The Henry Whitfield House is a historic house located at 248 Old Whitfield Street in Guilford, Connecticut, down the street from the town green.[3] This house dates from 1639, having been built just before the town of Guilford was settled. It is the oldest house in Connecticut and the oldest stone house in New England. The house, with its massive stone walls, also served as a fort to protect the community.[4] Henry Whitfield, for whom the house was built, was a Puritan minister who had come from England to flee religious persecution.[5] The house was remodeled in 1868 and opened to the public in 1899 as the first museum of the State of Connecticut, the Henry Whitfield State Museum. The house was restored in 1902–04 and in the 1930s and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1997.[2] It was named a State Archeological Preserve in 2006.
The Friends of the Henry Whitfield Museum, a non-profit organization, was founded in October 2004. The goal of the Friends is to help preserve and protect the Henry Whitfield House (CT’s oldest house, New England’s oldest stone house and a National Historic Landmark) and to assist the museum in it’s educational mission and outreach programs, now and in the future. The Friends will increase awareness of museum, provide volunteers for the museum, and raise funds to conserve and enhance the buildings and grounds, create and expand museum technology, and expand programs, exhibits, and research that will benefit visitors and the community.
Membership is open to all. We hope it will reflect the diversity of the visitors who come to the museum each year (local residents, people from Connecticut, the country and the world, Whitfield family and Guilford descendents, preservationists, researchers, history lovers, adults and kids). By becoming a member you can help the Friends reach their goals and receive the following benefits with your annual membership:
-Free admission to the museum and visitor center galleries
-20% discount on museum shop purchases
-An Annual Friends Gathering at the museum
-Invitations to special Friends previews and programs
-Guest passes (based on membership category)
Please join us in supporting this unique historical treasure. Thank you.
The Board of the Friends of the Henry Whitfield Museum