Butler-McCook Homestead

The Butler-McCook Homestead is a colonial residence in Hartford featuring two-and-a-half stories of wood construction with twin interior chimneys and a five-section front facade. The building displays the architectural style of its period with a centered entrance framed by round columns.

The home was built in 1782 for a physician and remained in family ownership for nearly 190 years before converting to a museum. This extended period of continuity allowed the preservation of original furnishings and objects that document Hartford's story from early America through the 20th century.

The home reflects how affluent families lived and displayed collections from around the world within their domestic spaces. The rooms show personal journeys and family life unfolding across multiple generations.

The home is accessible only through reserved guided tours, so you should contact ahead to arrange a visit. These tours provide a thorough walkthrough of the different rooms and their contents.

The grounds feature a Victorian garden designed in 1865 by Jacob Weidenmann, the landscape architect who also created Hartford's Bushnell Park. This outdoor space reveals a different side of the property's design compared to the interior rooms.