WETHERSFIELD, CT

Located south of Hartford along Connecticut River, is the charming town of Wethersfield, CT, a living and working community that is deeply devoted to preserving its authentic New England heritage, nearly 400 years in the making. Founded in 1633-1634, Wethersfield is one of the oldest towns in Connecticut. Heritage tourism is an important component of Wethersfield’s identity, and visitors to Wethersfield can rediscover our nation’s heritage in an authentic, living New England village whose historic homes, artifact-rich museums, shops, and places of interest offer experiences for all ages.

Old Wethersfield, also known as Old Wethersfield Historic District, and historically known as Watertown or Pyquag, is the historic section of Wethersfield and the largest historic district in Connecticut. Its two square miles contain approximately 1,100 buildings, with many of them dating all the way back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The site of the first permanent European-American settlement in the state of Connecticut, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. The village includes 50 houses that were built before the American Revolutionary War, plus about 250 additional houses built before the 20th century, about 100 of which were built earlier than the American Civil War.

With so much history around every corner in the Old Wethersfield neighborhood, first-time visitors usually discover the best place to start is at the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum which provides visitors with the quintessential New England experience including four remarkable historic homes.

Built in 1711, the Buttolph–Williams House is one of the oldest surviving houses in the town. It is open for regular tours between May and October. it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968 for its significance as an extremely well-preserved example of early colonial architecture.

The Joseph Webb House was designated a National Historic Landmark for its significance as the location of the General George Washington/Rochambeau (French commander) five-day military conference held in 1781 during the American Revolutionary War.

Built in 1766, The Silas Deane House is a National Historic Landmark and the former home of Silas Deane, the first foreign diplomat for the United States. The Isaac Stevens House depicts middle class family life in the 1820s and 30s, and includes a fascinating period toy exhibit.