Weir Farm National Historical Park

The only National Park dedicated to American Impressionism was home to three generations of artists including Julian Alden Weir, a leading figure in 19th century art and America’s most beloved Impressionist. Weir described his home as the “Great Good Place.” Weir’s farm is a national legacy to American Impressionism, the creative spirit, and historic preservation.

Today the 68-acre park, which includes the Weir House, Weir and Young Studios, barns, gardens, and Weir Pond, welcomes everyone to experience the power of creating art in nature. Seasonal offerings include yoga in the garden, painting, pond hikes, wellness walks and more.

Stamford Museum & Nature Center

Visitors to the Stamford Museum & Nature Center can enjoy a picnic on the meadow, walk more than 80 acres of nature trails, visit Heckscher Farm and say hello to the farm animals, and stop into the Stamford Museum Galleries to view rotating exhibitions. Special events include culinary offerings, family farm and forest adventures, paint nights and musical performances.

The center is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of art and popular culture, natural and agricultural sciences, and history. The center seeks to inspire creativity, foster self- discovery, promote environmental stewardship, and nurture an appreciation for lifelong learning through exhibitions, educational programs, and special events that enhance the visitor’s experience of this unique site.

Lyman Allyn Art Museum

Located just off I-95, Exit 83, the Lyman Allyn Art Museum has enjoyed celebrating the arts with visitors for almost a century. Featuring particularly strong collections of American paintings and decorative arts, the museum also presents a wide range of changing exhibitions and programs throughout the year. 

The historic grounds include a sculpture trail which is surrounded by 12 rolling acres of gardens and lawns. The grounds are open to the public for walking and picnicking. The museum’s free first Saturdays are popular with families, and include hands-on arts and science activities. On the first Thursday of every month, adult visitors can enjoy an upscale creative session, with drinks and light bites. 

Hill-Stead Museum

Hill-Stead Museum is noted for its 1901 33,000-square-foot house filled with art and antiques. Pioneering female architect Theodate Pope Riddle designed the Colonial Revival-style house, set on 150 hilltop acres, to showcase the Impressionist masterpieces amassed by her father, Cleveland iron industrialist Alfred A. Pope. 

Collections in 19 intact rooms include original furnishings, paintings, and numerous art works. The c. 1920 sunken garden is the centerpiece of the grounds; while three miles of walking trails treat visitors to beautiful habitats and a variety of native pollinators, birds, ponds, meadows, forest, and foliage. Special events include gala dinners, a May Market, Sunken Poetry Festival, and multicultural music, dance and theater performances.

Greenwich Historical Society / Bush-Holley House Museum 

The circa 1730 National Historic Landmark Bush-Holley House survived the American Revolution and became the site of CT’s first American Impressionist art colony from 1890 to 1920, where influential artists including Childe Hassam and John Henry Twachtman lived and worked. 

This exciting reimagined campus includes beautiful museum galleries, library and archives, museum store, and landscape and gardens restored to the period of the Cos Cob Art Colony. Greenwich Historical Society preserves and interprets the history of this vibrant, globally influential community through exhibitions and engaging lectures, programs, and events.  

Florence Griswold Museum

The recipient of a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence, the Florence Griswold Museum has been called “Giverny in Connecticut” by the Wall Street Journal, and a “must-see” by the Boston Globe. 

In addition to the historic Florence Griswold House, the Museum features a gallery for changing art exhibitions, education and landscape centers, an artist’s studio, twelve acres along the Lieutenant River featuring the Robert F. Schumann Artists’ Trail, and historic gardens. Special offerings include a seasonal cafe with scenic outdoor seating, curated gift shop, art camps for kids, Art Bar for adults, holiday programs and festivals.

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum  

Founded by art collector and fashion designer Larry Aldrich in 1964, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is one of the oldest contemporary art museums in the United States. The Aldrich is one of the few independent, non-collecting institutions in the country and the only museum in Connecticut solely dedicated to the presentation of contemporary art. The Aldrich is internationally recognized for its artist-centric programs and visionary exhibitions. It presents first solo museum exhibitions by emerging artists, significant exhibitions of established artists, and thematic group exhibitions.

Since its founding, The Aldrich has presented the work of more than 8,000 remarkable artists and has often been the first to introduce the work of now-acclaimed artists, including Eva Hesse, Robert Smithson, Frank Stella, Jack Whitten, Ann Hamilton, Olafur Eliasson, Huma Bhabha, KAWS, Mark Dion, and Shahzia Sikander, among many others.