Spots I've Visited On The Connecticut Women's Heritage Trail

Did you know that Connecticut has a Women’s Heritage Trail? The trail highlights the stories and contributions of Connecticut’s women throughout history. It features fourteen historic sites throughout the state where you can learn about some of Connecticut’s strong female figures, whose stories often get overlooked. I haven’t been to every site yet, but these are the ones I have managed to get to!

The Florence Griswold Museum

A two-story yellow house with green shutters, white trim, and two brick chimneys is partially obscured by a leafy bush in the foreground. — The Florence Griswold House. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

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The Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut is a spot on this list I regularly visit. It’s a great spot for anyone who loves art, history, and natural beauty. The museum grounds are situated along the Lieutenant River and the beautiful Florence Griswold House is a part of the museum.

Daisies in front of a white-pillared porch overlook a grassy lawn, trees, and a river under a cloudy sky. — Views of the Lieutenant River from Café Flo, which is on the grounds of the museum. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

After Florence Griswold was left her family home as an unmarried woman, she turned it into a boarding house to help pay for the upkeep of the house. Florence Griswold and her boarding house became the heart of the Lyme Art Colony, which was one of the most significant art colonies in the United States. The colony was a center for American Impressionism and Tonalism.

A sepia-toned photo of a seated woman next to a quote praising her hospitality, attributed to Arthur Heming from “Miss Florence and the Artists of Old Lyme.”. — Quote about Florence Griswold inside the Florence Griswold House. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

The museum has a lot of great events throughout the year like the Wee Faerie Village and Holiday Magic at the Florence Griswold Museum. But, there’s really no bad time to visit this great museum.

Discover more things to do in the area: Things To Do In Old Lyme, Connecticut

The Old State House

Historic brick building with a clock tower, surrounded by modern office buildings, under a clear blue sky.

The Old State House is located in the heart of downtown Hartford, which is Connecticut’s state capital. Built in 1796, it is one of the oldest state houses in the United States. Both guided and self-guided tours are offered of the Old State House.

During your visit, you’ll learn about the stories of Connecticut women who made lasting impacts. Some of the women you’ll learn about are Hannah Bunce Watson, Prudnce Crandall, Frances Ellen Burr, and Emily Seymour Goodwin Holcombe.

This spot is also on the Connecticut Haunted History Trail, which features over 130 spots across the state.

Prudence Crandall Museum

A two-story, cream-colored historic house with a central green door and a flower bed of red and yellow chrysanthemums in the foreground.

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 nighttime mob attack.

Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum

A wooden staircase with painted green steps, a large wall mirror, a black wooden bench, and tall windows letting in natural light. — Interior of the Silas Deane House, which is a part of the museum. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum in Wethersfield is operated by the National Society of Colonial Dames of America, a preservation organization founded by Elizabeth Hart Jarvis Colt in 1893. Colt, from Hartford, was a devoted preservationist whose leadership helped ensure that important sites connected to Connecticut’s history would be protected and interpreted for future generations.

This museum is also on the Connecticut Revolutionary War Trail. Joseph and Abigail Webb hosted important meetings at their home, such as meetings between George Washington and French General Rochambeau. Elizabeth Deane played an active role in managing her household and entertaining important visitors (such as John Adams and George Washington) while her husband Silas served as a diplomat and delegate to the Continental Congress.

Windham Textile & History Museum

This museum explores the history of Willimantic’s textile mills during the Industrial era. One thing I personally thought was so interesting about visiting this museum is that it shows the stark contrast between how the mill workers lived versus the mill owners.

The woman attached to this mill history is Betty Tianti, who was a Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame inductee, labor leader, and state legislator. She began working in Willimantic’s textile mills as a young girl, and that experience was the basis for her lifelong commitment to helping working people. She became a prominent organizer and advocate for fair wages, safer workplaces, and social justice.

Discover more things to do in the area: Things To Do and Places To Eat in Windham, Connecticut

The Kate

The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, also known as The Kate, is a great spot to visit in downtown Old Saybrook. It is located in the town’s historic 1911 town hall and theater. This spot hosts live music, theater, film, cultural programs, and arts-education opportunities for young people.

The center honors Katharine Hepburn, who was a well-known actress and Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame inductee. She was born in Hartford in 1907, and she spent childhood summers at her family’s Fenwick home in Old Saybrook. She returned to Fenwick as a permanent resident until her death in 2003.

The Katharine Hepburn Museum is located next to the theater lobby, and it offers an intimate look at her life and career. Inside the museum, you’ll see letters, photographs, home movies, costumes, wardrobe pieces, awards, and other memorabilia.

There are also exhibits dedicated to remarkable women in her family, including her mother and namesake, Katharine Houghton Hepburn. Her mother was a leading Connecticut reformer, and she served as president of the Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association, advocated for women’s voting rights, and later worked to expand access to birth control.

Discover more to do in the area: Things To Do in Old Saybrook, Connecticut

The Bush-Holley House

A large two-story white house with green shutters, wraparound porch, and multiple flags, surrounded by trees and a stone wall. — The Bush-Holley House. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

This building is a part of Greenwich Historical Society’s campus. During your visit, you’ll learn about the Bush family who lived there during the Revolutionary War and the Holley family who owned it later.

In 1882, Josephine and Edward Holley ran the home as a boarding house for artists and writers. It was a picturesque location that attracted creatives from New York City. Later, it became the center of Connecticut’s first Impressionist art colony. Josephine and Edward Holley’s daughter, Holley MacRae, later became the owner of the boarding house and she became a central figure in the Cos Cob Art Colony.

Discover more things to do in the area: Things To Do In Greenwich, Connecticut

The Thankful Arnold House

Two-story yellow colonial house with a shingled roof and dormer windows, surrounded by snow in winter. — The Thankful Arnold House. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

The Thankful Arnold House is in Haddam, which is a historic town located along the Connecticut River. During your visit to the house, you’ll learn the story of Thankful Arnold and her family. The museum highlights what life could look like for women under English common law, including the restrictions placed on property ownership and inheritance.

When Thankful’s husband died prematurely, she was only allotted one-third of her husband’s property, and the rest was put up for sale. Thankfully, her brother-in-law purchased the property and later sold it to Thankful’s son so it would stay in the family.

Hill-Stead Museum

A large white farmhouse with a stone wall and fall trees, viewed across a grassy field. — The Pope Riddle House at the Hill-Stead Museum. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

This museum is located in Farmington, Connecticut. The Pope Riddle House, which is the centerpiece of this museum and property, was designed by Theodate Pope Riddle. She was one of the first licensed female architects in the United States. The house featured the latest modern conveniences.

She was the daughter of the home’s original owner. During the first half of the 20th century, Theodate and her parents entertained well-known guests, including prominent writers, academics, artists, and even U.S. presidents.

The grounds of the museum are open daily from 8am to 5pm and are free to the public. You can visit the interior of the Pope Riddle House with guided tours. Be sure to check their website for dates and times.

Spots I Still Need To Visit

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, these are only the spots I’ve managed to visit. I’d love to be able to get to the rest of these by the end of next year. Below are the spots I haven’t made it to yet.