Brainard Homestead State Park

Brainard Homestead State Park is a 25-acre property in East Haddam that contains open fields, natural wooded areas, and the visible foundation of an original farmhouse built in the 1800s. The landscape shows both the agricultural character of the land and the physical remains of domestic life from that era.

Timothy Green established the first farmhouse on this land in 1842, and Selden Tyler Brainerd purchased the property in 1854 for his household. The site remained a working farm and family home for many decades until it passed to state ownership in 1929.

The property takes its name from the Brainerd family who lived here and shaped local farming traditions over many years. The open fields today show how agricultural work once structured life in this part of Connecticut.

The park sits along Maple Avenue in East Haddam and offers straightforward access for visitors wanting to explore the grounds. The open fields work well for outdoor activities and observing nature throughout the year, though the warmer months provide the most comfortable conditions.

The property entered state management through Geraldine Hayden's will in 1929, when she gave the land to the public. Her arrangement included a rare provision allowing William Brainerd to continue living and working on the property until 1936.

Location: Connecticut

Elevation above the sea: 54 m

Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Locate-Park-Forest/Other-State-Parks-and-Forests

GPS coordinates: 41.46694,-72.46250

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:02