Hill-Stead Museum

Hill-Stead Museum is a 1901 mansion with nineteen rooms open to visitors displaying French Impressionist paintings and period furnishings. The estate spans 152 acres including gardens, pathways, and open grounds surrounding the main house.

The building was designed in 1901 by Theodate Pope Riddle, one of America's first female architects, working with the prominent architecture firm McKim, Mead & White. The house embodied the Colonial Revival style and remained a private residence before later opening as a museum to share its collection.

The house was kept as a private residence after the owner's death, so the artwork remains surrounded by furniture and personal objects rather than displayed in a gallery setting. This arrangement allows visitors to see how the paintings were actually lived with and enjoyed on a daily basis.

Visitors should know that guided tours of the interior happen in small groups, while the surrounding gardens and grounds remain freely accessible anytime. The estate is spacious, so comfortable shoes are recommended, especially if exploring the various garden areas.

The grounds feature a sunken garden designed by renowned landscape architect Beatrix Farrand in the 1920s. This garden serves each year as the setting for one of the country's longest-running poetry festivals.

Phone: +18606774787

Website: https://hillstead.org

GPS coordinates: 41.72212,-72.82059

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:06