Connecticut Open House Day is an annual event scheduled the second Saturday of June, where cultural organizations and tourism attractions throughout the state open their doors to Connecticut residents, inviting them to discover – and rediscover – Connecticut’s fascinating world of art, history, film and tourism with a variety of special visitor incentives.

The one-day statewide event is designed to showcase Connecticut’s diverse world of history, art, and tourism.

 

The unique one-day event is part of a broad state initiative that began in 2005. The event is coordinated by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism.

For a list of locations, see the CT Open House Web pages. Here are some in the towns around Darien (as of May 22, we didn’t see any listings for New Canaan, Wilton, Norwalk or Westport):

Fairfield

• Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Fairfield
  Open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., with a free birding program (10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.) lead by a Naturalist and includes a walk in a sanctuary. Visitors receive 10% off feeders and field guides in the Nature Store
• Fairfield Museum and History Center
  Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
• Pequot Library
  In conjunction with the summer reading program, visitors can “check out” indoor and outdoor games from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sign up for the summer reading challenge for all ages.
• Walsh Gallery at Fairfield University Art Museum
  Open from noon until 4 p.m. All visitors receive a complimentary museum notecard.

Greenwich

• Bruce Museum
  Free admission from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
• Greenwich Historical Society
  Free admission from noon until 4 p.m.

Stamford

• Stamford Museum & Nature Center
  Free admission for the first 100 visitors from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Must mention “Connecticut Open House Day.”

Worth a Longer Trip

Here are some other participating places, farther away, that you may find worth a visit:

East Granby

• Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine
  Free admission from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Opening to the public after major renovations over the past few years.

Essex

• Connecticut River Museum 
  Everyone is a “kid” on June 9th. Adults pay children’s rate and children are free from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.; museum open until 5 p.m
• Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
  Open from 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Children ride the train and boat free all day.

Farmington

• Hill-Stead Museum
  Buy one admission ticket and get one free, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Guilford

• Henry Whitfield State Museum
  Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
• Hyland House Museum
  Free admission from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
• Medad Stone Tavern Museum
  Free admission from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
• Thomas Griswold House Museum
  Free admission from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Hartford

• Amistad Center for Art & Culture at the Wadsworth Atheneum
  Free admission from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
• Butler-McCook House & Garden
  Free admission from noon until 4 p.m.
• Connecticut Historical Society Museum & Library
  Free admission to the galleries from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

• Connecticut Science Center
  Center open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Receive a $2 off general admission to Connecticut residents.
• Connecticut’s Old State House
  Free admission from noon until 4 p.m.
• Connecticut State Library
  Open for visitors from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. to see all of the wonderful exhibits on display in the Museum of Connecticut History.  Also, be sure to pick up a free frisbee along with brochures and handouts.
• Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
  Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m
• Isham-Terry House
  From 10 a.m. until noon, buy one admission and get one admission for free.
• Mark Twain House & Museum
  Reduced admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Activities surrounding the next “Tails of Twain” exhibit.

Mashantucket

• Cedars Steakhouse & Oyster Bar at Foxwoods Resort Casino
  Offer from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m.; Connecticut residents will receive a free appetizer (up to $14 value) with the purchase of two entrees when you show your Connecticut license.
• G Spa & Salon at Foxwoods Resort Casino
  From 6:30 a.m. until 9 p.m., receive 25% off one full-priced retail item. Purchasers will receive a 15% off coupon for a full-priced service to be used Sunday through Thursday through the end of June. Cannot be combined with other offers. Must have a valid Connecticut ID.
• Guy Fieri’s Foxwoods Kitchen + Bar
  From 11 a.m. until midnight, Connecticut residents receive 10% off of food (cannot be combined with other offers). Must have a valid Connecticut ID.
• High Rollers Luxury Lanes & Lounge
  From 12 p.m. until 11 p.m., Connecticut residents receive 10% off of food (cannot be combined with other offers). Must have a valid Connecticut ID.
• HighFlyer Zipline at Foxwoods Resort Casino
  From noon until midnight, Connecticut residents can ride on the zipline for $49 ((cannot be combined with other offers).
• Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center
  Open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., offering 20% off general admission and free educational demonstrations from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
• Red Lantern at Foxwoods Resort Casino
  Offering 10% off of food from 5 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. Cannot be combined with other offers. Must have a valid Connecticut ID.
• Scorpion Bar at Foxwoods Resort Casino
  Offering 10% off of food from 12 p.m. until 10 p.m. Cannot be combined with other offers. Must have a valid Connecticut ID.
• Sugar Factory American Brasserie at Foxwoods Resort Casino
  Offering 20% off you entire bill, excluding drinks from 9 a.m. until 2 a.m. Valid in the restaurant only. Must have a valid Connecticut ID.
• Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods
  Open from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m., offering free Tanger Outlets coupon book. Must show a valid Connecticut ID at the Shopper Services to receive the coupon book.
• Veranda Cafe at Foxwoods Resort Casino
  Offer from 7 a.m. until 3 a.m.; Connecticut residents will receive a free appetizer (up to $10.99 value) with the purchase of two entrees when you show your Connecticut license.

Mystic

• Denison Homestead Museum
  Free admission from noon until 4 p.m.
• Mystic AquariumOpen from 9 a.m. until 5:50 p.m. Offering $6 off general admission, good up to four guests when you mention Connecticut Open House Day at the admission gate. Discount available at the time of purchase; cannot be combined with any other offers. Good for general admission only.

New Haven

• Yale Center for British Art
  Open 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., offering free introductory tour (11 a.m.), a tour of the special exhibition “Celia Paul” (1 p.m.), and an architecture tour (3 p.m.). In addition, the Museum Shop is offering 10% off visitors’ entire purchase.

New London

• Custom House Maritime Museum
  Free admission from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., and offering 10% discount in the Museum Shop.
• Lyman Allyn Art Museum
  Two for one admission from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Orange

• PEZ Visitor Center
  Free admission from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

West Hartford

• Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
  Free admission from noon until 4 p.m.

Wethersfield

• Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum
  Visitors receive half off admission for tours from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
• Wethersfield Historical Society
  * Captain James Francis House (120 Hartford Ave.). Tour the historic home that is very rarely open to the public, from noon until 4 p.m.
  * Cove Warehouse Maritime Museum (Cove Park at Main St.). Open noon until 4 p.m.
  * Hurlbut-Dunham House (150 Main St.). Open from noon until 4 p.m.
  * Keeney Memorial Cultural Center (200 Main St.). Offering coupons for 10% off in the gift shop for the first 100 visitors. Open 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Windsor Locks

• New England Air Museum  
  Open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., offering free admission from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.