Events & Exhibits
2026
May 1 - August 16, 2026:
OPEN 10:00-4:00, Wednesday-Sunday
August 19 – December 31, 2026:
Whitfield House – CLOSED
Visitor Center – Gift Shop & Archaeology Exhibit – OPEN 10:00-4:00 most weekdays
Please call 203-453-2457 to verify hours.
The museum is commemorating America’s 250th by working on the Whitfield House Rehabilitation project, funded in part by a federal Semiquincentennial grant from the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
Beginning August 19th, the project will include repointing the exterior and interior of the stone walls and replacing the antiquated and failing electrical wiring. In preparation, most collection items have been moved out of the building and larger items that cannot be moved are being protected.
The museum is open through August 16th, offering visitors a unique behind-the-scenes experience, seeing how Connecticut’s oldest house is being preserved for future generations. A pop-up exhibit highlights the site’s history related to America’s 250th.
For more information and the latest news, please check here, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, email whitfieldmuseum@ct.gov, or call 203-453-2457.
EXHIBITS (Visitor Center)
History Beneath Our Feet
Southern Connecticut State University's Department of Anthropology presents an exhibit of recent archaeology finds on the museum grounds by their Archaeology Field School. These objects broaden our understanding of and bring attention to the site’s 5,000+ years of Native American presence and the people who called the Whitfield House home after the Whitfield family sold it. Visitors can search for exhibit mascot Trowely throughout the galleries. Included with museum admission. Support provided by CT Humanities.
America's 250th at the Whitfield House's 387th
This small pop-up exhibit highlights the site's history surrounding the American Revolution and interesting artifacts from the museum collection.
EVENTS
June 13 (Saturday) 10:00-4:00
Connecticut Open House Day | FREE
June 21 (Sunday) 1:00-3:00 (rain or shine)
Make Music Day | FREE
Join in the free global celebration of music on the summer solstice with an outdoor concert on the front lawn of Connecticut’s oldest house. Kala Farnham crafts contemporary folk songs with roots and wings, weaving age-old truths into modern grooves. The 18th Connecticut State Troubadour and award-winning artist draws on a background in classical piano, musical theater, and therapeutic sound to offer a signature reinvention of the folk tradition — infusing fairytales, historical fiction, and narrative medicine into vivid portraits of the human experience. Bring your own lawn chairs, blankets, and picnics. The concert will be moved inside if it rains.
July 8-August 7 (Wednesday-Friday) 10:00-4:00 (weather permitting)
Archaeology Dig | FREE
Watch Dr. Bill Farley and his students from Southern Connecticut State University's Department of Anthropology as they dig on the museum grounds. No admission required.
July 19 (Sunday) 10:00-4:00 (rain or shine)
Trades Day | FREE
All ages are invited to immerse themselves in a free program exploring the trade of woodworking with hand tools. TradesUp will offer a STEAM-based learning experience with hands-on activities for participants to gain experience in skills such as basic math, measuring, and hand-eye coordination while developing a sense of confidence and self-sufficiency. Rick Liegl is a master Connecticut woodworker who will demonstrate 17th- and 18th-century joinery and carving techniques. A selection of his handmade creations will also be available for purchase. Lara Miller is a Connecticut artist and woodworker who will demonstrate New England decorative woodcarving. In addition to making reproductions, Lara incorporates many of these historic designs and methods into her contemporary art. Andrew Rowand, museum curator at the Eric Sloane Museum in Kent, Connecticut, will offer participants the chance to work with antique woodworking hand tools. Admission to the Whitfield House and Visitor Center exhibit galleries is also free.