Celebrate Connecticut Open House Day in New London County 2025

Historic house museum offering free self-guided tours, scavenger hunt and games for children, craft demonstrations, and Revolutionary War soldier's tent to visit. 

Three acres of dog-friendly grounds to walk and explore.
 

Discover Colchester's rich history at the Colchester History Museum!  Five family friendly exhibits illustrate Colchester's history with images and amazing stories.  While in Colchester, take a short walk to visit the replica of Colchester's historic School for Colored Children.  A one-room schoolhouse that educated African and Native American students from 1803-1840.

Enjoy everything the Museum has to offer FOR FREE on this special statewide Open House Day. Explore the permanent collection and the special exhibition "Their Kindred Earth: Photographs by William Earle Williams," visit the historic Griswold boardinghouse to see where artists of the Lyme Art Colony lived and worked ca. 1910, or just enjoy a stroll along the Robert F. Schumann Artists' Trail and through our blooming gardens.

Groton Congregational Church was built in 1902, designed by local architects Donnelly & Hazeltine. Over half its interior is made of hand-rubbed and polished oak, with original chandeliers. The church contains a Tiffany window, “The Good Shepherd,” a four-panelled, stained glass window, "Parable of the Talents," by Edward Peck Sperry, and a Moller organ with 1,381 pipes. An 18 page illustrated history of the church is provided to visitors. 

On June 14, CT Open House Day come to the Joseph Carpenter Silversmith Shop. Learn about life on the Norwichtown Green in the late 1700s from Kesia Jones, who lived and raised her family there. See the original forge of the silversmith and original walls from 1772. We look forward to welcoming you. Free admission, donations gratefully received. FREE Old Burial ground tour at noon. 

Come to Leffingwell House Museum on June 14 for CT Open House Day! Starting in the pre-Revolutionary Tavern, enjoy a FREE self guided tour of the main floor. See our annual display of vintage flags and our regular displays of Norwich History. Full house tour $8 pp.

Open to the public from 10:00 to 3:00. Meet with volunteers and Board of Directors and participate in a free tour of the facility.

Red 36 Restaurant is proud to participate in CT Visit’s Open House Day 2025. Located in downtown Mystic, directly on the Mystic River, we would like to encourage everyone to come spend the day in Mystic shopping, strolling, sightseeing and of course eating at RED 36. Just mention “CT Visit Open House” and enjoy 10% off your check. 

Tall Tales, sails three 2 hour trips daily on New London's Thames River and Fisher's Island Sound (think submarines, classic sailing vessels and historic waterfronts). We take from two to six passengers per trip...and the boat is reserved for your party (yes, romantic sail just for you and yours? absolutely); and we ain't going to break your bank..$60/person for two, $50, three to six. For Open House Day, June 14, one person in each group will be our guest.. 917/405-5044 for info or visit our website for the full scoop on our beautiful classic Tall Tales.

The Sikh Art Gallery is an inclusive space that focuses on learning about Sikh history and heritage through artwork created by various international artists.

The tour highlights the message of oneness, respect for diversity, the importance of equality, the struggles for freedom, and the challenges faced by our communities.

From 10am-4pm, visitors are invited to explore Slater Memorial Museum for free! Museum Docents will be available all day to answer questions and share with you the wonders of the collection.

Free 8" x 10" matboard

The James Merrill House is both a writer's home and a home for writers. Named a National Historic Landmark in 2016, the building at 107 Water Street remains as charming and idiosyncratic as the late poet James Merrill left it upon his passing in 1995. That same year, his third-floor apartment and fourth-floor studio became home to an internationally acclaimed writer-in-residence program. Come explore Merrill's whimsical, color-drenched apartment in the heart of the picturesque Stonington Borough--now a literary landmark that has welcomed over 100 resident writers to date. Tours will be offered from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Attention Boaters ... Come for a weekend of fun at the Marina! Receive a free one night transient slip rental (up to $250) at The Marina at American Wharf.  We will also include gift certificates to our onsite restaurants - These Guys Brewing ($50) and Encanto Scoops at the Docks ($25).

Located in the village of Niantic, the circa 1660 Thomas Lee House and the 1803 Little Boston School will be open for free tours.  In the barn are displays of early East Lyme including a mail wagon and a fire wagon.  The house will offer a scavenger hunt for children.

Climb and zip through the trees, or aim for a bullseye in our new axe lanes. In our main park, climbers ages 7+ discover the thrill of balancing on quirky bridges made of wood, cable and rope that span 10 to 50 feet above the forest floor. Trails are color coded by level of difficulty. Our Kid Trails attraction offers similar challenges for ages 4 - 7. We are excited for Open House Day and we will offer our visitors a free pair of gloves!