Come join the fun, rain or shine, at the 30th Annual Ice Cream Social held under the big tent on the grounds of the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society, Sunday, June 2nd from 1:00-4:00 pm. Stop by for a variety of refreshing ice cream flavors donated by Baskin-Robbins. Members of the Exchange Club will be on hand to do the scooping. The New Canaan and Canaan Parish Chapters of the National Charity League will provide the delicious homemade cakes…

Donna Gorman, board governor and owner of SeeDesign, Inc., conceived of, and curated, Shoes, an extensive exhibition of men’s, women’s and children’s shoes. Drawn from the Museum’s 400 pairs, she selected 200 based on a number of factors including age, condition, originality, and function. Come see early galoshes, sneakers, beaded heels, dancing shoes, furry sleigh boots, and much more. Learn about the shoe industry in New Canaan that thrived for more than 100 years and helped shape the downtown commercial…

Penny Havard, Clothing and Textile Curator, will give a guided tour of the new exhibition Shoes, which celebrates the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society’s extensive collection, on Wednesday, June 5th at 2:00 pm. There will be two additional tours on Wednesday, June 26th at 2:00 pm and on Saturday, July 13th at 10:30 am. The tour is free to members, and $10 for non-members. Reservations are required. Please call the Historical Society at (203) 966-1776 ext. 3, or email…

In conjunction with the Shoes exhibition now open at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society, The Mystique of Shoes luncheon with design director and author Linda O’Keeffe will be held June 20th, 12 - 2 pm. O’Keeffe has been championing design for more than three decades, most notable during the sixteen years she spent as creative director for Metropolitan Home. She now writes for a variety of magazines. Her book Shoes is in its 25th edition, and will be…

The inaugural New Canaan History Day celebration will take place on Sunday, September 29, from 2:00- 4:00 pm on the grounds of the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society. Museum buildings will be open with knowledgeable docents in the Hearth and Craft rooms of the Hanford-Silliman House, the Tool Museum, Rock School and Cody Pharmacy. See the Acorn Printing Press in action and enjoy family friendly activities, including making corn husk dolls, lemonade and butter. Games—hoop rolling, hop scotch and…

Torrance York will talk about her work in conversation with Art Historian and Independent Curator, Arianne Faber Kolb, PhD, on Thursday, October 3rd at 6:00 pm at Gores Pavilion in Irwin Park, New Canaan, CT. The discussion will focus on York’s current solo exhibition, Common Ground: Irwin, that includes twelve landscape photographs created in Irwin Park over the past 4 years. The exhibit will be on display in the Gores Pavilion in Irwin Park until November 3, 2019. A closing…

Mike Tiani, Historian for the New Canaan Fire Company, curates a special exhibition in honor of Fire Prevention Awareness Month at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society. The show opens Saturday, October 5. Antique Fire Trucks will be on display from 10 am– 12 pm. Chronicling 140 years of the Fire Company’s history, the exhibition includes photographs, memorabilia, medals, uniforms and other artifacts. It celebrates the volunteers and explores the central role they played, and continue to play, in…

The New Canaan Museum and Historical Society presents Ponus: The Man & the Monument on Sunday, October 27 at 4 pm. Patricia Funt Oxman, who has given tours of local cemeteries in past years, focuses this year on the Ponus Monument, located on the corner of Davenport Ridge Road and Ponus Ridge. The monument is thought to be the tomb of Ponus, Sachem of the Toquam Tribe, and was unveiled in an elaborate ceremony in 1897. Ponus, a Chief, who…

The New Canaan Museum & Historical Society presents an impressive new exhibition, Northeast Waterscapes: Artists Explore Oceans, Rivers, Harbors, with an opening reception on Friday, November 1, from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. The reception is free to members, and $10 for all others. The display is drawn from the personal collection of New Canaan resident and art collector Tom Davies. It features 62 paintings highlighting oceans, rivers, lakes and harbors of the Northeast. Through these paintings, Davies explores society’s fascination…

Join Dede Bartlett at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society for a luncheon and discussion about the family stories behind the antiques and other objects we have in our homes, on Tuesday, November 12, from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm. Perhaps the worth of an item is not its market value but its historic value. Who used it and for what? How many generations passed it down? What significance does it have to the family lore? Dede will share…

In conjunction with their current exhibition, NORTHEAST WATERSCAPES: Artists Explore Oceans, Rivers, Harbors, The New Canaan Museum & Historical Society presents a special evening with noted artist T. M. Nicholas: Painting Water on Tuesday, November 19 at 6:30 pm in The Lindstrom Room. The exhibition features 60 works of art dating from 1838 to 1977 and focuses on New England and New York state. Nicholas will select works from the show to illustrate the complexities of painting water in constant…

The New Canaan Museum & Historical Society’s new exhibition Hat Madness opens on Sunday, December 8 with a reception from 1:30 – 3:00 pm. The show explores the history of hats, hat design and hat-making with over 65 hats from its extensive clothing and textile collection. From the simple bonnets worn in Colonial times to stunning pieces of art that were popular in the 1920s to the “Pussy Cap” of the 2017 Women’s March, this exhibition spans more than 200…

Singer and actor Dr. Richard Weidlich returns to the New Canaan Museum & Historical to lead holiday caroling on Sunday, December 8 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm. Jenna Dosch will accompany on keyboard. The event is sponsored by Amy and Fabio Freyre and is in partnership with Staying Put in New Canaan. Dr. Weidlich has performed in opera, operetta and musical theater, as well as with symphonies and chamber ensembles. He is a professor at Sacred Heart University, teaching music…

The New Canaan Museum & Historical Society’s new exhibition TALKING SHOP explores New Canaan’s long and rich retail history. It highlights many of the stores in New Canaan from the 19th century to the mid-1970s. The exhibition features the independent and family owned shops that have been the backbone of this community for generations. The show shares the stories of these local shops through photographs, ephemera and artifacts. Stores such as Silliman's Hardware that closed its doors in 1981 after…

The New Canaan Museum & Historical Society’s new exhibition TALKING SHOP explores New Canaan’s long and rich retail history. It highlights many of the stores in New Canaan from the 19th century to the mid-1970s. The exhibition features the independent and family owned shops that have been the backbone of this community for generations. Curator, antique dealer and former New Canaan shop owner, Patricia Funt Oxman will lead Gallery Discussions on the following dates: Thursday, January 30 - 10:30 am,…

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society’s tea on Friday, February 14th at 1 pm. Enjoy tea, prosecco, refreshments and a performance by The Town Players of New Canaan. Dressed in costumes from the 1940s, the actors will surround the microphone and perform a nostalgic routine from their Old-Time Radio Theater Live show that promises to bring romance back to life. The New Canaan and Canaan Parish Chapters of the National Charity League will prepare and…

The 3rd annual New Canaan Art, Antique, and Jewelry Show to benefit the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society will be held on March 7th and 8th in the Historical Society’s main building at 13 Oenoke Ridge in New Canaan. An eclectic group of dealers will offer a wide selection of art and antique items. There will be paintings, prints, maps, silver, jewelry, watches, decorative pieces and much more. Among the dealers will be Gil Rodriguez, back again this year…

Lifelong New Canaan resident, Wilma Shaw Deicas, will share memories about growing up on her family’s dairy farm on March 10, at 11 am at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society. She will highlight stories from her book Life on a Dairy Farm in New Canaan, Connecticut. The book includes 25 photos beginning in 1902, and may be purchased exclusively at the Historical Society for $5 each. Wilma graduated from New Canaan High School in 1952, and was in…

Why did Benedict Arnold go bad? Find out as Jim Bach, one of New Canaan’s favorite historians, presents American Betrayal, the saga of a turncoat, at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society on March 29 at 4 pm. Bach’s presentation takes a look at the many events and personal shortcomings that brought about Benedict Arnold’s ultimate treason. You’ll hear how General George Washington, British Major Andre and our local hero Major Tallmadge had roles in what led to Arnold’s…

The New Canaan Museum & Historical Society will be reopening to the public on June 23rd. Tours of the house museums, including the Cody Pharmacy, the Hanford-Silliman House, the Rock School, the Tool Museum and the Little Red Schoolhouse, will be available to individuals or families that have been sheltering in place together by appointment. The research library will be open with limited capacity so reservations are recommended. Visitors will be asked to wear masks and have their temperatures taken;…

A curation of unusual clothing, accessories & home goods for everyone on your list. Featuring wreaths and flowers by Penny Karvounis Flowers. Weds Dec 8th from 12-6pm Thursday Dec 9th from 10am-3pm New Canaan Museum & Historical Society 13 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan www.choixhome.com www.pennykarvounisflowers.com

Dr. Kara Charles Felt will speak VIA ZOOM on March 3 @ 7 pm Frances Benjamin Johnston (1864-1952) was a groundbreaking American photographer who specialized in photojournalism and portraiture before forging a career in garden photography, which brought her to Waveny circa 1915. Dr. Felt's talk will investigate not only how Johnston was a pioneering photographer in her own right, but also how she tirelessly championed other women who became photographers in increasing numbers in the early twentieth century. Kara…

The Reverend Dr. Justin Crisp will discuss the history of the enslaved African people who worshipped in, and contributed to the founding of, the Episcopal Society in Canaan Parish, eventually known as St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Many colonial Anglicans were slaveholders. Anglican missionaries in British colonies both benefited financially from slavery and sought to evangelize enslaved people. Enslaved African Anglicans argued and fought for their freedom on the basis of their baptisms. Come hear how all these histories shaped the…

Save the Date!!! Step into Summer returns!!!A fun event to welcome in Summer, and support the NC Museum &Historical Society. Enjoy fabulous food prepared by Diane Browne, dancing to the music of DogHouse, and a tequila tasting on the historic trail. Plus be the first to see the opening of "I Do: The History of Wedding Fashion and Tradition," a fabulous exhibition featuring a selection from the Museum's permanent collection of 220 wedding dresses.

New Canaan Community Foundation and New Canaan Museum & Historical Society invite all to attend two special exhibits on Tuesday, June 7th from 10am-12pm. Join us for coffee and to get to know the Foundation better! Refreshments will be served and docents will be available to answer any questions on your self-guided tour.

The talk will highlight a group of 18th-century gowns made from drawloom-woven silks that have histories of ownership to New England women. What becomes clear is that these garments were not new at the times of the ascribed weddings, and many exhibit signs of alterations years after the wedding dates. The reasons behind these unexpected discoveries are contextualized within 18th-century fashion history and more modern ideas about family heirlooms. David E. (Ned) Lazaro is the Associate Curator of Costume and…

Join us for a 2-mile walking tour of downtown New Canaan. Learn about the history of the town and some of its significant architecture, and explore inside four of its sacred spaces. Knowledgeable guides will share stories of the people and events that helped shape New Canaan, and point out some hidden gems in the Historic District, God’s Acre, and beyond. The tour is free, takes approximately two hours, and ends with refreshments at the New Canaan Historical Society. Parking…

Join us for a 2-mile walking tour of downtown New Canaan. Learn about the history of the town and some of its significant architecture, and explore inside four of its sacred spaces. Knowledgeable guides will share stories of the people and events that helped shape New Canaan, and point out some hidden gems in the Historic District, God’s Acre, and beyond. The tour is free, takes approximately two hours, and ends with refreshments at the New Canaan Historical Society. Parking…

This docent-led tour explores three of New Canaan’s finest architectural gems: The Glass House designed by Philip Johnson, SANAA’s Grace Farms, and Eliot Noyes’ home. Visit these architectural masterpieces, learn about the architects and what inspired them, and enjoy a drive through bucolic New Canaan. (Transportation will be provided and there is ample parking at the Museum for those arriving by car.) The event concludes with a wine and cheese reception at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society. Tickets…

Susan Gunn Bromley will lead a tour of the exhibit on December 8th beginning at 11:00am. The two exhibitions include over 120 works of art drawn from museums and private collections. Sculptures by Solon Borglum, a founder of the colony, and paintings, pastels, drawings and prints by 22 additional members explore the exceptional diversity of style and technique they retained. Curated by Susan Gunn Bromley and Ed Vollmer, the NCM&HS exhibit is the most in-depth exhibition produced on the colony.…

Join rugmaking historian and owner of Ribbon Candy Hooking Deanna Davis for a workshop on “The Romance and History of the Hooked Rug.” Deanna will discuss the distinctly North American craft of rug hooking through a collection of antique and modern examples. The talk will be followed by a class where participants will hook a rug pattern based on the 'The 1880 Flower Vase', an extraordinary 19th century hooked rug from the Hanford-Silliman house. Learn this simple, old-time textile art…

The New Canaan Museum & Historical Society welcomes ArtScapades with a lecture that ties in with their current exhibition. ArtScapades will look at the lives and works of three African American artists who worked during the early 20th century, the time of the Great Migration out of the South. Horace Pippin, Archibald John Motley Jr., and Aaron Douglas were of the beginnings of an intellectual and cultural renaissance of African American art, music, dance, fashion, literature, theater, and politics centered…

This exhibition celebrates the glamour and glitter of a hundred years of evening dress with breath-taking selections from the Museum’s clothing and textile collection. Gowns and more gowns, along with a selection of coats, shoes, hats, accessories, and men’s wear, will be on display in The Susan Bishop Gallery. Highlights include a beautifully conserved green velvet House of Worth gown c. 1880, a turquoise silk 1964 Balenciaga dress and matching coat, and even a silk and velvet dress worn to…

A fundraiser to benefit the New Canaan Museum and Historical Society. Dinner by Diane Browne Catering. Tunes by DJ Dance to the Music. Tickets available for purchase here https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=A6HLLUZ6A3D7W

Enjoy music from the Town Band, cakes baked by the National Charity Leagues, ice cream scooped by members of the Exchange Club, children’s games, Gofer’s ice cream, and vintage cars on the lawn. The event is free and open to all.

The NCM&HS welcomes ArtScapades with a lecture that ties in with their current exhibit: 'Oh What a Night:A Century of Evening Wear." ArtScapades will look at the history of fashion in art, and works of art that highlight fashion, ranging from the most basic to the most coveted garments and accoutrements. We will discuss how depictions of clothing in art address many aspects of a culture, from social structures and gender roles to daily activities. ArtScapades will look at works…

The documentary film, "The First Monday in May" offers a behind the scenes look at the 2015 Metropolitan Museum of Art Gala and Spring Exhibition, China: Through the Looking Glass. The film chronicles the year long exhibit curation, which as of 2016, was the most visited exhibit in the Costume Institute's history. Featured in the film are style icons Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, Vera Wang and John Galliano, as well as artists Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna and Baz Luhrmann. Following…

Circle, Square, Triangle explores the architecture of midcentury modernist Myron Goldfinger. This extensive exhibition features models and photographs of Goldfinger's extensive body of work. A panel discussion moderated by George Smart of US Modernist begins at 2:30. The event is free and open to all. The exhibit will remain on display until 12/31/23

New Canaan, whose architecture spans from the colonial to the contemporary, is the perfect setting for a discussion on the intersection of traditional and modern styles. Interior designer Christina Roughan and architect Thomas Kligerman share how their work links interior design and architecture across this stylistic gap and how a clever handling of the two extremes can yield a rich and rewarding interpretation of new residential design." Christina Roughan founded her acclaimed international design firm Roughan Interiors in 2009 with offices in Fairfield County CT and NYC.  Designing since 1994, Roughan began her design career…

A seated lunch with wine catered by Diane Browne. The keynote address is "Getting the Sack - Understanding a Late 1950s Garment." It proposes to analyze the sack dress within the context of American fashion during the fall of 1957 and spring of 1958. The modern garment, featuring an undefined waistline that abstracted the female body beneath, was both extremely popular and extremely controversial. The uproar against the style has become legendary, but to term the style a failure glosses…

The Museum's famous biennial tour of midcentury modern homes in New Canaan returns. The day starts with registration from 10:30-11:30, and an opportunity to see Circle, Triangle, Square: The architecture of Myron Goldfinger on exhibit at the Museum, as well as the restored reredos at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. Lunch follows with keynote speaker Jorge Otero-Pailos, Director and Professor of Historic Preservation at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. Participants will then board small buses to visit…

New Canaan is filled with some of the best examples of Mid-Century Modern architecture. But that was 60-70 ago and architecture has certainly moved on. Frederick Noyes will discuss why we keep going back to look at this period, why it was so important—and where we go from here. The lecture is free and open to all. Frederick Noyes, FAIA, has spent his professional life immersed in his passions of architecture, biology, and education. He trained at Harvard: an AB…

The New Canaan Museum and Historical Society welcomes ArtScapades to present Pop!: Art From the 1950s to the 1960s Pop art emerged in the UK and the US during the 1950s. Initially, Pop Art was seen as radical and shocking, then became accepted as an exciting, colorful, and vibrant art movement. ArtScapades will look at the lives and works of Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and David Hockney. These artists celebrated commonplace objects and everyday people, seeking to elevate popular culture…

Local historian, Jim Bach present - "American Betrayal" - The Story of Benedict Arnold. Explore the complicated legacy of Benedict Arnold as only New Canaan's favorite historian, Jim Bach, can tell it. Impeccably researched and filled with historic images, this presentation promises to be one of Jim's best ever. The lecture was filmed in advance so will be screened and then followed by live Q&A with Jim. The event is at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society and is…

Jason Jewhurst, AIA, Partner, and Principal at Boston based Bruner/Cott Architects will present the Living Village, Yale University’s first net-positive graduate housing facility at Yale Divinity School. The Living Village is designed to meet the rigorous guidelines of the Living Building Challenge, including regenerative design strategies to achieve net-positive performance for energy use, water consumption, waste management, and on-site ecological water treatment of stormwater. The Living Village will transform how colleges and universities pursue environmental leadership in campus residences. Jason…

Beat the winter doldrums, grab your friends and join us for Adult Bingo Night on Friday January 26th (snow date: February 2) at the New Canaan Museum + Historical Society. Board member Hugo Alves will be calling the numbers and setting the stage for a raucous night of fun and games and crazy prizes. This is no kids’ night out! The evening will feature a Chili supper, with all the fixings, keg beer and wine. Tickets are $25 and includes…

In 1963 and 1964, more than 200 prefabricated houses were sold at Macy's in New York City and built in Culloden Point, Montauk. Learn about this unusual architectural project in Jake Gorst's compelling documentary that first aired on PBS. Jake will be here to answer questions. The event is free. To reserve a spot, please email info@nchistory.org

Come and enjoy a festive afternoon TeaParty at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society. The event will feature Tea, Sandwiches, Sweets and Crafts. This program is appropriate for children ages 4 and above and a parent/caregiver. $15 per person or $40 per family. Please RSVP to wwilliams@nchistory.org and receive payment information.

Join us for an exciting in-person event where you can test your knowledge and have a blast with friends. Emceed by local celebrity Christian Murphy and NCM&HS Board of Governors, Allison Zinczenko and Jackie Shapiro. Come and show off your knowledge of all things New Canaan and compete for awesome prizes! Pizza and Wine will be served. Don't miss out on the New Canaan Pop Culture Trivia Night!

Andrew Geller (1924-2011), called a “leading light” by The Washington Post, worked at Raymond Loewy’s celebrated Manhattan architecture and design firm. His designs included everything from the interiors of Lever House, the Park Avenue modernist icon, to Montauk’s Leisurama houses, which were sold completely furnished, from china to toothbrushes. Geller was also part of the team behind the 1,144-square-foot “typical” American house that was a centerpiece of the 1959 American National Exhibition in Moscow—and whose kitchen was the site of…

The New Canaan Museum and Historical Society welcomes ArtScapades with a lecture that ties in with their current portrait exhibition, Portraits of New Canaan. ArtScapades will look at the history of portraiture in art. From ancient times to today, portraiture has told us fundamental truths, whoever the subject. By looking at who was portrayed, and how, we are able to gain insights into social, cultural, and political history that no other type of painting can offer. This lecture will include…

Published by the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society, Gwen's new book is a fascinating look at what the New Canaan community has done to preserve and protect the architecture that makes this Town internationally famous. Gwen will speak about her project and sign books, copies of which are available for sale for $45. About the book: In the 1990s, when New Canaan’s historic modern houses were quietly being demolished, preservationists, architects, and other residents who understood their significance, banded…

Join us for the New Canaan Premiere of the film. Filmmaker Jake Gorst will be on hand to answer questions. The event is free but space is limited. Doors will open at 5:30pm for seating.

Bring your family and your favorite teddy bear to the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society lawn for a fun afternoon of picnicking, crafts, and live music provided by Music by Marcus. Bring your lunch, blanket and chairs and we will provide the family fun! All ages welcome. To register, email kidscommittee@nchistory.org In the event of poor weather, there is a rain date of May 5.

When Peter Swanson and Bob Gregson met in 1976, it quickly became evident that they shared a passion for modern architecture. Their interest began when they were kids and continues to this day. Since then, they have traveled the world to visit well known architectural sites such as Fallingwater, Ronchamp, Brasilia and many other icons. Dubbing their travels as “architreks,” for 48 years they have collected their experiences by meeting many original owners, many of whom were clients of Frank…

Join us for our spring celebration, which includes the dedication of the new Jim and Dede Bartlett Center for New Canaan History. Enjoy dinner catered by Diane Browne, dance under the tent to the music of Fake ID, and explore the campus. It is an evening you won't want to miss. Tickets go on sale March 1. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Whitney Williams, wwilliams@nchistory.org.

Join us for the Annual Ice Cream Social on the campus of the New Canaan Museum and Historical Society. This free event includes music by the Town Band, historic games with prizes for the children, the antique car show featuring "The People's Choice Awards" and of course, ice cream and cake!