Henry Whitfield State Museum

Name: Henry Whitfield State Museum
Address: 248 Old Whitfield Street, Guilford, CT, 06437, US
Telephone: +12034532457
Rating: 4.1

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Henry Whitfield State Museum

Explore the complex history of nearly 400 years through the evolution of the Henry Whitfield House Restored by noted architects Norman Isham and J.
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Construction of the Henry Whitfield House began in 1639 when a group of English Puritans, including Reverend Henry Whitfield and his family, entered into an agreement with the Menuncatuck band of the Quinnipiac tribe and renamed the jurisdiction Guilford. Built of local granite, the house was one of the colonial settlement’s four stone houses that functioned as defensive buildings and private home

s. It is now considered to be Connecticut’s oldest house and New England’s oldest stone house. Since 1900, it has been owned and operated by the State of Connecticut as a public museum, and the site is a State Archaeological Preserve. The house underwent many structural changes over the course of its nearly 400 years. Frederick Kelly in the early 1900s, it is an important example of Colonial Revival restoration work and was named a National Historic Landmark based on these historic preservation projects. The Henry Whitfield House is a physical reminder of the European settler colonialism of the 1600s, as well as the Colonial Revival era of the 1800s-1900s that celebrated and glorified European ethnocentricity and superiority. The museum is in the process of changing its interpretation – confronting the facts about the site’s history in order to acknowledge past injustice, recognize how that injustice manifests in society today, and work towards an equitable future for all people.

08/19/2026

Whitfield House – CLOSED FOR RESTORATION
Visitor Center – Gift Shop & Archaeology Exhibit – OPEN 10:00-4:00 MONDAY-FRIDAY

08/09/2026

🌺🌸🌼🌻 "Where flowers bloom, so does hope." - Lady Bird Johnson

We have a new phenological calendar -- bloom chart -- for the pollinator garden on the museum's front lawn! It identifies the native perennial plants that are blooming in a particular month. You can pick it up at the parking lot kiosk or inside the Visitor Center.

08/06/2026

If you happen to be traveling I-95 South past the Branford service plaza or Route 15 North past the Fairfield service plaza, check out 2 new signs featuring collection items from the Whitfield Museum. They are among more than 40 America 250th signs across the state highlighting objects of the Revolution preserved at Connecticut museums, historical societies, and archives.

⚠️🚧 BONUS POINTS if you're the first to share a photo of either of these 2 signs in their Branford and Fairfield locations!

For the full list and locations of these historical signs, visit https://portal.ct.gov/dot/programs/250-signs?language=en_US

This project was completed in partnership with Connecticut State Historian and University of Connecticut professor Andy Horowitz, on behalf of the Connecticut Semiquincentennial Commission. The signs, which are printed in the colors of the Connecticut flag, were designed by students from the Design Center at the University of Connecticut. Support provided by CT Humanities.

America 250 CT Commission
Connecticut Department of Transportation

08/02/2026

⏳🕰️⌚️⏰ ONLY 2 WEEKS LEFT! The Whitfield House restoration project is starting soon, so if you want to take a tour, visit 10-4, Wednesday-Sunday, through August 16th.

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)

07/10/2026

All ages are invited to immerse themselves in a free program exploring the trade of woodworking with hand tools.

TradesUp Org 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.

Trades Day will take place rain or shine. Admission to the Whitfield House and Visitor Center exhibit galleries is also free.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1322491976265060/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

07/03/2026

🎉New book in the StoryWalk® at the Museum🎉 In honor of America's 250th birthday, "We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States" is now available for reading in the StoryWalk® on the museum grounds. Open dawn to dusk.

The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, Vermont. StoryWalk® is a registered service mark owned by the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. The museum's StoryWalk® was made possible thanks to a generous gift from the New Haven Middlesex Association of Realtors Foundation through a grant from the National Association of REALTORS®.

07/02/2026

🇺🇸 Visit the museum in person to see the new pop-up exhibits honoring the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of our country. We're open 10-4, Wednesday-Sunday, and admission is 50% off! The museum will be closed July 4, 2026.

07/01/2026

🇺🇸 Be sure to stop by the Guilford Town Hall this month -- and not just to pay your taxes! Guilford's 5 history museums have filled the display case with fascinating artifacts and information related to LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS IN GUILFORD in honor of America's 250th.
Hyland House Museum Guilford Keeping Society Dudley Farm Museum

06/25/2026

Address

248 Old Whitfield Street
Guilford, CT
06437

Telephone

+12034532457

Website

https://portal.ct.gov/ECD-HenryWhitfieldStateMuseum

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