Hunt Hill Farm and the Silo have been a legacy of passionate exploration for generations. From talented musicians like Frank Sinatra and Vladimir Horowitz, to renowned chefs like Julia Child, Marta Stewart, Jacques Pépin, and Rachel Ray delivering cooking classes and demos - this breathtaking site lives in our memory and continues to empower the youth to appreciate knowledge, culture, arts, and culinary creativity. On October 2nd each year since 2004, Connecticut honors Silo & Hunt Hill Farm Day as a way to celebrate its past while honoring its future. This preservation of such historical buildings ranging from 1760 to 1836 is proof that today we remain focused on engaging experiences that have made this destination beloved by locals and visitors alike.

When Skitch and Ruth Henderson established the Silo at Hunt Hill Farm back in 1972, they had a truly beautiful vision for the property. The couple originally from New York City had a passion for art and culture, and wanted to create a place of learning and teaching that could support those interests. With hard work, dedication, and a lot of ingenuity, they managed to transform their home into a hub for arts, music, preservation and excellent cuisine. And with that transformation came the founding of some of the most prestigious institutions in the country – the Silo Cooking School became renowned as Connecticut’s first recreational cooking school while The Silo Gallery became well-known as one of the country’s utmost art galleries.

The Silo at Hunt Hill Farm is an inspirational place that truly embodies what makes Connecticut one of the best states to call home. Not only Ruth & Skitch restored and transform the buildings, but they also became a hub for people who loved nature, music and art with their incredible cooking school - which quickly became one of the most prestigious chef studios in the nation and remains special to many visitors today!

In 2003, the couple co-founded the Hunt Hill Farm Trust as a way to preserve their farm’s land and buildings. In addition, they created a living museum to celebrate Americana in music, art and literature. The Skitch Henderson Museum of American Music & Americana became the first affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution affiliate museums and was operated by an all-volunteer board of directors, a professional staff and dedicated volunteers.

Ruth once described The Silo barnyard as her favorite spot in the world because she could remember her summers spent on a farm in Eichigt, Germany, which had belonged to her Great Uncle Edwin Krauss before World War II. “I absolutely remember the animals – the smell of the stable, the haying, the meals all shared, family, farm help, children on a long table, bowls of simple food.” Ruth said that she and Skitch wanted to preserve the heritage of the American farm and the simple rituals of farm life so future generations would keep in touch with the land “that nourishes us all and not with food alone.”