Historic Rowayton

Name: Historic Rowayton
Address: 177 Rowayton Avenue, Norwalk, CT, 06853, US
Telephone: +12038310136
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Historic Rowayton

Learn more at historicrowayton.org Historic walking tours of Rowayton village are given annually. We’d also like to share that we have a new name!

Historic Rowayton was founded in 1959 as the Rowayton Historical Society to preserve Rowayton’s vibrant history by maintaining and exhibiting its archives, memorabilia and artwork. Historic Rowayton was founded in 1959 to preserve Rowayton's vibrant history by maintaining and exhibiting its archives, memorabilia and artwork. Membership and public meetings are held regularly during the year at the

Seeley-Dibble-Pinkney house including special programs and speakers. Displays and exhibits, addressing the history of our region are open to the public. We encourage researchers and other interested people to contact us with their questions. We wanted the name to reflect a broader purpose, that of preserving and sharing the history of our town, our City, and our region in a 21st Century way. So, we’d like to reintroduce ourselves as...HISTORIC ROWAYTON. Notable events hosted by Historic Rowayton over the past several years include the grand opening of our new maritime museum, the Raymond Boathouse, our very popular current exhibit "What the Heck is THIS?", as well as our previous exhibit Getting It Done: Celebrating the Women of Rowayton, an evening of Real Rowayton Ghost Stories, and welcoming local Brownie and Cub Scouts to our campus. Historic Rowayton also publishes an annual newsletter which goes out to all residents in which we share our heritage with stories and remembrances from long-time residents. Historic Rowayton preserves one of the most important historic collections in the state of Connecticut. It is our mission to help our community discover the fascinating history of Rowayton, a small maritime village on Long Island Sound.

05/31/2026

⚓️ in Rowayton History: May 30, 1780 – A daring raid on the high seas! Captains Jones and Ayres, along with Lockwood and their crew, testified to cruising Long Island Sound in whale boats “against the enemies of the United States.” They boldly captured the British ship Lively and her valuable cargo, including Bohea tea, rum, English and India goods, and more. This seizure disrupted British supply lines and boosted the American cause during the Revolutionary War, right here along our Connecticut shores! 🇺🇸 These whaleboat warriors exemplified the grit and ingenuity that helped secure independence.

Pictured here is a portrait of the legendary naval hero John Paul Jones (c. 1890, based on a work of c. 1781), whose spirit of defiance echoes in tales like this local capture. What’s your favorite story of Revolutionary War heroism? Share your thoughts below!

Image Credit: Portrait c. 1890, based on a work of c. 1781, John Paul Jones

05/28/2026

A glimpse from Historic Rowayton Archives: the photo shows the very first business computer—the Model 409—unveiled in 1951. This electromechanical marvel from Re*****on Rand marked a milestone in modular, replaceable parts design. The Barn at 33 Highland Ave. (Rowayton Library area) housed the early R&D teams before production moved to 333 Wilson Ave. This image captures the era when the 409 prototype wowed military and government officials and helped launch the era of business computing.

*****onRand

Photo courtesy of Historic Rowayton.

05/23/2026

Reminder: Historic Rowayton’s 250th Celebration is just around the corner! 🎉

Historic Rowayton Grand Opening:
Exhibit: Farmers. Fishermen. Fighters. Rowayton During the American Revolution
Sunday May 24th, 12:30 – 2:00 PM
Seeley Dibble Pinkney House, 177 Rowayton Avenue

What’s in store:

🍫Colonial chocolate maker

🎲Fun children’s games

🚗Self-guided driving tours of local Revolutionary sites

Image credit: Colonial Chocolate Maker at Historic Rowayton 2024, Historic Rowayton

For more information, visit: https://www.historicrowayton.org/rhs-events

Hashtags:

05/23/2026

Honor our heroes and history this Memorial Day weekend, Rowayton! 🇺🇸✨

Historic Rowayton will march in the Rowayton Memorial Day Parade, Sunday May 24th, 2026 at noon, behind a Revolutionary War Whaleboat for a nod to our colonial roots and local pride.

Rowayton Memorial Day Parade: Sunday, May 25 at 12:00 p.m. (noon)

✨Route spots: along McKinley Ave. or Rowayton Ave. to cheer

✨Finishes at Veteran’s Canon to honor those who died serving our country

✨Chocolate Lovers, Take Note! Renowned Colonial chocolate maker Robert Lecce will be doing his magic at the Pinkney House and selling his delicious treats after the Parade

✨Learn more: www.rowaytoncivicassociation.org

Image credit: Library, Rowayton. “Memorial Day Parade.” Rowayton Library, 5 May 2017

Join us as we blend memory, community, and history in one powerful day. Bring a friend, bring a smile, and let’s celebrate together. 🕊️🎖️

05/07/2026

Pop up at Seaside Delights this Saturday!

05/02/2026

Historic Rowayton is thrilled to remind you of these upcoming events filled with living history and community pride!

Join us as we step back in time and celebrate 250 years with these exciting events:

Colonial Demonstrations @ The Museum of Darien
May 2, 2026 • 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Members of the Fifth Connecticut Regiment showcase daily colonial soldier life and artisan skills. A silhouette artist will be on-site to create timeless portraits — advance bookings for silhouettes are $35. More info at museumofdarien.org

Tory Raid Reenactment @ Mather Homestead
May 2, 2026 • 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
19 Stephen Mather Road, Darien

Walk Through History @ Highland Farm
May 2, 2026 • 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm (walk-throughs available all day)
1–2 pm feature: Walk through history with 250 markers along a paved walkway, plus a town proclamation read by First Selectman Jon Zarodzky. Walk anytime.

Rowayton Memorial Day Parade
Sunday, May 24, 2026 • noon sharp
March with Historic Rowayton behind a Revolutionary War Whaleboat

250th Celebration at Historic Rowayton: Pinkney House
Sunday, May 24 • 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Farmers. Fishermen. Fighters. Rowayton During the American Revolution
Seeley Dibble Pinkney House, 177 Rowayton Avenue
Colonial chocolate maker, children’s games, and self-guided driving tours of local Revolutionary sites

Image Credit: Museum of Darien

05/01/2026

Dive into history this weekend, Rowayton neighbors! 🗺️✨

Historic Rowayton is excited to share two thrilling chances to step back to the 18th century right in our neighboring towns.

🔹 Colonial Demonstrations at The Museum of Darien
May 2, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Experience immersive colonial life with demonstrations by the Fifth Connecticut Regiment, plus artisan skills and a silhouette artist on-site. Advance silhouette bookings are $35. More info: museumofdarien.org

🔹 Tory Raid Reenactment at Mather Homestead
May 2, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Mather Homestead, 19 Stephen Mather Road, Darien

This is a fantastic companion to Historic Rowayton’s own featured exhibit:
Exhibit: Farmers. Fishermen. Fighters. Rowayton During the American Revolution
Opening Sunday, May 24th, 12:30 – 2:00 PM
Seeley Dibble Pinkney House, 177 Rowayton Avenue

Come celebrate our region’s history, support our local museums, and enjoy a full day of living history nearby.

Resources: Experience the Revolution! – Museum of Darien, Mather Homestead, Highland Farm | Museum of Darien. https://museumofdarien.org/product/experience-the-revolution-museum-of-darien-mather-homestead-highland-farm/. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.

Image Credit: Hearst Connecticut Media. Museum of Darien, Mather Homestead: ‘Times Have Changed.’ https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/Museum-of-Darien-Mather-Homestead-receive-15K-16792239.php. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026, Photograph of Museum of Darien.

Tag a friend you’d bring and save the dates:

04/29/2026

Pictured here: An Advertisement for the Foster Brothers’ Summer Resort in Bell Island from Historic Rowayton’s archives.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, brothers Joel and Timothy Foster, with Levi Mansfield, helped transform Bell Island into a fashionable summer retreat for New York and Danbury elites. From 1881 onward, they acquired property, built hotels such as The Montewesse, The Bell Island House (later The Elmendorf Hotel), The Soundview, and Summit House with its ice cream parlor, and laid out ten-foot-wide walkways that still define Bell Island’s character today. Their careful planning created a pedestrian-friendly haven where guests could stroll from a store to a loading dock and ferry, soak in coastal breezes, and escape the heat in style.

Bell Island’s summer culture blended refined leisure with practical island life—houses with wide porches, lawn tennis on a court the Fosters built, and a rhythm of morning chores and afternoon deliveries that kept guests pampered and connected to Rowayton’s everyday economy. The island’s stone walls, crafted by local masons and hauled from nearby isles, stand as enduring symbols of that era. Today, the Foster era persists in Historic Rowayton’s storytelling as a hallmark of how South Norwalk’s Bell Island shaped coastal culture, hospitality, and community memory.

Image credits: Postcard/archival images from Historic Rowayton

04/26/2026

Jim Flora (1914–1998) was an American commercial artist and illustrator renowned for his bold, surreal, and vividly colored artwork that helped define mid‑century pop art and modern illustration. With a career spanning album covers, advertising, and magazine illustration, Flora’s playful yet inventive visuals captured the imagination of audiences across the 1950s and 1960s, cementing his place in American art history.

Flora’s work resonated beyond the gallery, enriching the cultural fabric of Norwalk and the surrounding community through vibrant public imagery and a lasting sense of whimsy in regional visual culture. His connections to the Norwalk area, including Bell Island, reflect a period when his illustrations intersected with everyday life in the community, leaving a positive legacy that newer generations continue to rediscover. Flora lived in the Norwalk area for many years, shaping and being shaped by the local artistic scene until his passing in 1998.

Image credit: Postcard: @ Historic Rowayton Photo Archives; Portrait: Public Domain Wikipedia

04/02/2026

🚢 in Rowayton History: April 2, 1836 – The packet sloop “Julia” was built in Nyack, NY, for local pioneer Alfred Seeley. She sailed proudly from Rowayton to Peck’s Slip in NYC, carrying cargo along Long Island Sound. But did you know? Seeley first launched the “Enterprise” right on his Five Mile River property, ferrying produce and essentials to New York markets. When he upgraded to the “Julia” in 1836, it was still the only regular packet service in the area!

The Seeley family thrived, and their home expanded over time – evolving from a simple saltbox with an eight-room main section and a one-story back, through Victorian updates and raised roofs. Pictured here is [a photograph of the Seeley house/property – insert description if needed], a testament to our town’s maritime roots and enduring architecture. What fascinating tales from Rowayton’s seafaring past intrigue you most? Drop your thoughts below!

Address

177 Rowayton Avenue
Norwalk, CT
06853

Opening Hours

9:30am - 11:45am

Telephone

+12038310136

Website

https://www.historicrowayton.org/

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