The 18th-century mansion of the Webb Deane Stevens Museum offers visitors to Hartford, CT, a fascinating taste of history. Located on Main Street in the heart of the city, this museum is an exploration into the lives of three generations of the Webb and Deane families who lived in this mansion from 1752 until the 1940s. The museum is open for visitors six days a week (closed Mondays) and provides an engaging educational experience for all ages. The museum offers a wide range of educational programs and tours, from visiting school groups to special events. It is also home to special exhibitions and displays that showcase the area’s rich history. Through these activities, the museum serves as a platform for exploring the many intersections between the past and present. Information can be found here.
The permanent collection at the Webb Deane Stevens Museum includes furniture, memorabilia, textiles, artwork, and much more. Visitors can learn about the lives of the Webb and Deane families through objects such as clothing, household items, books, and tools. They can also view portraits of past generations and see the beautiful architecture of 19th-century Hartford. In addition to its permanent collection, the museum also hosts rotating special exhibits that focus on various aspects of the region’s history. Past exhibits have included “The Armory and its Furniture,” “Hartford Printmakers,” and “The Story of Twiggs Plantation.” These exhibits, along with the permanent collection, reveal a nuanced picture of our region’s past. One of the highlights of the museum is the period rooms, which have been decorated to reflect the lifestyle of the families who lived in the house. Each room showcases carefully collected furniture, decorations, and art that evoke the period. Visitors can also explore the grounds of the museum, which include a Federal Period garden, a carriage house, and a host of other period buildings that might appear in old family photos. See here for information about A Bright Cultural Center: Exploring Keeney Memorial Cultural Center in Hartford, Connecticut.