Greenwich Celebrates Its 380th Birthday Virtually

Press release from the Greenwich Historical Society:

July 14, 2020

COS COB, July 13, 2020 – The Town of Greenwich is celebrating its 380th birthday with a virtual celebration to commemorate its origins as one of the oldest and most distinguished communities in the nation. A key component of the celebration is a call to all residents to share their dream for the Town’s future.
“Our town has a long and rich history and in many ways mirrors that of our nation,” says Debra Mecky, Greenwich Historical Society Executive Director and CEO. “Our birthday is a fitting reminder that everyone plays a role in shaping our future. A more inclusive, diverse, and honestly told story will serve Greenwich with the integrity, truth, honor, compassion, and wisdom that comes with broad knowledge and active listening. To that end, we encourage residents to take a few minutes to reflect on our founding and share their hopes and dreams for the Greenwich of the future via MY WISH for GREENWICH portal. We hope these messages will help inspire a commitment to listen and learn from each other.”

Virtual Format Shines Spotlight on Little Known Greenwich Stories

Founders Day programming will include the time-honored reading of the deed and proclamation and the reveal of this year’s winners of the This Place Matters photo competition. Several new tours will be introduced: a docent-led Landscaping and Garden tour of the campus grounds and self-guided tours of Greenwich Point and the Revolutionary War. In addition, narratives will be shared that shaped the town over the centuries, even hundreds of years before the deed was signed in 1640.

“We’re taking a more expansive look at how our town and the Historical Society developed and asking residents to take part in the conversation,” says Mecky. “Pride of community, state and nation is codified in stories of origins. Our virtual format provides an ideal opportunity to learn from the past and imagine the future.”

Virtual content will be available on the Greenwich Historical Society website on Friday, July 17. Founders Day is Saturday, July 18.

This Place Matters Photo Contest Winners to be Unveiled

The top three entrants to the Historical Society’s contest that recognizes the many ways Greenwich residents and institutions are rising to the occasion during the pandemic will be announced. Judged by Greenwich Magazine Art Department editors, the winning photos will appear in a fall edition of Greenwich Magazine, Exclusive Magazine Sponsor of This Place Matters, and will be proudly displayed at the Greenwich Historical Society campus.

About Greenwich Historical Society

Greenwich Historical Society was founded in 1931 to preserve and interpret Greenwich history to strengthen the community’s connection to our past, to each other and to our future. The circa 1730 National Historic Landmark Bush-Holley House witnessed slavery and the American Revolution and became the site of Connecticut’s first American Impressionist art colony from 1890 to 1920. Its landscape and gardens are restored based on documentation from the site’s Impressionist era. The campus also includes a nationally accredited museum, library and archives, a museum store, café, and a community education center. Greenwich Historical Society educates thousands of school children annually and connects visitors to the history of this globally influential community through exhibitions, lectures, programs, and events. It receives no town funding and relies on donations and grants to continue its work in education and preservation. Learn more at greenwichhistory.org.

This press release was produced by the Greenwich Historical Society. The views expressed here are the author's own.