Historic Sites in Connecticut

Connecticut’s historic sites offer a direct connection to the people, places, and events that helped shape the state and the nation. From colonial landmarks to later history, these sites make history tangible and accessible for visitors of all ages. This is by no means a “complete” list. Instead, it’s a list of historic sites in Connecticut that I’ve personally been to that are worth checking out.

Harkness Memorial State Park

Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford is one of the most popular parks in the state, and for good reason. This park was the former estate of Edward and Mary Harkness and it was left to the state after Mary’s passing. Today, it is a state park where visitors can enjoy the gardens, the beach, the mansion, and more. It’s a great spot to visit year-round.
Learn more about this park: Harkness Memorial State Park In Connecticut

Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park

This park in Groton is great to visit if you’re into war history. The historical park is the site of the largest Revolutionary War battle in Connecticut, the 1781 British massacre of the colonial militia. You can walk the grounds, check out the museum, and climb the monument tower.
Discover more to do in town: 10+ Things To Do In Groton, CT

London Harbor Lighthouse

Did you know that you can climb the oldest and tallest lighthouse in Connecticut and on Long Island Sound in New London? Many people think that this lighthouse is privately owned, but only the old lightkeeper’s house is privately owned. The New London Maritime Society offers tours of New London Harbor Light year-round.
Learn more about visiting this lighthouse: Climbing New London Harbor Lighthouse

Henry Whitfield State Museum

Built in 1638, this house in Guilford is considered to be Connecticut’s oldest house and the oldest stone house in New England. You’re able to tour inside of the house as well as explore some other buildings on the property. This is a great spot to visit if you’re interested in history and historic homes!
Discover more things to do in town: Things To Do In Guilford, CT

Mystic Seaport Museum

The Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic is one of the largest maritime museums in the world, showcasing the history of America’s seagoing past. Visitors can experience life in a 19th-century coastal community, including interacting with costumed interpreters and exploring historic vessels, such as the Charles W. Morgan, the last surviving wooden whaleship in the world.
Learn more about visiting: Spending The Day At The Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut

Sheffield Island Lighthouse

This granite, Victorian-style lighthouse sits on Sheffield Island in Norwalk at the entrance to Norwalk Harbor. The lighthouse was built in 1868. To visit this lighthouse, you can take the ferry that is run by the Norwalk Seaport Association. On the island, there’s also the ruins of a resort that was once on the island.
Learn more about visiting: Visiting Sheffield Island Lighthouse in Norwalk, CT

Nathan Lester House

The Nathan Lester House is a well-preserved 1793 farmhouse in Ledyard. The farmhouse sits on over 110 acres of land. You can tour the house and explore the grounds. The grounds have various trails to hike, a garden, the remains of the Ledyard Oak (it was believed to be over 400 years old and was a local landmark to native and colonial people alike), and an old cemetery.
Discover more things to do in town: Things To Do and Places To Eat In Ledyard, CT

Fort Trumbull State Park

Fort Trumbull has a legacy of service spanning two and a half centuries, from the American Revolution to World War II to the Cold War. It’s definitely worth a visit if you get the chance! There’s a great museum and you can actually go inside the fort as well. You get great views of the surrounding landscape from the top of the fort.
Discover more things to do in town: Things To Do In New London, Connecticut

Uncas Leap Heritage Park

Uncas Leap, also known as Indian Leap or Yantic Falls, is located in Norwich. This area was the site of the Battle of Great Plains between the Mohegan and Narragansett Tribes. In addition to this, the site has a nineteenth century mill ruin and a scenic waterfall.
Discover more things to do in town: Things to do in Norwich, Connecticut

Leffingwell House

The Leffingwell House in Norwich has a lot of history attached to it. It was built as a simple house in 1675. It evolved into a pre-Revolutionary tavern and by 1765 it was an elegant home. This house does a great job of demonstrating how houses were often expanded back then by adding existing homes to the structure. Oh, and George Washington visited and occasionally stayed at the Leffingwell House when it was a tavern!
Discover more house museums to visit in southeastern CT: Historic House Museums in Southeastern Connecticut

Gillette Castle State Park

Gillette Castle was once the home of William Gillette, who was known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. You can tour the castle, learn about William Gillette in the Visitor Center, or explore the beautiful grounds. The inside of this castle is so unique featuring so many intricate wood details.
Learn more about visiting this park: Gillette Castle State Park

Fort Shantok

There is a lot of history attached to Fort Shantok in Uncasville. It was the sacred ground of Uncas, one of the most prominent and influential Mohegan Indian leaders and statesmen of his era. The park land was the first site where the Mohegan people settled with Uncas. Additionally, Fort Shantok was used as a stronghold by the Mohegan leader Uncas when fending off an attack from the Narragansetts during 1645.
Learn more about visiting: Fort Shantok Park In Uncasville CT

Florence Griswold Museum

The Florence Griswold House has a ton of history. The house served as a boarding house for artists, and it was the center of an art colony in Old Lyme. In fact, it is known as the Home of American Impressionism. The first floor of the house serves as a house museum, and the second floor serves as more of an art gallery. Be sure to also explore the garden and the grounds!
Discover more things to do in the area: Things To Do In Old Lyme, Connecticut

Captain Nathaniel B. Palmer House

The Captain Nathaniel B. Palmer House in Stonington was built by two brothers, Captains Nathaniel Brown Palmer and Alexander Smith Palmer. The house was built in 1853 in a Victorian style. The inside of the house features exhibits about Nathaniel’s discovery of Antartica and the brothers’ adventurous lives. While the entire house is gorgeous, my favorite part of touring the house is going up to the cupola where you can enjoy some great water views.
Discover more things to do in the area: Things To Do In Stonington Connecticut

Dividend Pond Trails & Archaeological District

This park in Rocky Hill has a lot of beauty and history. The park features a waterfall that’s only a short walk from the parking area. In addition to the waterfall, there are 3 miles of trails you can explore. There are also some informational signs about the water-powered industrial complex with various mills that once thrived here.
Discover more waterfalls in the state: Don’t Miss These Stunning Waterfalls In Connecticut

Thomas Lee House

The Thomas Lee House is right up the road from the entrance to Rocky Neck State Park, but I don’t think many people know its there. Built in 1660, this house is one of the oldest wood frame houses in Connecticut that’s in its primitive state. In addition to the house, there’s a barn on the property that has some great exhibits about Nehantic Indians and Ezra Lee, who was the pilot of the Revolutionary War Submarine, The Turtle.
Discover more things to do in the area: 14 Things To Do In Niantic, Connecticut

Denison Homestead

This historic house in Mystic was built in 1717 and it was home to six generations of Denisons. It’s not often that homes of this age are able to stay in a family for hundreds of years. The house became a museum after the last Denison living in it, Ann Borodel Denison Gates, passed away in 1941. The museum features five distinctly furnished rooms that reflect different periods of American and Denison history.
Discover more things to do in the area: Things To Do & Places To Eat In Mystic, CT

Roseland Cottage

The Roseland Cottage is currently the only Historic New England Property in Connecticut. This beautiful summer home was built in 1846 in the Gothic Revival style and it’s a National Historic Landmark. It also features a stunning historic garden.

Webb Deane Stevens Museum

The Webb Deane Stevens Museum in Wethersfield actually gives you access to a guided tour of their three restored historic houses. The museum is located in the heart of historic Wethersfield, which was founded in 1632. This town has a lot of history to discover. George Washington actually spent time at the Webb House!

Governor Jonathan Trumbull House

The Governor Jonathan Trumbull House in Lebanon was built in 1735 and served as the home of Connecticut’s Revolutionary War governor, Jonathan Trumbull. During the war, it became a key meeting place for patriot leaders, including George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette. A visit to this house museum is really like stepping back in time. You can also visit the Wadsworth Stable, which was moved to the property from Hartford in the 1950s.

Weir Farm National Historical Park

The Weir Farm National Historic Site is in Wilton. This home on the property housed three generations of artists, beginning with the Impressionist painter Julian Alden Weir in 1882. The house was restored to circa 1940. It’s open for tours seasonally and it contains many original paintings, furnishings, and decorative objects.

Talcott Mountain State Park

Talcott Mountain State Park in Simsbury is the site of Heublein Tower. The tower was built in 1914 by Gilbert F. Heublein after he promised his wife he’d build her a castle on the top of Talcott Mountain. The tower was used as a summer retreat to escape the hustle and bustle of Hartford. Later, the tower was acquired by the Hartford Times and they used it to host social gatherings. Some notable guests from those social gatherings include Ronald Reagan and General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Putnam Memorial State Park

This park in Redding is the site of the Continental Army’s 1779 winter encampment under the command of General Israel Putnam. The park has the encampment’s remains, reconstructed log buildings, and a museum. The park also hosts historical reenactments, guided tours, and more throughout the year.

Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine

Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine in East Granby was the first chartered copper mine and the first state prison. Today, it is a history museum. The site lets visitors explore underground tunnels, historic prison cells, and stories of early justice and industry.

Prudence Crandall Museum

The Prudence Crandall Museum in Canterbury tells the powerful story of one woman’s stand for equality in the face of overwhelming opposition. The museum preserves the home where Prudence Crandall opened one of the first schools for African American girls in the United States. Many people opposed it and there was a lot of pushback from the state and people in town, including a a nighttime mob attack.

Elizabeth Park

Elizabeth Park in West Hartford is home to America’s oldest public rose garden. The land that the park is on was originally a private estate owned by financier Charles Murray Pond, who donated it to the City of Hartford upon his death in 1894. He donated it with the stipulation that it be named for his late wife, Elizabeth. The park has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983.

Mark Twain House

The Mark Twain House in Hartford gives you a chance to explore the home where Mark Twain wrote some of his most famous works, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Guided tours walk you through the beautifully decorated rooms while sharing stories about Twain’s life, family, and humor. The visit also includes a museum center with exhibits that help explain his impact on American literature and history.