Mrs. K. and I were not interested in actually going inside the museum or in climbing to the top of…read morethis lighthouse. But wow, we were very interested in seeing, walking around it, enjoying the view of the Sound that you can see from here. This structure was built in 1840 to replace an earlier one from 1823 that succumbed to shoreline erosion, it was crafted from large granite blocks, some salvaged from its predecessor. The tower itself is octagonal and 35 feet tall, attached to a 1 1/2 story keeper's house. Initially lit by an oil lamp and eight parabolic reflectors, it was upgraded to a sixth-order Fresnel lens in 1856 - a leap forward in lighthouse technology. But by 1889, its light was extinguished, replaced by newer beacons on the harbor breakwaters. Its second life began in 1925, when the Stonington Historical Society purchased it for $3,650 and transformed it into what's believed to be the nation's first lighthouse museum. Since then, it's become a repository of local maritime and agricultural history, with exhibits ranging from sea captains' treasures to artifacts from the British bombardment of 1814, including a cannonball embedded in a hearthstone and a rare Congreve rocket. The museum doesn't have its own parking lot but you can park nearby if it's not too busy. Stonington Point and the Dubois Beach have a small lot and it's nice there. If you're passing by on I-95, this is only 20 minutes off the highway. Take the time to detour and check this out. Even if it's not season and the museum is closed, walking around is free. [Review 1071 of 2025 - 124 in Connecticut - 24625 overall]

Very nice small, local museum. Exhibits are varied. War, slavery, whaling, local life. Three rooms…read moreon ground floor, one small upper space that is under renovation and the tower. During our visit the fresnel lens was in a crate on the 2nd level. The staircase to the light housing is narrow and two-way. The ladder to the top is sturdy but takes a bit of maneuvering to get on the platform. Area holds ~ four people and is quite warm. The one employee answered our many questions. They offer senior, first responder and veteran discounts on entry. The museum is air conditioned. A good stop while in the area.

Had free day and chance to utilize MPMRC membership for a wampum history and bracelet making event…read more Event was great to see the Gifts of the Ocean exhibit, discuss wampum history with Matthew Pina and then also make a bracelet within the art room at KTJ. Overall great experience and would recommend some of the classes for anyone interested to have a little artistic fun while here in Mystic!

Small, but lovely museum in Mystic, CT. I got to see the "Printmaking and the Unconventional…read morePathways of African American Artists" exhibit which was awesome. Highly recommended. Admission is only $10.

We were a group of four. One person was mid-tour when we arrived. As there is only one docent, she…read morebegan the tour over. We were 3/4 way through our first floor tour when another party arrived. Instead of adding them to the tour, and then covering what they missed, she asked them to wait. The living room is beautiful. Plaster work, beautifully hand painted walls (by a modern artist), elegant furnishings. Photos of the home pre-restoration are showed and discussed in this room. So much work has been done! There are also photos of the family and you learn a bit about them here. We also had the opportunity to ask questions about the home and family. Through this Q&A we discovered in what types of 'shipping' the family were involved. The dining room table displays a variety of period china. The fireplaces on this floor are marble. The dining room light fixture is very interesting, and although not original fits very well and makes a statement. Sadly, the kitchen is not restored for guests to view. There is however a butlers pantry in the dining room displaying more serve ware. An Antarctic research station is named after Captain Palmer and a live feed is shown in the next room as well as several ship models including the one Capt. Palmer was on when he discovered the continent. Information on the gentleman who created these models is also presented. There is a variety of information in this room about Capt. Palmers Antarctic discovery and one of his shipping trades: seal pelts. The short hallway between dining room and this include other items of trade such as Palmer tea and jade. The upper floors are self toured and there are three of them. Stair cases narrow as you ascend. The highest point is a small cupola surrounded by windows with a small bench seat that fits about three. There was a nice breeze with the windows open and long views. The two floors between include bedrooms, 'toilet' rooms, children's play room, fire alarm display, sewing room, office space and storage. Plenty of old furnishings, linens, toys etc. I particularly love the sewing box. Beautiful, intricate work. The price for the two locations is very reasonable and if you have time, are looking for an air conditioned space, love history/architecture/home décor, then this is going to be a nice stop. Free parking is available at the side of the house. Enter at the grand front door. A gift shop is located just inside to the left of the entrance. A restored ice house, storage and out houses are behind the home. I saw no public facilities (but didn't ask). There is a fair amount of land with the home including a small pathway with bench seating along the water on the other side of parking. In July there were plenty of mosquitos. Picnic tables are located behind the research library next to parking. Tickets may be purchased on line through their website as well as at the Stonington light house museum. Stonington residents and historical society member admission is free. Military, senior and first responder discounts are available. July and August the museum is open daily 10am - 4pm. The rest of the year hours are limited - check the website for information.

We visited after being informed that our Stonington lighthouse entrance fee also included entrance…read morehere. It's right down the street Who was Captain Nathaniel B. Palmer? He was credited with discovering Antarctica (whilst hunting for seals) in 1820 at the young age of 21 with a minimal crew. He grew rich and built a stately home in his birthplace of Stonington, CT. After his brothers wife died, Nathaniel and his wife (who were childless) shared the home with his widowed brother and his 4 children. It was great to learn the history of this family and home, feeling transported to another time and imaging what it must have been like. I want to know more. Beautiful furnishings, interesting history and a beautiful setting. Parking is free and plentiful and the grounds are serene and quiet. A great way to spend an hour or so in this quaint town.

I absolutely love Nature's Art Village! There is so much to see and do here. Most of the stuff I…read morewouldn't buy (some of it's expensive) but my favorite area is the fossil and gem room! This section of the "village" can't be missed!! I splurged a bit when I first visited. I bought an alligator fossil for $300 (I was actually amazed at how cheap it was considering it was the whole head), a cave bear femur (forgot the price), and a Cave Bear molar for $40 (or maybe $60, I forget) to add to my cave bear collection. They have countless gems and minerals as well! Some of it is a bit overpriced so if you know what you're looking for, you're new to fossil or gem collecting, etc...research online first because you can get carried away here.

Wonderful smaller musuem; you can see just about everything in a few hours. I took advantage of a…read morerainy morning while my friend ran errands to check out a couple of the exhibits here. DON'T miss the Tiffany exhibit, some great pieces of his glass AND paintings, and very interesting family history as well. My plan was to see the Tiffany works, but the wonderful surprise (to me...) was the "Exquisite Miniatures by Wes and Rachelle Siegrist" exhibit showcasing the EXTREMELY detailed works this talented couple and their AMAZING, tiny still lifes, landscapes, and just about everything in the tiniest detail. VERY interesting!! Great diversity of offerings for a smaller/mid-size museum. Thought I could see "everything" in a couple of hours, but ran out of time and will have to plan a return visit. Beautiful building, well-laid out exhibits, friendly staff... VERY worthwhile to visit if you're in the area!!

A great museum able to see all in a couple of hours Many…read morefriendly hosts September is a great time to visit

So every kid in the Haddam area ends up forced to go to the Thankful Arnold House for at least one…read morefield trip to learn about colonial times and whatnot. And it's a pretty cool place with a nice garden, but unless you are there on a field trip with organized activities, I really see little point in going there. I mean it's a historical house. You can look around for about five minutes and then you're done. Then again, maybe that's not true because the only time I've ever been there is on a school field trip where they taught me how to cross stitch... and then it became an obsession. But in all honesty it's a kind of overrated landmark in the middle of nowhere. If you happen to be passing it for some reason or another, you certainly should stop in. However, the chances that you'll be "passing by" are about the same as if you were visiting my mother's house.

Great visit at the TAH in Haddam. The director is personable and well versed on Haddam history. She…read morewas able to give us names and interesting tidbits with regard to our property and house. We had a blast.

Great details in website and wonderful experience. Definitely recommend if you are interested in…read morevarious art like photography, paint, jewelry, pottery, etc.

The powers that be have absolutely ruined this event. The vendor booths used to be laid out in an…read moreeasily walkable grid, and for many years, we truly enjoyed walking through it. Now, however (and beginning in 2021), the vendors who actually still sell at this event (and there were fewer this year and last) are spread out in a new and highly illogical street pattern which forces visitors to walk great distances in order to see what vendors are there. Last year, when we took the hike up to where some of the vendors were now hiding, we were "rewarded" with seeing what we felt with were sub-par vendors compared to what we saw in all years past under the "old" layout. It was surprising and strange. We went back yesterday for the 2022 event, and sadly, the new set-up remains in place. (We were hoping that the 2021 event was some sort of covid-related anomaly). On top of all this, while walking around the event yesterday, we were told by a vendor (who had been moved to an odd spot against her wishes) that there were other vendors severable blocks up the road in another direction, which surprised us because visitors would have no idea they were there - there was no signage to tell you that. So vendors are now just all over the place, requiring you to spend a lot of shoe leather just to find them. Lastly, some of the best vendors were not there last year or this, and I wouldn't be surprised if it is due to the crazy new set up. In a nutshell, this was our last visit to this event, and we are sad about that.

Wonderful experience and a trip to the past. Aiden (our docent) and Julie were wonderful. We had a…read morelist of our decedents and they were so helpful finding cemeteries and other resources. Such nice ladies and we learned so much. Glad we spent the time.