After you park, cross the road to the little red house. Here starts your journey at the ranger…read morestation and an art gallery in one. Art kits and a stack of cushions are found on the porch, and three different Junior Ranger activities --and a unique JR badge--await. The grounds are open even when the buildings aren't, so enjoy the scenery, but remember that the bathrooms are only seasonally available. This is a perfect spot for a picnic, so plan on making the time here! Depending on docent rotation, JA Weir's and Mahonri Macintosh Young's studios are also open seasonally. As an American Impressionist spot, you might find easels throughout your walk, and those artist kits will have you joining the plain air painters.

Weir Farm is a wonderful, beautiful property for a hike, a stroll, a walk or a picnic. The farm…read moresits atop a mountain and dates back over 100 years. There are educational programs and exhibits throughout the year. It's pure New England charm, operated by the US National Park Service.

We did not take any tour of the house when we were here because it was closed. The ground were huge…read moreand nice to take a walk. It's a nice place to stop and relax after a long drive. Next time, we might go back to check out the house.

This is a cute little historic site, although it sure is remote from other things. We had a tour…read morewith 1 other couple, so it's not a popular location and it probably gets less funding as a State Park site vs. National Park Site so as far as a historical house goes it's not the most intriguing or lavish, but it's nice if you are in the area. It's not as impressive as say Monticello and not as popular and informative as FDR's house not to far away, but it has its charm. Being hidden away can be an asset, as when you are at the house, it's far up the hill from the road and really quiet, so you can get a good sense of what Mr. Jay would have enjoyed in his retirement. You can feel the peacefulness and why he'd choose to live here after living in Manhattan. The tour is about an hour and there was a farmer's market set up in the adjacent lot, but otherwise there isn't a lot to see/do nearby. Still, it's worth seeing if it's not too far from you or if you have other things in the area to see.

Beautiful castle Visited over the winter. Worn down and decrepit. Amazing pictures with an eerie…read morefeeling.

Nothing much to see at this moment. A stone castle left in ruins, now adorned with fences,…read moregraffitis and boards. Just a short walk from nearby park where you could park your car.

A community center in many towns and cities is an out dated school or an old industrial building…read morewith a meeting room or a gym. In Ridgefield Ct. a beautiful estate hosts the community's events. Known better as the Lounsbury House, this beautifully preserved property is the place to have your wedding or event. Originally named Grove Lawn, the Lounsbury House at 316 Main St., was built in 1896 by a former Connecticut governor, Phineas Lounsbury, who was born and raised in Ridgefield. While he attended the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, also known as the Columbian Exposition, he saw a replica of the Connecticut State Building on display. He commissioned the original Bridgeport architect to build a replica of the Connecticut State Building, so that upon his retirement from politics, he would have it to serve as his residence in Ridgefield. The Georgian Revival house exhibits the elegance and style he wanted to reflect Connecticut's hospitality. Lounsbury and his wife Jenny lived and entertained their friends at the house until his death in 1920. Since they did not have any children, the house was passed onto their heirs. Eventually, the house was purchased by the Town of Ridgefield. In 1953, it became the Ridgefield Veterans Memorial Community Center. Now on the National Register of Historic Places, the Lounsbury House is a non-profit association and proceeds from its fund-raisers, membership fees and rentals go towards the preservation, maintenance and operational cost of the home. I was present for the Ridgefield "Gone Country" barbeque contest which raises funds for the local Rotary club. The association hosts house tours, concerts, luncheons, picnics, fireworks and more. The July 20, 2018 Lobster & Clambake featuring 1 1/2 lb Maine lobsters, steamers and muscles is not to be missed.

From the owner: Lounsbury House, a Ridgefield landmark since 1896, is a place to celebrate life's memorable…read moremilestones. Since becoming the town's community center over 60 years ago, the House and classical gardens have served as an exceptional venue for weddings, corporate meetings, art gatherings, festivals and special events for all seasons.

Phineas Taylor (P.T.) Barnum was quite a character…read more He is best known as a bombastic showman, promoting elaborate hoaxes, human oddities and the Barnum & Bailey Circus. He allegedly coined the phrase ""There's a sucker born every minute". But he was more than the promoter of the Fiji Mermaid and General Tom Thumb the dwarf. He was also a politician -serving twice in the Connecticut state legislature and once as the mayor of Bridgeport, CT. As mayor, he fought to improve the quality of Bridgeport's water, brought gas street lights to his city, and helped found Bridgeport Hospital. He was an abolitionist and spoke these flowery words against slavery - "A human soul, that God has created and Christ died for, is not to be trifled with. It may tenant the body of a Chinaman, a Turk, an Arab, or a Hottentot--it is still an immortal spirit". This terrific sculpture, located in his home city of Bethel, CT, shows Mr. Barnum looking very spiffy in a top coat and bow tie. He is holding his top hat triumphantly in the air, as if he had just introduced some spectacular act to a packed house. An inscription below the sculpture reads: Born Bethel, CT 1810 "I was born and reared in an atmosphere of merriment my natural bias was developed and strengthened by the associations of my youth; and I feel myself entitled to record the sayings and doings of the wags and eccentricities of Bethel because they partly explain the causes which have made me what I am." Dedicated by the Bethel Historical Society on the 26th of September 2010 Erected 2010 by Bethel Historical Society.

Amazing work of art . The artist David Gesualdi really captured the essence of PTBarnumread more

Bizarre with a capital "B"…read more There is a Timexpo Museum in Waterbury that tells the story of the Timex company, and the history of watches and time. But as important as that might be, they are nothing when compared to the totally cool 40' tall Easter Island Moai statue that graces a strip of grass in front of the museum. What exactly this statue has to do with the history of time, I don't know. What I do know is this- I pity the poor drunken fool who might be unfortunate enough to be stumbling down Union Street when he glances up and sees this 40 foot tall beast blocking his path. I think that would sober up our poor guy pretty fast.

Discover the Easter Island Moai…read more Forget your bucket list. Don't wait till you can't climb the hill at the quarry to one of the world's most amazing places, Rano Raraku on isolated Easter Island. A giant Moai is waiting to be freed from a thousand years of captivity. What was the last carver's thoughts as he walked away from his final creation? Take a flight or a cruise to French Polynesia and visit Easter Island. Sign up with Tiare Edmunds of Easter Island Guides for a one or two or day tour and see what time left behind. Tiare is the only Rapanui native guide with direct descendents to the original natives. She leads you on an adventure back in time in her air conditioned vehicle. Easter Island is situated on a triangle of volcanic rock in the South Pacific over 2,000 miles from Tahiti and Chile. It's a living outdoor museum and Tiare has the E ticket pass. We were picked up at the pier and spent two incredible days exploring and learning about what might of happened to a thriving culture that almost lead to extinction. While historically no one knows exactly what happened to leave behind over 900 massive Moai, Tiare will help you understand the culture and the people. She also brought along a picnic lunch on both days of arugula from her garden on fresh sandwiches and olives and Rapa Nui locally brewed beer. What a treat. Looking out over the ocean, drinking a cold beer, having a great lunch and talking with a real local historian about her family's history. A truly memorable time. Don't wait.

This Uncle Sam stands in the parking lot of the Danbury Railway Museum. At 38 feet tall, this Sam…read moreis claimed to be the world's tallest, and at 4,500 pounds, I'm guessing he is also the heftiest. The statue was built for a chain of Ohio restaurants in the 1950s named Uncle Sam's. He was clear-coated in 1992 and today he's looking good, patriotic and colorful. His past homes include the state fairgrounds in Danbury, Connecticut, and Lake George, New York, where he stood in the parking lot of the fairy tale Magic Forest theme park.

Came here with family on a 2 hour weekday tour…read more Our tour guide Sara(h?) was very informative, clear and engaging. She made the experience great. She also made sure guests who needed to take breaks and sit were accommodated. The compound itself is incredible. The buildings, vision, art collections - all very interesting. Even if you're not super into art, I bet you would enjoy the diversity of things to see here. Highly recommend!

I recently spent a long weekend in Connecticut with my husband and some friends. The impetus for…read morethe trip was - in part - to visit the Glass House. It definitely lived up to my pretty high expectations. So what is the Glass House? Also known as the Johnson House, it's a house designed by American architect Philip Johnson for use as his own residence. Johnson lived at the house (and the rest of the property, more on that below) on weekends for over 50 years. The house is one glass-enclosed room, which includes a kitchen, dining area, bedroom, and living space (as well as one bathroom that is contained within the black cylinder in the right side of the structure. Because the house is almost entirely of glass, you can see through it to the landscape beyond, making it blend in to its surroundings and beautiful but different in each season. The house is an important piece of American architectural history and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1997. Now owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, you can sign up for a tour to visit the home - you cannot visit or even see the house without signing up for a tour (the house is not visible from the street!). Tours are available April-December, typically, so check dates before you book a tour. They offer several different tour options: a 1-hour "Glass House Tour," which allows you to see the Glass House and the Brick House; a 2-hour "Glass House + Galleries Tour," which allows you to see the Glass House, the Brick House, the Painting Gallery, the Sculpture Gallery, outdoor sculptures, and Da Monsta, a visitor center and exhibition space); an extended tour lasting 2.5 hours; a self-guided tour (currently offered on Sundays only); group/private tours; and an in-depth 3-hour tour. The website has all of these options spelled out so you can choose the option that is right for you. We selected the 2-hour "Glass House + Galleries Tour," and I'm so glad we did. I wouldn't have wanted to miss the painting and sculpture galleries! You meet your tour at the visitor center (there isn't parking there, but there are paid lots nearby) - you cannot drive yourself to the property. Then you board a little shuttle bus with the rest of your tour and you're on off on a very short drive to the property. We walked down a path, while our guide pointed the studio and a few other notable things on the grounds (a Donald Judd sculpture that is enormous and very cool, just in front of the house, being one). Then you're at the Glass House. First a view of the outside while the guide explains the architecture and context of the design. Then you can wander through the interior of the space. It's minimalist (duh), but it's also incredibly beautiful. I found it an inspiring design. (FYI - no air conditioning in the house, so in the summer, it can be quite steamy in the house.) Since we were there for the Glass House, I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed touring the other spaces! Then we were off to the Brick House, the Glass House's opposite, just a few steps away. The Brick House was such a pleasant surprise; it has a bedroom, reading room, and bathroom, connected by a skylit corridor. The design of the Brick House is so different from the Glass House (bright, colorful, lush - that bathroom with all its marble, that colorful reading room, and the vaulted ceiling and Fortuny-covered walls of the bedroom!?), but I loved it entirely. I could certainly see why Johnson would have spent quite a bit of his time in the Brick House. Then our guide pointed out a few more features and sculptures on the grounds before we visited the Painting Gallery. The gallery contains works by Frank Stella, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, and more, so it's worth a visit to see what they have on exhibit. But it also features some amazing design features! The exterior of the gallery is a grass-covered mount, and the gallery's art is displayed by use of a rotating "poster-rack," which is operated manually (Johnson preferred to view six works at a time, but the system allows for the storage of 42 paintings). Then it was time for a visit to the Sculpture Gallery - another incredible building (this one inspired by the architecture of the Greek isles). Because I'm running out of characters (I have a lot to say about this experience), I will just say that the our tour ended at Da Monsta. Then it's back to the visitor center via the shuttle bus, where you can do some shopping at their very cool design shop. Our tour guide was lovely - informative, interesting, incredible well-versed in everything Glass House-related. It was a hot day, so I got a bit sweaty and overheated at times, but it was worth it to visit this bit of American architectural history. It was an American travel bucket list item for me, and I'm so glad to have made it there finally. I'd go again!

Danbury, CT was attacked by British troops in 1777 when nineteen houses, a church and twenty-two…read morebarns were burned to the ground, killing three patriotic defenders. What a shame that the description of this dramatic event is found on a marker that is in such poor shape. I saw lots of faded blue and white and lots of general deterioration. This is a two sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. The marker has different inscriptions on each side. It's located in Elmwood Park at the intersection of Main Street and Wooster Street. The full inscription reads: Eight families came from Norwalk in 1685 to settle this area which the Indians called Pahquioque. They built their first homes a half mile south of here and made this green their common. The General Court in October 1687 decreed the name "Danbury" although the settlers had chosen "Swampfield." Beans and other crops helped make Danbury an inland trading center by 1750 with a population of two thousand. At the start of the American Revolution this town became a hospital and supply base. General Tyron led a British force of two thousand in a raid on Danbury on April 26 - 27, 1777. Three young men, one a Negro, died in defense of the town near the north end of the green. The British burned nineteen houses, a church, twenty-two barns and many supplies. General David Wooster, commanding the American forces which set upon the British, was wounded at Ridgefield and died and was buried here. The street to the west bears his name. Hat making became Danbury's foremost industry after independence. Until the 1950's, Danbury was known as the Hat City of the World. Charles Ives, famed American composer, was born here in 1874. His birthplace has been preserved by the Danbury Scott - Fanton Museum and Historical Society. Erected 1974 by City of Danbury, Connecticut Historical Commission.

This was so much fun! Unfortunately, when we went, the train wasn't running or not all of it, but…read morewe had a great time! I'm looking forward to coming back because I would like to hear the tour they offer to patrons who visit the trains in the yard.

Looking forward to getting back on the archives project neeed to get away!…read more If federally funded for collection of information why all the discrimination on the employees from people who think we are square because we like to read? Coast is clear Statistics are dedicated to the project and highly successful Again ugh