Swain-Harrison House

The Swain-Harrison House is a colonial residence in Branford built with a two-and-a-half-story timber frame structure and gabled roof. The exterior features clapboard siding and a large central chimney, with the building located on Main Street where it now operates as a public museum.

The house was built in 1724 by Nathaniel Harrison II and ranks among the oldest structures in the area. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 as part of the Canoe Brook Historic District.

The Branford Historical Society maintains this building as a museum where visitors can examine period furniture and objects from local history. You can observe how daily life unfolded for the people who lived here across different generations.

The building is located on Main Street between Cherry Hill Road and Route 1 and is easy to reach. Visitors should allow adequate time for guided tours through the preserved interior rooms and the garden area.

The building features three overhangs that are rarely seen on colonial houses from this era: one plain projection on the first floor and two additional ones on the gable ends above the second story. This combination of overhangs represents an unusual architectural choice for the time.

Location: Connecticut

GPS coordinates: 41.27806,-72.82611

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:00