat, 12 - 3:30 pm
This museum sits in the old Plainville town hall, built in 1890. Exhibits focus on Plainville history and particularly on the Farmington Canal. A museum shop sells souvenirs. A $1 per person donation is requested of visitors.
Reverend Noah Porter House
116 Main Street Farmington, CT
Home to the minister of the Congregational Church. The Reverend's family housed one of the three Amistad children during their stay in Connecticut. This site was also the location where the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was founded.
Richard Alsop IV House
301 High Street Middletown, CT Phone: 860-685-2500
Open: Tues - Fri 12 - 4 pm, Sat - Sun 2 - 5 pm
Built in 1838, this home is an excellent example of Greek Revival architecture in the U.S. The building houses the Davison Art Center.
Riverside Cemetery
Garden Street Farmington, CT
Historic cemetery with many 18th and 19th century graves. Of particular interest are the Indian obelisk - monument, and the grave of Foone, one of the Amistad Africans. He died during their trial and stay in Farmington. The cemetery sits along the historic Farmington Canal.
Salmon Brook Settlement
208 Salmon Brook Street Granby, CT Phone: 860-653-9713
Open: Mid-May - Mid-October, Sundays 2 - 4 pm or by appointment
Four structures span American history on this site. The Abijah Rowe House was built in 1753, and features historic furnishings and Victorian doll and toy rooms. The Weed-Enders House was completed in 1790. It features a complete Victorian parlor, and is the site of the museum store and library. The Cooley School, completed in 1870, is representative of school houses of this period. The newest structure is the 1914 tobacco barn, which contains a general store, historic farm implements, shoe shop and exhibits about the Civil War. Admission: $2 adults, $1 seniors and children under 12.
Samuel Deming House
66 Main Street Farmington, CT
A privately owned home that was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Not open to the public.
Samuel Deming Store
2 Mill Lane Farmington, CT
This site was the first place the Amistad Africans stayed when they arrived in Farmington. Later on it became their school. The property is currently under private ownership and not open for visitors.
Samuel Parsons' House
180 South Main Street Wallingford, CT Phone: 203-294-1996
Open: Sundays, 2 - 4:30 pm
Built in 1759, this home was also a tavern and a stop for the stage coach. Exhibits focus on local history. Free admission.
Sarah Whitman Hooker Homestead
1237 New Britain Avenue West Hartford, CT Phone: 860-523-5887
Open: Monday, Wednesday, 1:30 - 3:30 pm, and by appointment
Originally built as a traditional New England salt box in 1720, this home was remodeled in 1807. During the American Revolution, the residents sided with England. Visitors can see the original wallpaper, 18th and 19th century fabrics and porcelain. Admission: Adults, $3, children under 16, $2.
Smith - Cowles House
27 Main Street Farmington, CT
A privately owned home that was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Not open to the public.
Soldiers and Sailors' Monument
Bushnell Park Hartford, CT
This monument honors the memory of all those from Connecticut who have given their lives in defense of the country.
Solomon Goffe House
677 North Colony Street Meriden, CT Phone: 203-634-9088
Open: First Sunday of every month, 1:30 - 4:30 pm
This 1711 homestead is now the site of a living history museum. The exhibits are hosted by guides in period costumes. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Solomon Rockwell House
225 Prospect Street Winsted, CT Phone: 860-379-8433
Open: Mid June - Mid October, Tues - Wed 10 am - 12 pm, Thurs - Sun 2 - 4 pm
19th century Anti-bellum style home, with antique furnishings, decor and clocks. Of special interest are the Revolutionary and Civil War memorabilia and an antique musical instrument called a melodeon. Admission: $2 adults.
Stone House
254 Main Street Deep River, CT Phone: 860-526-1449
Open: July - August, Saturday - Sunday, 1 -4 pm
Exhibits cover the history of the area, as well as period furniture and household items. Of particular interest are the locally cut glass, Indian artifacts, and Victorian piano.
Thankful Arnold House
Hayden Hill Road, off Route 154 Haddam, CT 06438 Phone: 860-345-2400
This three-story, 1794 home has been restored to reflect the lifestyle and furnishings of the period. A garden on the property features herbs, vegetables, and flowers.
Hours: Open year-round; Wednesday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Thursday, 2 -8 p.m.; Friday, noon-3 p.m.; also from Memorial Day to Columbus day, Sundays, 1- 4 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $4; seniors, $3; children, $2.
Hours: Open year-round; Wednesday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Thursday, 2 -8 p.m.; Friday, noon-3 p.m.; also from Memorial Day to Columbus day, Sundays, 1- 4 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $4; seniors, $3; children, $2.
The Amistad Trail
Locations throughout Farmington
In 1839, a group of Africans who were to be sold into slavery took control of the ship Amistad, which then landed in Connecticut. Several trials were held to determine the status of the Africans, who wanted to return to their homeland. Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled that all people exist in a natural state of freedom, and therefore, the Amistad Africans were free. The trail consists of many locations important to the Amistad trial and to the Africans themselves.
The Amistad Trail
Locations throughout Hartford
In 1839, a group of Africans who were to be sold into slavery took control of the ship Amistad, which then landed in Connecticut. Several trials were held to determine the status of the Africans, who wanted to return to their homeland. Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled that all people exist in a natural state of freedom, and therefore, the Amistad Africans were free. The trail consists of many locations important to the Amistad trial and to the Africans themselves.
The Beeches
1221 Enfield Street, Route 5 Enfield, CT
The home of Paul Robeson, who was one of the finest bass-baritone singers to ever grace the American stage. Robeson further made a name for himself as an actor and human rights activist, and was blacklisted during the McCarthy era. He then left Connecticut and lived the rest of his life in Europe.
The Connecticut Freedom Trail
Sites throughout Connecticut
The Connecticut Freedom Trail is list of over 60 historic locations throughout the state. Each location played an important role in the African-American journey from slavery to freedom in Connecticut. Places in addition to those listed on the Amistad Trail include historic homes, churches, graves, monuments, and sites on the Underground Railroad.
The Connecticut Freedom Trail
Sites throughout Connecticut
The Connecticut Freedom Trail is list of over 60 historic locations throughout the state. Each location played an important role in the African-American journey from slavery to freedom in Connecticut. Places in addition to those listed on the Amistad Trail include historic homes, churches, graves, monuments, and sites on the Underground Railroad.
The Connecticut Freedom Trail
Sites throughout Connecticut
The Connecticut Freedom Trail is list of over 60 historic locations throughout the state. Each location played an important role in the African-American journey from slavery to freedom in Connecticut. Places in addition to those listed on the Amistad Trail include historic homes, churches, graves, monuments, and sites on the Underground Railroad.
The Connecticut Freedom Trail
Sites throughout Connecticut
The Connecticut Freedom Trail is list of over 60 historic locations throughout the state. Each location played an important role in the African-American journey from slavery to freedom in Connecticut. Places in addition to those listed on the Amistad Trail include historic homes, churches, graves, monuments, and sites on the Underground Railroad.
The Living Museum of Avon
8 East Main Street (Route 44) Avon, CT 06001 Phone: 860-678-7621
Open: June-September, Sunday, 2-4 p.m., and by appointment
Restored 19th-century schoolhouse contains maps, photographs, implements and clothes, diorama of the Farmington Canal all relating to 1830s. Admission: Donation.
The Mark Twain House & Museum
351 Farmington Ave. Hartford, CT 06105 Phone: 860-247-0998
Open: Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5:30 p.m.; first Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; closed Tuesday from January-April; Closed January 1, Easter, Thanksgiving, December 24 and 25.
Elaborate Victorian (1874) mansion with rare interiors by Louis Comfort Tiffany (1881) was the author's home for 17 years (1874-1891). Nineteen furnished rooms including many of Twain's possessions. National Historic Landmark. The Museum Center features fine gift shop, cafe, Ken Burns' documentary, orientation and changing exhibition galleries, lectures and special programs. Admission: Adults, $12; seniors, $11; students age13-18, $10; children age 6-12, $8.
Timothy Wadsworth House
340 Main Street Farmington, CT
A privately owned home that was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Not open to the public.
Union Baptist Church
1921 Main Street Hartford, CT
A historic church, and a focal point for the African-American community in Hartford over the decades.
Union Hall
Church Street Farmington, CT
Now the Farmington Art Guild, this building was once the site of frequent meetings of both abolitionists and anti-abolitionists.
Uriah Tuttle House
3925 Torringford St Torrington, CT
A stop on the Underground Railroad. Currently a private home and not open to the public.
Wadsworth Atheneum
600 Main Street Hartford, CT 06103 Phone: 860-278-2670
Open: Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; open first Thursday of each month until 8 p.m. Closed major holidays.
The nation's oldest public art museum (1842). World-renowned collections include Hudson River School landscapes, Old Master paintings, modernist masterpieces, Impressionist paintings, American furniture, decorative arts, cutting-edge contemporary art. Restaurant (860-728-5989); gift shop. Admission: Adults, $10; seniors, $8; students with ID, $5; children age 12 and under, free; first Thursday of each month, $5 from 5-8 p.m.
Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum
211 Main Street Wethersfield, CT 06109 Phone: 860-529-0612
The Webb-Deane-Stevens (WDS) Museum provides the quintessential New England experience. During the museum’s ours, visitors are immersed in life of the mid-18th and early-19th centuries with stories of the charm, hardship, and political intrigue of that era. Three meticulously restored homes are included in the one-hour tour. The 1752 Joseph Webb House served as George Washington’s headquarters in May 1781; the Silas Deane House, circa 1770, was built for America’s Revolutionary War diplomat to France; the Isaac Stevens House, 1789, depicts the life of a middle class family in the 1820s and 30s using many original family possessions.
The lovely Colonial Revival Garden was designed by one of America’s first female landscape architects.
Hours: May 1-October 31, daily, except Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays, 1-4 p.m. April and November weekends only. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, 1-4 p.m.
Admission for tour: Adults, $10; seniors over age 60, $9; for students and children age 5-18, $5; families, $25
Hours: May 1-October 31, daily, except Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays, 1-4 p.m. April and November weekends only. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, 1-4 p.m.
Admission for tour: Adults, $10; seniors over age 60, $9; for students and children age 5-18, $5; families, $25
Welles Shipman Ward House
972 Main Street South Glastonbury, CT Phone: 860-633-6890
Open: Mid May - June, Sept - October, 2 - 4 pm
Antique carts and carriages, an herb garden, a barn and antique tools await visitors to this 1755 home. Admission $2, children 2-13 free.
West Burying Ground
Vine and Washington Streets Middletown, CT
A cemetery of 19th century graves. Of particular interest are the graves of a number of African-Americans who fought in the Civil War.
West Cornwall Covered Bridge
West Cornwall Covered Bridge West Cornwall, CT
Built in 1837 and still in use today.
Wethersfield Historical Society
150 Main Street Wethersfield, CT Phone: 860-529-7656
Open: Open April 1 - December 15, Thurs-Sat, 10 am - 4 pm, Sun, 1-4 pm.
The society maintains a research library, a museum, the Hurlbut-Dunham house -- built in 1790, and the Cove Warehouse, which focuses on maritime history. Each site has separate hours and admission policies. Call the Historical Society for details.
Winchester Center Kerosene Lamp Museum and Lighting Emporium
100 Old Waterbury Turnpike Winchester, CT Phone: 860-379-2612
Open: Saturday, Sunday and holidays; 9:30 am - 4 pm
A collection of 500 kerosene lamps from the mid and late 19th century. Free admission.
Windsor Historical Society
96 Palisado Avenue Windsor, CT Phone: 860-688-3813
The Windsor Historical Society is a museum complex with four galleries of changing exhibits, a hands-on history learning center for families, a research library with Windsor photographs, documents and genealogical materials, an 18th century herb garden and two historic homes: The Dr. Hezekiah Chaffee House(1767) and the John and Sarah Strong House (1758). Hours are Tuesday - Saturday 10-4. Closed Sunday, Monday and major holidays.
Admission: $3 adults, students and children $1, members free.
American Clock and Watch Museum
100 Maple Street (off Route 6) Bristol, CT 06010 Phone: 860-583-6070
Open: April 1-November 30, daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and by appointment
Permanent exhibit on the history of Connecticut clockmaking and the Industrial Revolution, housed in an 1801 mansion. Largest collection of American production clocks on display. Many clocks striking hourly. Admission: Adults, $5; seniors, $4; children, $2.
Bellamy-Ferriday House and Garden
9 Main Street Bethlehem, CT 06751 Phone: 203-266-7596
The Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, in the center of Bethlehem, is a property of Connecticut Landmarks. Once the home of Bethlehem's first minister, the house was built in 1754, and is filled with American and European antiques. In addition to the 1754 home, the property also features a formal parterre garden, with a collection of roses, peonies, and lilacs. To reserve tours for 10 people or more, please call 203-266-7596.
Hours: May through October, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $7; students, teachers and seniors, $6; children age 6-18, $4.
Hours: May through October, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $7; students, teachers and seniors, $6; children age 6-18, $4.
Brookfield Historical Society Museum
165 Whisconier Road / Routes 25 and 133 Brookfield, CT 06840 Phone: 203-775-4628
An extended learning and research center
Brookfield’s original town hall, built in 1875, is now home to a Colonial garden, as well as changing historical exhibits and a gift shop. Guided tours are available.
Hours: every Saturday and the first Sunday of each month between May and December; second and fourth Saturdays, January through March. Noon to 4 p.m. Also open by appointment.
Hours: every Saturday and the first Sunday of each month between May and December; second and fourth Saturdays, January through March. Noon to 4 p.m. Also open by appointment.
Bulls Bridge
Route 7 Kent, CT
Historic covered bridge, built in 1842, that spans the Housatonic River. Traffic still crosses this bridge, located near the New York state line.
C. B. Thompson Building
Route 133 Bridgewater, CT
This building housed the first mail order company in the U.S. It's now the Village Store in the center of town.
Cyrenius H. Booth Library
25 Main Street Newtown, CT Phone: 203-426-4533
Built on the site of Rochambeau's encampment during the Revolutionary War, this library focuses on the geneological history of the area.
Danbury Museum & Historical Society
43 Main Street Danbury, CT 06810 Phone: 203-743-5200
Open: Year-round, call for public hours
Late 18th- and early 19th-century furnishings in the John and Mary Rider House (1785). Local hatting industry exhibits in John Dodd Shop (1790). Research library, gift shop. Birthplace (5 Mountainville Rd., c.1829) of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Charles Ives. Contralto Marion Anderson studio. Admission: Adults, $6; seniors, $5; children, $2; under age 5, free.
Danbury Railway Museum
120 White Street and Patriot Drive Danbury, CT 06810 Phone: 203-778-8337
Open: January-March, Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; April-December, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Rail yard train rides: April-December, Saturday and Sunday
This museum is set in Union Station, restored to its appearance as it was in 1903. Inside visitors will find antique railroad cars, railroad artifacts and memorabilia, and changing exhibits. Train rides of varying lengths are scheduled throughout the year. Admission: Adults, $6; children age 5-12, $4.
David Northrop House
Route 37 Sherman, CT Phone: 203-354-3083
Historic home with exhibits on geneology and cooking on the open hearth.
First Congregational Church
164 Deer Hill Danbury, CT
Classical architecture in the setting of nearby Victorian homes make this church and its surroundings a picturesque scene out of New England's history.
Historical Society Museum
22 DeForest Street Watertown, CT 06795 Phone: 860-274-1050
Open: Wednesday, 2-4 p.m. and by appointment
Chronicles industrial, social and cultural history of the town, Victorian parlor exhibit, local research library. 1853 Nova Scotia School House. Admission: Free.
Hopkins Street Center
34 Hopkins Street Waterbury, CT
For over 60 years, beginning in the 1920's, the Hopkins Center served the African-American community in Waterbury.
Keeler Tavern Museum
132 Main Street Ridgefield, CT 06877 Phone: 203-438-5485
Open: February-December, tours and gift shop, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, 1-4 p.m.; Garden, daily, dawn to dusk.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. British cannonball embedded in its exterior, souvenir of 1777 battle. Late 18th-century furnishings; guides in Colonial costume. Garden with reflecting pool. Gift shop. Admission: Adults, $5; seniors, $3; children under age 12, $2.
Leatherman's Cave
Route 6 Mattatuck Trail, CT
This historic spot is said to be where "Old Leatherman", a legendary wanderer for over 25 years, spent a night every 34 days.
Litchfield Historical Society Museum
7 South Street Litchfield, CT 06759 Phone: 860-567-4501
Open: Mid-May to Mid-November, Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 - 5 p.m.
The Litchfield History Museum investigates the evolution of a small New England town. Permanent & changing history exhibits. Admission:(includes the Tapping Reeve House & Law School) Adults, $5; seniors and students, $3; members and children under age 2,free.
Lonetown Farm Museum
Route 107 Redding, CT Phone: 203-438-1529
Exhibits of historic farming tools and implements.
Marian Anderson House
46 Joe's Hill Road Danbury, CT
The home of one of America's most famous sopranos. Marian Anderson broke the color barrier in opera in the 1930's.
Mark Twain Library
Redding Road Redding, CT Phone: 203-938-2545
Mark Twain founded this library near the end of his life, in 1908, in the memory of his daughter Jean.
Mattatuck Museum
144 West Main Street, Waterbury, CT 06702 Phone: 203-753-0381
Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.; closed major holidays
Exhibits chronicle the industrial history of the Naugatuck Valley as well as its social, architectural and cultural past. Period settings, decorative arts, furniture, 19th- and 20th-century art, changing exhibits. Cafe, museum shop. Admission: Adults, $4; Children under age 16, free.
Matthew Curtiss House
44 Main Street Newtown, CT Phone: 203-426-2607
Built in 1750, this traditional New England salt box home is reknowned for its fireplace.
Meeker's Hardware
White Street Danbury, CT Phone: 203-748-8017
Open: Year-round, call for specific hours
Here's a real treat: The only hardware store in the country on the National Register of Historic Places. Harken back to the "good old days" a buy a Coke for a nickel!
Meeting House, Flagpole and Trinity Church
Main Street Newtown, CT
These three historic landmarks sit in the center of Newtown. Most notable is the weathervane at the top of the Newtown Meeting House, with bullet-holes said to have been made by Revolutionary War soldiers.
Middlebury Historical Society
Library Road Middlebury, CT Phone: 203-758-2635
Open: By appointment only.
Library with documents pertaining to local history.
Old Jail and Pre-Revolutionary Cemetery
80 Main Street Danbury, CT Phone: 203-797-4686
Open: Year-round, call for specific hours
This historic jail was in use through the 19th century. It's most famous prisoner: P.T. Barnum, who served a sentence for libel. The jail is adjacent to a colonial cemetery.
Plumtrees School House
Plumtrees Road Bethel, CT
The last one-room school house to operate in the United States.
Putnam Memorial State Park
Route 58 Bethel, CT Phone: 203-566-2305
Open: Year-round
This park sits on the site of General Israel Putnam's winter encampment during the Revolutionary War. Military re-enactments are created on the grounds throughout the year. The park also has a pond, hiking trails and a picnic area.
Salisbury Cannon Museum
15 Millerton Road (Route 44) Lakeville, CT 06039 Phone: 860-435-0566
Open: July-Labor Day and Columbus Day, Saturday-Sunday and holidays, noon-5 p.m.
Hands-on children's museum focusing on local iron industry and individuals who shaped the American Revolution. Adjacent to site of the first iron blast furnace (1762), built by Ethan Allen. Admission: Suggested donation, adults, $5; seniors and students, $3.
Sloane-Stanley Museum and Kent Furnace
Route 7 Kent, CT 06757 Phone: 860-927-3849
Open: Mid-May-October 31, Wednesday- Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
This museum features a collection of woodworking tools, dating from the 17th century. The ruins of the Kent Furnace, in use through the 19th century are also found on the grounds. Admission: Adults, $4; seniors, $3; children, $2.50; under age 6, free.
St. James Church
25 West Street Danbury, CT
Visitors to this church will find Tiffany glass windows and the Bulkley Memorial Carillon, the first made in the United States.
St. Peter Church
98 Main Street Danbury, CT
Built in 1870, this church features stained-glass windows designed by the artist F. X. Zettler.
Tapping Reeve House and Law School
82 South Street Litchfield, CT 06759 Phone: 860-567-4501
Open: Mid May - Mid October, Tues - Sat, 11 am - 5 pm, Sun 1 - 5 pm
Tapping Reeve moved to Litchfield in 1773 and began taking students the following year. Visitors explore the life of a real student
of the 19th Century. Open: Mid-April to End-November, Tues-Saturday, 11 am - 5 pm, Sun 1 - 5 pm. General Admission(Includes the Litchfield History Museum): $5; Seniors & Students: $3; Members & Children under 12: Free
Tarrywile Mansion
70 Southern Boulevard Danbury, CT Phone: 203-744-3130
Open daily, sunrise to sunset
Tarrywile Park offers 654 acres of fields and meadows giving way to spectacular views, dense forests of hemlock, oak and maple, rugged terrain, glistening streams and ponds, and 21 miles of cleared hiking trails and picnic areas. Guided hikes are offered monthly and a free story hour for preschoolers is held three months out of the year. Tarrywile Mansion and Hearthstone Castle are both located within the park boundaries. Both structures are listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The Connecticut Freedom Trail
Sites throughout Connecticut
The Connecticut Freedom Trail is list of over 60 historic locations throughout the state. Each location played an important role in the African-American journey from slavery to freedom in Connecticut. Places in addition to those listed on the Amistad Trail include historic homes, churches, graves, monuments, and sites on the Underground Railroad.
The Connecticut Freedom Trail
Sites throughout Connecticut
The Connecticut Freedom Trail is list of over 60 historic locations throughout the state. Each location played an important role in the African-American journey from slavery to freedom in Connecticut. Places in addition to those listed on the Amistad Trail include historic homes, churches, graves, monuments, and sites on the Underground Railroad.
Brayton Grist Mill and Marcy Blacksmith Museum
Route 44 Pomfret, CT 06258 Phone: 860-928-0304
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day, Sundays 2-5 p.m.
This fine example of a one-man mill operation of the 1890's has original milling equipment. The tool exhibit represents the craft of three generations of blacksmiths. Maintained by the Pomfret Historical Society. Admission: Free; donations welcome.
Brick School House
Merrow Road Coventry, CT
Open: Mid-May to Mid-October, Sundays, 1 - 4 pm
This structure was the one-room district school from its construction in 1825 until 1953. In 1976, the Coventry Historical Society restored the building, which houses school artifacts and furniture from the mid 19th century. Free admission.
Burnham-Hibbard House
185 Main Street Hampton, CT
Open: June - October, 1st Sunday of each month
Built in the early 19th century, this home is open for visitors as a representative house of the period. Informational exhibits combine with reconstructed rooms to give visitors an introduction to life in 1800's New England.
Butler-McCook Homestead
169 West Town Street, on the Green Lebanon, CT
Open: Mid-May to Mid-October, Tues, Thur, Sun, 12-4 pm
Although the property was finished in 1782, exhibits here focus on the Victorian period. Includes a garden built in 1865 and a special holiday display in December.
Chaplin Museum
1 Chaplin Street Chaplin, CT 06235 Phone: 860-455-9209
Open: Mid-July–September 30, Sundays, 1-4 p.m.
This one room museum features historic memorabilia and local artifacts. Themed exhibits are changed every year. Admission: free.
Daniel Putnam Tyler Law Office
Route 169 Brooklyn, CT Phone: 860-774-7728
Open: Memorial Day - Labor Day, Wednesdays and Sundays, 1-5 pm
Office of Daniel Putnam Tyler, the great-grandson of Revolutionary War Hero Israel Putnam. In use from 1822 until Tyler's death in 1975.
Dr. William Beaumont House
169 West Town Street, on the Green Lebanon, CT
Open: Mid-May to Mid-October, Saturdays, 1 - 5 pm
Birthplace of Dr. William Beaumont, the "father of gastric physiology," built in 1760. The Lebanon Historical Society maintains this site, which features a small exhibit of historical medical instruments.
Grove Street Cemetery
Grove Street Putnam, CT
Here visitors will find the grave of Thomas L. Taylor, an African-American who fought in the Civil War. He was stationed on the Union's iron ship, the Monitor.
Gurleyville Grist Mill
Stone Mill Road Mansfield, CT
Open: End of May to Mid October. Sundays 12-4 pm, Saturdays 1-5 pm in August only
Built in 1830 on the Fenton River, this stone grist mill remains intact with the original equipment. Near the mill is the miller's house, also once home to Governor Wilbur Cross. The house now contains a museum. Free admission.
Jillson House Museum
627 Main Street Willimantic, CT 06226 Phone: 860-456-2316
Open: Call for hours of operation
This home was built in 1825 for a mill owner. The structure is made from stone taken locally from the banks of the Willimantic River. Exhibits include artifacts, antique furniture and local memorabilia.
Jonathan Trumbull House
169 West Town Street Lebanon, CT Phone: 860-642-7558
Open: Mid-May to Mid-October, Tues-Sat, 1-5 pm
This home, built in 1735, was home to the only colonial governor to back the rebels during the Revolutionary War. Visitors will see period furniture and household items. Maintained by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Admission $2 for adults, children under 12 free.
Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. House
Route 87 Lebanon, CT Phone: 860-642-6100
Open: Open by appointment only
Currently under renovation, this home features 18th century furnishings and artifacts, as well as eight corner fireplaces with elegant cornice-work.
Mansfield Historical Society Museum
954 Storrs Road (Route 195) Storrs, CT 06268 Phone: 860-429-6575
Open: June-September, Thursday and Sunday, 1:30-4:30 p.m.; library open year-round by appointment
Collection of furnishings, costumes, photographs and historical artifacts relating to local history, housed in the former town office building and Old Town Hall (1843), changing exhibits, research library. Admission: Adults, $2; children 12 and younger, free.
Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center
110 Pequot Trail Mashantucket, CT 06338 Phone: 800) 411-9671
Open: Daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., last admission at 3 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Eve, Thanksgiving day, December 24 and 25, December 31 and January 1
Permanent exhibits on the Native and natural history of southern New England include a cool descent into a glacial crevasse from 18,000 years ago. Walk through a 1550 Pequot Village. Interactive computer programs, films providing additional information and interpretation of the exhibits. Two research libraries, one for children. Museum store and restaurant.
Admission: Adults, $15; seniors, $13; children age 6-15, $10; under 6 free.
Monte Cristo Cottage
325 Pequot Avenue New London, CT 06320 Phone: 860-443-0051
The Monte Cristo Cottage was the only permanent home of Eugene O’Neill from his birth in 1888 until 1917, as well as the setting for two of the playwright’s best known works, Long Day’s Journey Into Night and Ah, Wilderness!. Named in honor of his father James O’Neill’s most popular role, the dashing Edmund Dantes in The Count of Monte Cristo, the 1840’s cottage is both a Registered National Landmark and a museum for O’Neill, America’s only Nobel Prize-winning playwright. It features a Eugene O’Neill portrait and poster gallery and a permanent exhibition on the life and works of the playwright.
Museum of the Fife and Drum
Highland Terrace at 63 North Main Street Ivoryton, CT 06442 Phone: 860-767-2237
Open: June 30 through Labor Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.; third weekend of July and fourth weekend of August reserved for private activities
Exhibits focus on the fife and drum, not only as an important symbol of American patriotism during the Revolutionary period, but as an integral part of military strategy in the 17th and 18th centuries. The museum is a visual and musical history of America on parade, from the Revolutionary War to the present. Theme displays feature drums, fifes, military swords, music, uniforms, medals, awards and photographs. Admission; Adults, $3; youth age 13-17, $2; seniors, $2; children under age 12, free.
Nathan Hale Homestead
2299 South Street Coventry, CT Phone: 860-742-6917
Open: Mid May to Mid October, 1-5 pm daily.
Nathan Hale, CT's state hero, lived in this farmhouse, built in 1776. The exhibits detail Hale's life and activities during the war, as well as life on a farm in 18th century Connecticut.
Pratt House
19 West Ave. Essex, CT Phone: 860-767-0681
Colonial home, built in 1734, features antique American furniture and an herb garden. The house documents the life of early Essex through a single family over 200 years.
Hours: June-Labor Day, Saturday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Fee charged.
Hours: June-Labor Day, Saturday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Fee charged.
Prudence Crandall Museum
Junction Routes 14 and 169 Canterbury, CT 06331 Phone: 860-546-7800
Open: Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed December 15-January 31; open February and March by appointment only
New England's first academy for Black women (1833-34), established by Connecticut's female state hero. Changing exhibits, period furnishings, research library, gift shop. National Historic Landmark; part of the Connecticut Freedom Trail and the Connecticut Women’s Heritage Trail. Gift shop. Admission: Adults, $3; seniors and children, $2; children age 5 and younger, free.
Putnam Elms
191 Church Street Brooklyn, CT Phone: 860-774-3059
Open: Mid-May to Mid-October, Wednesday and Sunday, 1 - 4:30 pm
Constructed in 1784 by the Putnam family and still maintained by Putnam descendants. The house is open for tours and exhibits the history of Colonel Daniel Putnam, his father General Israel Putnam, as well as the history of the area. Free admission.
Revolutionary War Office
West Town Street, on the Green Lebanon, CT
Open: Late May through September, Sat. and Sun., 1:30 - 4:30 PM.
At first this colonial structure was home to a store and the office of Governor Jonathan Trumbull, but during the Revolution it became the headquarters of the Council of Safety. On this site, the Council met to plan war strategy. Free admission. Maintained by the Sons of the American Revolution.
Roseland Cottage
556 Route 169 Woodstock, CT Phone: 860-928-4074
Open: June 1-October 15, Wednesday-Sunday, tours on the hour, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
The bold Gothic Revival style of this summer home built by Henry and Lucy Bowen contrasted sharply with other houses on Woodstock’s town green. Surrounded by its original landscape, the house survives with the family’s furnishings and elaborate decorative schemes. The complex, including an ice house, aviary, carriage barn with private bowling alley, and parterre garden, demonstrates the mid-19th-century design aesthetic popularized by Andrew Jackson Downing. Museum shop.
Admission: $8. Historic New England members free. $7 seniors. $4 students and children.
Admission: $8. Historic New England members free. $7 seniors. $4 students and children.
Strong-Porter House
2382 South Street Coventry, CT
Open: Mid-May to Mid-October, Saturday and Sunday, 1 - 5 pm
This farmhouse, home to Nathan Hale's mother's family, was built in 1730 and expanded in 1758. Visitors may tour the house, carpenter's shop, barn and carriage shed and view historic artifacts. Admission is $1 for adults, children are free.
The Connecticut Freedom Trail
Sites throughout Connecticut
The Connecticut Freedom Trail is list of over 60 historic locations throughout the state. Each location played an important role in the African-American journey from slavery to freedom in Connecticut. Places in addition to those listed on the Amistad Trail include historic homes, churches, graves, monuments, and sites on the Underground Railroad.
The Connecticut Freedom Trail
The Connecticut Freedom Trail is list of over 60 historic locations throughout the state. Each location played an important role in the African-American journey from slavery to freedom in Connecticut. Places in addition to those listed on the Amistad Trail include historic homes, churches, graves, monuments, and sites on the Underground Railroad.
The Florence Griswold Museum
96 Lyme Street Old Lyme, CT 06371 Phone: 860-434-5542
This 11-acre riverfront campus calls itself the Home of American Impressionism, for its service in the 1910s as a summer boarding house to artists of the Lyme Art Colony. The Krieble Gallery hosts changing exhibitions of American art. The permanent collection includes works by Church, Cole, Twachtman, Hassam, and others. The Griswold House contains a remarkable collection of painted panels and doors left in their original places by the artists who stayed at the Florence Griswold House. Museum offers many seasonal events and activities for children.
Visitors today understand immediately the site's appeal to the artists who stayed with Florence Griswold. Her house, gardens and river view were favored subjects of her boarders. Walking the grounds, one is delighted by the same trees and gentle bend in the river. Visitors stand at the site of Childe Hassam's favorite spot, stroll Miss Florence's lovingly restored old-fashioned garden.
Hours: Krieble Gallery and Griswold House open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Chadwick Studio and Rafal Landscape Center open mid-May through October.
Admission: Adults, $9; seniors, $8; students, $7; children age 12 and younger admitted for free.
Visitors today understand immediately the site's appeal to the artists who stayed with Florence Griswold. Her house, gardens and river view were favored subjects of her boarders. Walking the grounds, one is delighted by the same trees and gentle bend in the river. Visitors stand at the site of Childe Hassam's favorite spot, stroll Miss Florence's lovingly restored old-fashioned garden.
Hours: Krieble Gallery and Griswold House open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Chadwick Studio and Rafal Landscape Center open mid-May through October.
Admission: Adults, $9; seniors, $8; students, $7; children age 12 and younger admitted for free.
Tourtellotte Memorial Room
785 Riverside Drive, Route 12 Thompson, CT Phone: 860-923-9303
Open: 2-4 pm, 1st Sunday of each month
An exhibit of 19th century antiques and furniture belonging to the Tourtellotte family. Located in Tourtellotte Memorial High School. Free admission.
Waldo Homestead
Waldo Road Scotland, CT Phone: 860-456-0708
Open: By appointment only
This structure, built in 1714, is a typical New England saltbox. Home to the Waldo family from 1715 to 1975, exhibits there feature antique furniture, books and farming implements. Free admission.
Windham Textile and History Museum
411 Main Street Willimantic, CT 06226 Phone: 860-456-2178
Open: Memorial Day-Columbus Day, Friday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m.; closed January and major holidays.
Museum preserves the textile industry of southern New England at the height of the Industrial Revolution. Exhibits include thread factory floor, rooms from a workers rowhouse and owner’s mansion. Admission: Adults, $5; seniors and students, $3.50; children under age 6, free.
Allis - Bushnell House
853 Boston Post Road Madison, CT Phone: 203-245-4567
Open: May 31 - September 2, Wed, Fri, Sat, 1 - 4 pm or by appointment
Cornelius Bushnell lived in this home, built in 1785. As the sponsor of the S. S. Monitor, Bushnell played an important part in American naval history. The house features antique furniture, household items and ship models. A focal point of every visit is the model of the S. S. Monitor. Free admission.
Amistad Memorial
165 Church Street New Haven, CT
Completed by Ed Hamilton in 1992, this monument pays tribute to the 53 Africans who escaped their slavery by overpowering the crew of the ship Amistad. The monument is located at the site of the old New Haven Jail, in which the Africans were kept during their initial arrest.
Beinecke Rare Book Library
121 Wall Street New Haven, CT Phone: 203-432-2977
Open: Mon - Fri 8:30 am - 5 pm, Sat 10 am - 5 pm
This library features an interesting mix of the old and new. The building itself was built in 1963 and features a sculpture garden and marble windows. Inside visitors will find original Audubon bird prints, a Gutenberg Bible and changing exhibits. Free admission.
Black Rock Fort and Fort Nathan Hale
Woodward Avenue New Haven, CT Phone: 203-946-8790
Open: Memorial Day - Labor Day, daily
Sitting on New Haven Harbor, these forts were reconstructed. Black Rock comes from the Revolutionary War era, Fort Nathan Hale from the Civil War era. Free admission.
Captain Elisha White House
103 East Main Street Clinton, CT Phone: 860-669-2148Open: Sep 1 -
Open: Sep 1 - June 30, Tues 9 - 11 am; July - Aug, Sat - Sun, 2 - 4 pm
A 1750 home, the oldest brick house in the region. Decorated with 19th century paintings, historic furniture and antique household items. The property also has an herb garden. Free admission.
Center Church
250 Temple Street New Haven, CT
Founded in 1639, the original building was replaced by the current structure, built in 1812. A companion cemetery contains graves from the 17th century. During the Amistad incident in the mid 19th century, the congregation of this church was particularly instrumental in gaining support for the Africans, who were being held in the New Haven Jail. The property is a National Historic Landmark.
Deacon John Grave House
581 Boston Post Road Madison, CT Phone: 203-245-4798
Open: June - Labor Day, Wednesday - Sunday
Built in 1685, this home has also been a hospital, school, courthouse and inn during its lifetime. A donation is requested from visitors.
General David Humphreys House
37 Elm Street Ansonia, CT Phone: 203-735-1908
Open: Monday - Friday, 1 - 4:30 pm
Built in 1698, this house was home to George Washington's aide and the first American ambassador. Now restored, exhibits on colonial history can be found on the site. Children's programs are held during the school year. Free admission.
Grove Street Cemetery
227 Grove Street New Haven, CT
Historic cemetery features the graves of several well-known abolitionists.
Hannah Gray Home
235 Dixwell Avenue New Haven, CT
In the 19th century, Hannah Gray opened this home for wayward and indigent African-American women.
Henry Whitfield State Museum
248 Old Whitfield Street Guilford, CT 06437 Phone: 203-453-2457
Open: April 1- December 14, Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Dec. 15-March by appointment.
Connecticut's oldest house (1639) and New England's oldest stone house, built as a minister's home and town stronghold, Colonial Revival restorations 1903 and 1930s. 17th- to 19th-century furnishings, museum shop, visitor center. National Historic Landmark. Admission: Adults, $4; seniors, $3; children age 6-17, $2.50.
Hyland House
84 Boston Street Guilford, CT Phone: 203-453-9477
Open: June - October, Tues - Sun, 10 am - 4:30 pm, weekends only after Labor Day
Red colonial, built in 1660, features walk-in fireplaces. Admission: $2 adults, $1.50 children and seniors.
Long Wharf
Long Wharf Drive New Haven, CT
One of the oldest ports in the United States, Long Wharf has been active since the earliest days of New Haven's existence. Before the advent of rail lines and steamships, Long Wharf was a major port of entry for both imports and immigrants. Long Wharf has been designated as the home port for the life-size replica of the ship Amistad, which will sail from its base to other ports periodically.
Milford Cemetery
North Street Milford, CT
This colonial cemetery contains the graves of several African-American Revolutionary War soldiers. A plaque honoring these soldiers is located at the First Baptist Church, at 28 North Street, also in Milford.
Nero Hawley's Grave
Riverside Cemetery, Daniel's Farm Road Trumbull, CT
Nero Hawley was an African-American soldier in the Continental Army during the American Revolution.
New Haven Colony Historical Society Museum
114 Whitney Avenue New Haven, CT 06510 Phone: 203-562-4183
Open: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, noon-5 pm. Closed major holidays.
Exhibits on New Haven's cultural and industrial growth (1638 to the present), special exhibitions. Gift shop, research library, photo exhibit, family and educational programs. Admission: Adults, $4; seniors, $3; children age 6-16, $2.
Osborne Homestead Museum
500 Hawthorne Avenue (near Osbornedale State Park) Derby, CT 06418 Phone: 203-734-2513
Open: Late April-mid-December, Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m. Grounds: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.
Former estate of Frances Osborne Kellogg. Elegant Colonial Revival home (1850), original antiques and fine arts. Formal rose and flower garden, English rock garden. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Admission: Donation requested.
Pardee-Morris House
325 Lighthouse Road New Haven, CT Phone: 203-772-7060
Open: June - August, Saturday - Sunday, 11 am - 4 pm
Built in 1780, this home has been restored and displays a variety of furniture and household items spanning three centuries. Admission: $2 adults, $1 seniors and children under 17.
Prince Hall Masonic Temple
106 Goffe Street New Haven, CT
This Masonic temple is one of the oldest founded by African-Americans in the United States.
Sachem Country House
111 Goose Lane Guilford, CT
A stop on the Underground Railroad. Currently a private home and not open to the public.
Shore Line Trolley Museum
17 River Street East Haven, CT 06512 Phone: 203-467-6927
Open: April, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; May and September-November, Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Memorial Day-Labor Day, daily, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; late November-late December, Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Ride vintage streetcars through scenic woods and wetlands. View exhibits on the trolley era and tour the trolley collection. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Admission: Adults, $6; seniors, $5; children age 2-15, $3; under 2 free.
Stanton House
63 East Main Street Clinton, CT Phone: 860-669-2132
Open: June 1 - Sep 30, Tues - Sun, 9 - 11 am
Visitors to this homestead will see more than a 1789 Colonial: The building was the site of the first Yale University classroom. Free admission.
Thomas Griswold House
171 Boston Street, Guilford, CT Phone: 203-453-3176
Open: June - October, Tues - Sun, 11 am - 4 pm, weekends only after Labor Day
Unusual saltbox, built in 1774, features a blacksmith shop and special exhibits. Admission: $2 adults, $1 seniors and students.
Trowbridge Square
New Haven, CT
In the 1830's, Trowbridge Square became an early example of urban integration, where African-American and white workers lived in the same neighborhood. The community had two rules: No discrimination and no liquor.
United Church of Christ
Dixwell Avenue New Haven, CT
This historic church was led by Reverend James W. C. Pennington, one of the foremost African-American ministers of his day.
Yale University
Information Center at 149 Elm Street New Haven, CT Phone: 203-432-2300
Open: Tours daily, Monday - Friday 10:30 am and 2 pm; Sat - Sun 1:30 pm
This historic Ivy League University, founded in the 18th century offers walking tours of the campus. Many historic figures studied here, including Nathan Hale, President William Howard Taft and Noah Webster. Modern day Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton both spent time at Yale. Battell Chapel, the home of the Divinity School, was the site of efforts by Yale Students and Faculty to assist efforts to keep the Amistad Africans free.