The Henry Whitfield State Museum is Connecticut's oldest house that decades ago served as a home and fort for the community. Today it stands a prominent example of Colonial Revival restoration. Since 1899, the house has been operated by the state and restored by architects Norman Isham and J. Frederick Kelly. The site is home to three buildings, including the visitors' center. Visitors can take self-guided tours through the houses three stories, all filled with original furnishings and artifacts dating back to the 17th century. The museum hosts several city events throughout year and is open to school and community groups year-round by appointment.
Ferry rides and weekend cruises are offered through the Norwalk Seaport Assoociation to Sheffield Island. The island features a historic lighthouse, museum, nature preserve and a wildlife refuge. Round-trip ferry tickets are $22 for adults, $12 for children ages 4 to 12 and $5 for children ages 3 and younger.
The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion currently functions as both a museum and an event space. Built during the Civil War, it was the first mansion constructed in the entire Northeast. It boasts al fresco ceilings commissioned by the most popular artists of the time. And here's another interesting fact: The mansion had hot and cold running water (complete with an indoor bathroom) which not even the White House had!
The Norwalk Historical Society's mission is "research, preservation and promotion of interest in the city of Norwalk." The society is located in the Mill Hill Historic Park overlooking Wall Street.
NHS provides plaques for architecturally significant buildings in Norwalk and educates Norwalk third-graders about the early history of Norwalk through the Little Red Schoolhouse Program, featuring volunteers dressed in colonial garb.
NHS also hosts the Colonial Harvest Festival, the 4th of July Bell Ringing ceremony and other special events. Mill Hill Historic Park features three historical buildings—the Norwalk Town House, the Governor Thomas Fitch Law Office and the Downtown District Schoolhouse—as well as the Mill Hill Burying Ground. Volunteers and donations are welcome.
Stamford Art Association is a nonprofit organization that holds art exhibits and juried art shows in Stamford. Members include scupltors, painters, photographers and printmakers. The gallery holds eight shows a year, six being juried exhibits. This organization also showcases from Fairfield County high schools. Visit Stamford Art Association's website for more information on the organization, including membership fees and forms and information on current and upcoming shows and events.
Celebrating Milford's rich history, three houses in this location are opened to visitors on weekends. The houses contain artifacts, historical documents and items of interest to students, Milford residents and visitors. Knowledgeable docents are available to conduct tours or answer questions. Self-guided tour booklets are also available.
Trumbull Historical Society is a museum and research library dedicated to preserving Turmbull's history and educating residents on its past. The museum sits at the site of the first settlement in Trumbull. There is a bookstore and a gift shop which are open the first and third Sundays of the month, or by appointment.
The Norwalk Historical Commission, housed in City Hall, protects and oversees the city cemeteries, collections and archives of the Norwalk Museum, as well as several historic buildings, including the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum.
The Board members of the Commission are appointed by the mayor for five-year revolving terms and must be approved by the Common Council of Norwalk. Commission members serve on one of four committees: finance, buildings, museum and cemetery. The chairman and vice chairman of the Commission are members of all committees on an as-needed basis, and there is one staff member to serve all Commission members.
The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, a national registered historic landmark, is available for weddings and conferences as well as tours. The Mansion Museum also hosts frequent events; there are antiques appraisals weekends, lectures and art exhibitions. There is also a gift shop.
The Norwalk Museum, located in the heart of historic SoNo, has a recognized collection of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls as well as photos and other archives related to Norwalk. Private tours and reviews of the archives can be arranged by contacting the administrator of the Commission.
Since 1960, the Rowayton Arts Center has provided a haven for the arts on Rowayton Avenue. Art exhibitions, lectures, films and discussion groups all have a home here. Supported by membership dues, classes, commissions and donations, the Arts Center has stayed surprisingly small, but it remains the cultural heart of the village.
The website offers an updated schedule of classes and events.
The Rolnick Observatory is located on Bayberry Lane at the highest point in Westport. There are several buildings at the site, including the observatory and a warming hut for visitors. The observatory, which is maintained by the Westport Astronomical Society, has two telescopes available for use by the general public: a 12½-inch Newtonian reflector and a 25-inch Newtonian telescope, the largest in the state of Connecticut. Viewings are hosted on Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 8pm to 10pm and are free to the public. For more information about the observatory, visit the Westport Astronomical Society Web site.
The not-for-profit Middlesex County Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the history of Middlesex County and providing programs for adults and children to increase their understanding of the past. Museum exhibits, historic graveyard walking tours, Civil War re-enactments and a lecture series are among its many annual events.
Since 1959, the society has been housed in a Federal brick mansion that is the former home of General Joseph K.F. Mansfield, a Civil War hero who died at the battle of Antietam in 1862.
Exhibits at the Mansfield House have showcased artifacts from the society's permanent collection as well as 19th century women's clothing, immigrant groups, the rise and fall of manufacturing in Middlesex County, and death and dying from colonial times to the present. A permanent exhibit, Hard & Stirring Times: Middletown and the Civil War, explores local soldiers' experiences through photographs, military gear, diaries and letters home.
Grounds at the Mansfield House also feature a colorful herb garden maintained by the Middletown Garden Club. The garden is open daily. It also has a gift shop. The historical society is governed by a 15-member board of directors.
One of the National Park Service's 400 parks, and the only one dedicated to American painting, Weir Farm was officially declared a national historic site by Congress in 1990. It highlights the home and place of inspiration for painter J. Alden Weir. Weir, who acquired the 153 acre farm in 1882, responded to the natural landscape with impressionist paintings that depicted stones, woodlands and meadows, beginning a tradition that other artists, such as Mahonri Young and Sperry Andrews, would later emulate. The Land of Nod, as the site has been called, has a visitor center, tours, and en plein air activities for kids.
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