The New Canaan Preservation Alliance and the New Canaan Historical Society will hold a special workshop on Saturday November 21 beginning at 10:00 a.m. (Coffee and Donuts from 9:30 a.m.) at the Historical Society. It will feature several famous old houses that have been saved and several that are available. The focus is on how to keep the most authentic elements of a well-designed antique and turn it into a really livable home with modern features as well. Some of…

Valentine’s Day Tea and Crafts Friday, February 12, 2016 4:00-5:30 pm The New Canaan Historical Society is holding its most popular after-school workshop for children on Friday, February 12, 2016 from 4:00-5:30 pm. The Valentine’s Day Tea and Craft Workshop is for children ages 5 thru 11. They will make a special Valentine’s Day craft in the Victorian tradition to bring home, as well as prepare their own afternoon tea and treats. This is always great fun for all who…

Jim Bach was born and raised in New Canaan. His family dates back in town three generations to 1916. After graduating from New Canaan High School in 1947 and then from Columbia University, Jim proudly served for two combat years during the Korean War. After the war, he worked on Wall Street for 40 years and then retired to New Canaan with his wife, Vona. Jim has been very involved with the Historical Society, including serving many years on the…

Gary Liberatore grew up in New Canaan and lettered in four sports at New Canaan High School. He led the Rams Gary Liberatore grew up in New Canaan and lettered in four sports at New Canaan High School. to the state championship in 1962. Gary went on to New Haven College and while there was one of the top collegiate basketball players and was named All-New England, All- American. Among his many honors, he received the CT Sports Writers Alliance…

Historian Jim Bach takes us back to a time when his “older” New Canaan High School “brothers” participated in World War II. On Monday, August 15 at 7:30 pm at the New Canaan Historical Society Townhouse, Jim will revisit June of 1944 largely by way of historian Stephen Ambrose books and his own personal trips in later years to the beaches of Omaha, Utah, and the British and Canadian landing areas. Attendees will undoubtedly recall some of these events and…

This year’s New Canaan Historical Society Holiday Open House will be held on Saturday, December 10th and offers a full day of fun, festive, family activities. Deborah O’Connor will be back after three years to hand cut heirloom quality silhouettes. Appointments are available from 9:00 am until noon. Individual, group or pet sittings cost $30 per sitting. Copies are $15 each. They make the perfect holiday gift! Children will be able to create their own candy-covered gingerbread houses for $5…

The New Canaan Historical Society proudly presents, New Canaan’s Revolutionary War Heroes, another presentation by one of their favorite historians, James Bach, on March 13th, at 8:00 p.m. in the Lindstrom Room. Jim will look back to 1776 when we were New Canaan Parish and our town may have had as many as 1,000 residents. Two hundred and nine of them saw service during the period of the Revolution (1775-1783) in the militia and/or Washington's Continental Army. All of Washington's…

Experience a living history performance as Judith Kalaora, Founder and Artistic Director of History at Play, portrays Deborah Sampson, the first woman to enlist, to fight and after being wounded to be honorably discharged from the American Military. The performance takes place at The New Canaan Historical Society on March 31st, with a Cocktail Reception from 6:00—7:00 p.m., and the performance beginning at 7:00 p.m. At 5' 9" tall, Sampson disguised herself as a man, binding her chest and tying…

The 28th Annual Ice Cream Social will be held on the grounds of The New Canaan Historical Society on Sunday, June 4th from 1:00-4:00 p.m.—rain or shine. For only $5.00 admission per person, explore the museums, view an impressive array of vintage cars, hear your favorite “oldies” played by the Town Band and enjoy delicious Baskin-Robbins ice cream along with a selection of cakes at this old-fashioned, family event. There will even be musket firing demonstrations at 1:15 p.m. and…

The New Canaan Historical Society announces the opening of its exhibit Waveny – Now and Then, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Town’s purchase of Waveny Park. The show features the work of eight contemporary artists along with costumes and vintage photographs from the Society’s collection. “Waveny Park and the Lapham Lloyd mansion have such a rich history, and are such important assets to the Town, that we wanted a way to pay tribute to it on this…

Zuhair Suidan, management consultant and former president of the New Canaan Men’s Club, will speak at The New Canaan Historical Society on January 28, 2018, at 2 pm. His talk, “Where To? A Perspective on the Arab World,” will touch on the history of the Middle East, address recent political developments and implications for the future. Mr. Suidan brings a unique perspective to the seemingly intractable difficulties in the Middle East. As an American, a Palestinian, an Israeli, and an…

Rain or Shine, the 29th Annual Ice Cream Social will be held under the big tent on the grounds of The New Canaan Historical Society on Sunday, June 3rd 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 and help with serving.…

Join the Board of Governors in honoring Jim Bach's decades of service to, and support of, The New Canaan Historical Society. There will be a gathering on the Great Lawn on Thursday, October 4th at 5:30 pm followed by a champagne and chocolate reception inside the Town House immediately following. All are welcome, so please extend the invitation to those throughout New Canaan who know and love Jim.

Jeffrey Urbin, the Education Specialist and Director of the Pare Lorentz Film Center at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York, will share his thoughts on President Roosevelt, The New Deal and the operations of a presidential library on Sunday, March 3rd at 4 pm in the Lindstrom Room at the New Canaan Historical Society. Urbin oversees the Library's educational offerings and programs for students of all ages. In addition, he provides training, programs…

The 2nd annual New Canaan Antiques, Art and Jewelry Show to benefit the Historical Society will be held on March 9th and 10th in the Historical Society’s main building. An eclectic group of dealers will offer a wide selection of vintage and antique items. There will be paintings, small furniture, pottery, silver, jewelry and all kinds of interesting finds from the 18th century to the mid-century and beyond. Among the dealers will be Gil Rodriguez, back again this year with…

Jim Bach, one of New Canaan’s favorite historians, presents Alexander Hamilton—Before Broadway on Sunday, March 17th at 4:00 pm in the Lindstrom Room of the New Canaan Historical Society. With inspiration from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical, Bach blends Hamilton’s life in New York City and the tale of the tailor and spy, Hercules Mulligan, with local New Canaan Parish history. Hamilton’s early nearby adventures closely tracked that of several other heroes that New Canaan produced, including Major Tallmadge and Sergeant…