Historic Homes & Gardens You Need to Tour

When English colonists arrived in the 1630s, they set up settlements throughout the state. Some of these houses still survive today, and are open for tours and educational visits. Most offer detailed glimpses into the lives of the early American colonists, having been documented in carefully preserved journals and family letters.

In the 1700s, Connecticut was at the forefront of the new nation’s fight for independence. Nicknamed “the provision state” by General George Washington, Connecticut was the site of several decisive battles during the Revolutionary War. Today, there are homes throughout the state that have a fascinating military heritage, as well as others that blazed new trails in arts and culture.

During the Civil War, Connecticut once again played a role in provisioning, supplying everything from riddles to brass uniform buttons for the Union army. In this time, several homes in Connecticut played a role in fighting slavery, including sites along the Connecticut Freedom Trail. In the late 1800s, the Victorian era ushered in mansions of beauty and splendor, many of which still stand today as breathtaking reminders of a golden age.

Artists, and art collections, played a large role in early 20^th century Connecticut. From wealthy industrialists looking to build a house for their collections to colonies of artists working and living together to create a distinctly American art form, estates and homesteads took on a distinctive look alongside this greater purpose. Today, many of these homes have been restored to their original, and often very unique glory.

It is not just our historic houses that deserve a tour. Many of Connecticut’s house and estate gardens are the work of famous landscape architects and world renowned garden designers—and are today tended by experts and volunteers alike who are dedicated to sharing these works of art.