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 Westport Astronomical Society is an astronomy club that was founded in 1975 to rebuild and maintain the Rolnick Observatory. The group has more than one hundred members, many of whom are teachers, astronomers, researchers and technicians. For additional information about the group, including a schedule of meetings, visit the Westport Astronomical Society Web site.
The Westport Arts Center is a visual and performing arts organization that offers arts experiences to the entire community. The center has been in the community since the 1960s, when it was incorporated as the Westport-Weston Arts Council in 1969. Since that time, the center has worked to preserve Westport's cultural heritage and tradition of supporting the arts.
The Westport Arts Center offices and galleries are located on the banks of the Saugatuck River in downtown Westport. In addition to presenting exhibitions, concerts, lectures and film screenings in its 2000 square-foot gallery, the center also has a studio where children's workshops are held as well as a smaller Studio Gallery annex.
Dragone Motorcars is one of the country's leading historic automobile specialists. Owned by Manny and George Dragone, the family company collects, restores and sells classic cars. It also features a wide variety of automotive art and collectibles. Visit the Dragone website to view inventory and for more information.
The Westport Historical Society was established in 1889 and is located just on the corner of Avery Place and Myrtle Avenue. Here Westport residents of all ages can find a multitude of enriching programs. Located in the building are exhibits featuring local artists, a gift shop, a large selection of books about Westport, a museum residing in the renovated The Bradley Wheeler Cobblestone Barn, and more.
Wheeler House, the Society's headquarters, at 25 Avery Place, Westport, Connecticut, was purchased in 1981. The house, built in 1795, was remodeled in the Italianate style in the 19th Century and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Connecticut Register of Historic Places. The house has three Victorian Period rooms and a gift shop. The only octagonal-roof, cobblestone barn in Connecticut, which is on the property, was completely restored over a ten-year period and houses the Museum of Westport Historydisplaying a diorama of the town as it looked toward the end of the 19th Century.
The Society has hosted series of educational lectures and has mounted a succession of well-received exhibits which have been an important part of the continuing programs presented to the town. Children's special events, after school, vacation and summer camp programs are offered during the year. House Tours and Garden Tours are regular parts of each year's program.
Several years ago the Westport Historical Society started a house plaque program to allow homeowners to show pride in owning historical houses. The plaques identified the original owner of the house and the date of construction. Today Westport has 117 historical plaques identifying houses that were built over 100 years ago.
To raise more awareness of the history of our town, the Westport Historical Society has embarked on a direct mail campaign to homeowners that have houses which were built over 100 years ago. The material provided includes the historical importance of the house and the proposed house plaque appearance. Homeowners receiving the material can acknowledge the historical value of their house by requesting a handcrafted plaque from the Westport Historical Society. There is a fee of $250 which covers the costs of the plaque and a contribution to the Westport Historical Society.
As House History Chair, Bob Weingarten is in charge of the plaque program. The new program started with letters to 45 town homeowners with houses built over 100 years ago. The response exceeded our expectations and he intends to continue this program since there are over 300 additional homeowners with houses built over 100 years ago. The need to document our historical roots is great. As owners of historic homes, we can establish a precedent of research and care for future generations.
Please contact House History Chair Bob Weingarten at [email protected] to receive information about our Historic Plaque Program.