183 Connecticut destinations from across the state – from the Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, to Bushnell Park in Hartford to the Gillette Castle in East Haddam – are offering Connecticut residents free or discounted admission, free gifts or special activities! Open House Day is a great opportunity to not only re-visit your favorite CT spots, but to also discover new destinations you may have never had a chance to check out before. See below for activities in River Valley region and click here (http://bit.ly/ZtnHhA) to see a full list of all special events and offerings happening across the state. FULL LISTING OF EVENTS Bloomfield Old Farm School Free admission from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., visitors can tour the 1795 schoolhouse which was used until 1922. (860) 242-2953. http://www.bloomfieldcthistory.org Cheshire Hitchcock-Phillips House Free guided tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with an introductory video; visitors will receive a free historic postcard. An antique and collectible sale will be on the grounds. (203) 272-2574. http://www.cheshirehistory.org Chester Chester / Hadlyme Ferry From 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., visitors can ride for free aboard Selden III, the second oldest continuously operating ferry service in the state, which crosses the scenic Connecticut River near Gillette Castle State Park. (860) 526-2743. http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?a=1390&Q=499780&PM=1 Clinton Adam Stanton House & General Store Free admission from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. with complimentary lemonade. (860) 669-2132. http://www.stantonmuseum.org East Haddam East Haddam Historical Society Museum Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Visitors receive a complimentary Gillette Castle mug and refreshments will be served. (860) 873-3944. http://www.easthaddamhistory.org Gillette Castle State Park Free admission from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. (860) 526-2336. http://www.ct.gov/deep/gillettecastle Goodspeed Opera House From 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., enjoy free tours of the historic Victorian theater built in 1876 and celebrating their 50th anniversary. (860) 873-8668. http://www.goodspeed.org Nathan Hale Schoolhouse Open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., with costumed interpreters and musket demonstrations. (860) 916-1804. http://www.connecticutSAR.org/sites/eh-schoolhouse.htm East Hartford Futtner’s Family Farm LLC Free prize drawing every hour from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Prizes valued at $15 to $20 each, include 10” hanging basket, flats of 48 plants and vegetables, potted herbs, mixed patio pot and more. Must be present for drawing and limited one prize per customer. (860) 569-4138. http://www.futtnerfarm.com Historical Society of East Hartford Free admission from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Take the opportunity to visit this site which is rarely open to the public. Site on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. (860) 528-0716. http://www.hseh.org East Windsor Connecticut Trolley Museum From 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., visitors receive half-price off regular admission. (860) 627-6540. http://www.ct-trolley.org Ellington Nellie McKnight Museum Free admission from 10 am. until 4 p.m. (860) 875-5804. http://www.ellingtonhistsoc.org Essex Connecticut River Museum Open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., offering half price admission for visitors. (860) 767-8269. http://www.ctrivermuseum.org Essex Steam Train & Riverboat All Connecticut children ages 11 and under can enjoy a free ride on the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat when accompanied by an adult. Free children’s tickets can be claimed at the ticket booth. Trips depart at 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm. First come, first serve. (860) 767-0103. http://www.essexsteamtrain.com/ Farmington Hill-Stead Museum Two for one admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. (860) 677-4787. http://www.hillstead.org Glastonbury Welles Shipman Ward House Free admission from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. (860) 633-4572. www.hsgct.org Granby Maple View Farm Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Home to horses, cows, goats, pigs and chickens. Check out the Farm Store. (860) 655-2036. http://www.mapleviewhorsefarm.com Guilford Henry Whitfield State Museum Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. “Puritans at Play,” all ages are invited to participate in games from the 17th century. (203) 453-2457. http://www.cultureandtourism.org Medad Stone Tavern Museum Free admission from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. (203) 453-2263. http://www.guilfordkeepingsociety.com Thomas Griswold House Museum Free admission from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. (203) 453-3176. http://www.guilfordkeepingsociety.com Yolo Laser Center & Med Spa Stop by for a free gift from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. (203) 533-4560. http://www.yolomedspa.com Haddam Connecticut River Expeditions RiverQuest will be offering a special reduced admission of $5 per person for an hour cruise on the Connecticut River. Cruises depart at 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 12:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. (860) 662-0577. http://www.ctriverquest.com Thankful Arnold House Free admission from noon until 4 p.m. with special activities and refreshments. (860) 345-2400. http://www.haddamhistory.org Hartford Bushnell Park Carousel Free ride for the first 100 visitors. Carousel (at 1 Jewell St.) will be open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. (860) 585-5411. http://www.thecarouselmuseum.org Butler-McCook House & Garden Free admission from noon until 4 p.m. (860) 522-1806. http://www.ctlandmarks.org Church of the Good Shepherd Garden dedication and presentations of “Elizabeth Colt and Coltsville Contribution to America’s Pastime,” a tribute to Hartford’s baseball history and the women who helped make it possible. Visitors receive a 20% discount on Coltsville vintage baseball caps. Activities from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. (860) 956-9465. http://www.friendsofvintagebaseball.org/event_20130608.html Connecticut Historical Society Free admission from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., with a poetry reading at 2 p.m. from Dennis Barone’s Garnet Poems. (860) 236-5621. http://www.chs.org Connecticut’s Old State House Free admission from noon until 4 p.m at 800 Main Street. (860) 522-6766. http://www.ctosh.org Governor’s Residence Enjoy some Italian Ice served on the patio from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m at 990 Prospect Ave. (860) 523-7014 Harriet Beecher Stowe Center Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Join in the celebration of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 202nd birthday with house and garden tours, horse and carriage rides, plein air painting, craft activities, meet President Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Beecher Stowe, and free birthday cake for all. (860) 522-9258. http://www.harrietbeecherstowe.org Isham-Terry House Free admission from noon until 4 p.m. (860) 255-1984. http://www.ctlandmarks.org Theaterworks Open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The exhibit, Mix Us features a group of mixed media artists, who will be available to talk about their work. (860) 527-7838. http://www.theaterworkshartford.org Watermark Press From 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., offering visitors refreshments, educational literature, demonstrations on printmaking techniques, raffle for art supplies, and discount on classes and workshops. (860) 233-2286. http://www.watermarkprs.com Ivoryton Museum of Fife & Drum Free admission from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Visit the only museum showing America on parade. (860) 767-2237. http://www.companyoffifeanddrum.org Kensington New Britain Youth Museum at Hungerford Park Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (860) 827-9064. http://www.newbritainyouthmuseum.org Madison Deacon John Grave House Free guided tours from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., leaving every half hour, along with hearth cooking demonstrations. (203) 421-3236. http://www.deaconjohngrave.org Lee’s Academy Free admission from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. On view, The Business of Leisure: Madison Welcomes its Summer Colony, focusing on the transformation of Madison from an agricultural community to a summer destination. (203) 245-4567. http://www.madisoncthistorical.org Manchester Cheney Hall From 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., take a free tour of the historic theater, now home to Little Theater of Manchester, along with a craft and artisan fair. (860) 647-9824. http://www.cheneyhall.org Cheney Homestead & Keeney Schoolhouse Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tour the family home of the Cheney brothers, founders of the silk mills. The original farmhouse with antique furniture and clocks and visit the one-room schoolhouse. Site on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. (860) 647-9983. http://www.manchesterhistory.org Lutz Children’s Museum Free admission from noon until 5 p.m., including “Touch-a-Truck” where visitors can climb inside big trucks and heavy equipment. (860) 643-0949. http://www.lutzmuseum.org Manchester History Center Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Featuring Loom Room exhibit; children’s activities, view the c.1895 machine shop of the Cheney brothers silk manufacturing company building and “Great Lawn” walking tour at noon. Site on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. (860) 647-9983. http://www.manchesterhistory.org Old Manchester Museum Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Featuring exhibits related to Manchester and Connecticut history; museum store. Site on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. (860) 647-9742. http://www.manchesterhistory.org Woodbridge Farmstead Free admission and memorabilia table open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Property listed National Register of Historic Places and former Meadowbrook Dairy Farm with original farmhouse and barns. Tours at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Site on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. (860) 647-9742. http://www.manchesterhistory.org Middletown General Joseph Mansfield House Free admission from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. (860) 346-0746. http://www.middlesexhistory.org Green Street Arts Center Open from noon until 4 p.m., offering a special art exhibit and several hands-on arts, math and science activities for the children. (860) 685-7871. http://www.wesleyan.edu/greenstreet Wesleyan Potters From 12 noon until 4 p.m. the center will have free craft project for children, raku firing demonstration, garden sculpture tour and sale. (860) 347-5925. http://www.wesleyanpotters.com New Britain New Britain Industrial Museum For the first time in its 18 year history, the museum will be open on Saturdays and the first official Saturday is on Connecticut Open House Day. Open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. with free admission. Activities include ribbon cutting at 10 a.m., complimentary refreshments and small souvenir for visitors. (860) 832-8654. http://www.nbindustrial.org New Britain Museum of American Art Free admission from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., museum opens until 5 p.m. (860) 229-0257. http://www.nbmaa.org Old Saybrook General William Hart House & Gardens Free admission from noon until 4 p.m., with book signings, poetry reading, and complimentary refreshments. (860) 395-1635. http://www.saybrookhistory.org Portland Ruth Callander House Museum Free admission from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Exhibits feature the importance of farming, quarrying and shipbuilding of the town’s history. New exhibit, People of Portland, is about river crossing and celebrating the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Arrigoni Bridge with special refreshments. (860) 342-5455. http://www.portlandhistsoc.org Brownstone Park Open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., offering 20% off Adventure and Wakeboard entrance passes. (860) 342-2260. http://www.brownstonepark.com Rocky Hill Academy Hall Museum Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. (860) 563-6704. http://www.rochyhillhistory.wordpress.com Dinosaur State Park Free admission from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (860) 529-5816. http://www.ct.gov/deep/dinosaurstatepark Great Meadows Conservation Trust Take a free ride across the Connecticut River on the nation’s oldest ferry service. On both sides of the Connecticut River, there will be live music, refreshments, and information booths. (860) 202-0219. http://www.gmct.org Rocky Hill / Glastonbury Ferry From 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., visitors can ride for free aboard the Hollister III, an open flatboat that is towed across the Connecticut River by the towboat Cumberland. This ferry is the nation’s oldest continuously operating ferry service. (860) 563-9758. http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?a=1390&Q=501574&PM=1 Rocky Hill Riverfront Preservation Society Take a free ride across the Connecticut River on the nation’s oldest ferry service. On both sides of the Connecticut River, there will be live music, refreshments, and information booths. (860) 202-0219. http://www.rhrfps.com Simsbury Simsbury Historical Society - Phelps Tavern Museum Free tours of the museum from noon until 4 p.m. (860) 658-2500. http://www.simsburyhistory.org Southington Southington Historical Society Free admission from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Site on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. (860) 621-4811. http://www.southingtonhistory.org Suffield Hilltop Farm Free admission from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Featuring family farm day with games for children, exhibits and farm tools. http://www.fofah.com King House Museum Open from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., will complimentary guided tours and refreshments. (860) 668-5256. http://www.suffieldhistoricalsociety.org Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden Free admission from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. (860) 668-0055. http://www.ctlandmarks.org Vernon Community Arts Center Open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., offering free live entertainment and 10% discount on gift shop purchases and VCAC logo t-shirts. (860) 871-8222. http://www.vernonarts.org Wallingford Paradise Hills Vineyard & Winery Open from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m., offering free children’s activities (noon-1 p.m.), hay rides (1 p.m.-3 p.m.), live entertainment with Dizzy Fish (3 p.m.-6 p.m.), and raffle drawing throughout the day. (203) 284-0123. http://www.paradisehillsvineyard.com West Hartford Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society Open from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. and offering a variety of fun 18th-century games. Site on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. (860) 521-5362. http://www.noahwebsterhouse.org West Haven Ward-Heitmann House Museum Free admission from noon until 4 p.m. to both the house and the blacksmith shop. (203) 937-9823. http://www.wardheitmann.org Wethersfield Captain James Francis House Free admission form 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Tour the historic home that is very rarely open to the public. (860) 529-7656. http://www.wethhist.org Cove Warehouse Free admission from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. (860) 529-7656. http://www.wethhist.org Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center Free admission from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. with free outdoor activities including live animal demonstrations. (860) 721-2980. http://www.ebwnaturecenter.org Hurlbut-Dunham House Free admission from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. (860) 529-7656. http://www.wethhist.org Keeney Memorial Cultural Center Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. (860) 529-7161. http://www.wethhist.org Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., visitors receive a 50% off the regular admission to the museum’s three house tour. Last tour at 3 p.m. (860) 529-0612. http://www.webb-deane-stevens.org Windsor Windsor Historical Society Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. (860) 688-3813. http://www.windsorhistoricalsociety.org
