Visit the Hempsted Houses to join stitchers from America’s Tapestry and local artists from Hartford Stitch for a morning of fun, creativity, and history. Join us to stitch history together - no experience required!
Join Bob Van Dyke, director of the CT Valley School of Woodworking (Manchester, CT) as he demonstrates the making of more common inlays that were used in 18th-century furniture shops. Guests will have the opportunity to study pieces from the Phelps-Hatheway collection.
New program for 2026! Writer and photographer Mark Roessler will share his research on Frederick Law Olmsted in a special lecture at the Amos Bull House before leading a walk to Bushnell Park to discuss Olmsted’s legacy in Hartford and beyond.
May 4th marks the 200th birthday of Frederic Edwin Church. Not only was Hartford the birthplace of this renown Hudson River School painter, but the city was also integral to the birth of American art thanks to Daniel Wadsworth and his patronage. On this walk, we'll discuss Church and other Hartford-connected artists, such as Cole, Bierstadt, Wheeler, Tryon and more. Following the walk, the 2 pm tour of the Butler-McCook House will focus on the Butler and McCook families as art lovers.
New for 2026! Explore Hartford's Revolutionary past in this walk and talk in the south end with Connecticut Landmarks' Jana Colacino and Ruth Shapleigh Brown of the Connecticut Gravestone Network.
When you think of the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, you think of lilacs. Each spring, the stunning variety of lilacs curated by Caroline Ferriday and her mother scent the gardens and show off their fleeting blossoms in shades of purples, pinks, and even whites. Tour the gardens to learn about the long history of the lilacs on the property and how we care for them.
Honor those special maternal figures in your life with a celebration like no other at Phelps-Hatheway's Mother’s Day Tea! Sample exquisite bites created especially for Phelps-Hatheway by Chef Reneé of Blonde on the Run Catering, accompanied by steaming pots of Harney and Sons tea. Tea service will begin with a brief explanation of our favorite beverage’s role in both world and domestic history and will end with a glimpse into the lives of the women who called the property home since 1761.
When you think of the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, you think of lilacs. Each spring, the stunning variety of lilacs curated by Caroline Ferriday and her mother scent the gardens and show off their fleeting blossoms in shades of purples, pinks, and even whites. Tour the gardens to learn about the long history of the lilacs on the property and how we care for them.
Expand your knowledge of Hartford’s architectural treasures by venturing east and west of Main Street. Understand the historical and cultural significance of buildings along South Prospect Street, from the 1788 Amos Bull House to the BPO Elks Lodge, to the Hartford Times Building. To the west, explore more of the city’s South Downtown neighborhood on Elm and Gold Streets.
Turn off your cell phones, take deep breaths, and let your mind observe nature using all your senses through the practice of shinrin yoku, also known as forest bathing, with Certified Forest Therapy Guide Professor Suzanne Hudd.
In collaboration with the Suffield Historical Society and Kent Memorial Library, join staff to learn the stories of individuals who resided on Suffield’s North and South Main Streets yet have long been erased from memory. A reception will follow in the Visitor Center.
Updated for 2026! Join an easy 1.5-mile walking tour on the sidewalks of Hartford’s historic Main Street from the Butler-McCook House & Garden to the G. Fox Building exploring this city's colonial roots and more! This walk includes some of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. This program is offered FREE as part of Connecticut Trails Day.