Join our curators to immerse yourself in the story of the Adair family in this special tour of our exhibit “Legacy: The Adairs of Westport.” Hear the fascinating story of how the Westport Museum brought to light a family that Westport had forgotten. See the artifacts up close, and learn how the exhibit came to ...
Experience the growing, harvesting, and historical process of making cocoa in Westport Museum’s hands-on exhibition that explores the connection between chocolate and Westport’s mercantile past in the 18th and 19th century. Learn more about the history of the cocoa industry in the American colonies and how the Saugatuck River and other regional waterways supported this ...
Visitors can explore several examples of wedding gowns—both white and the less traditional—in the Museum’s collection in I Thee Wed: Western Bridal Fashion from the Collection. Discover how these iconic dresses and their place in the world of fashion relate to wealth, class, gender, and women’s rights. Or try creating your own wedding dress with ...
For nearly one hundred years Benjamin Adair and his descendants called Westport home. Likely born into slavery in North Carolina, Adair built a prosperous life through a series of smart investments and his association with financier Morris Ketchum. Married to Ursula Mingo of Long Island’s Shinnecock nation, for decades Adair’s daughters became prominent educators and ...
Riddle me this! Can you find all 12 of the Museum’s town history “quilt” squares? Hidden around town at partner locations are 12”x12” beautifully designed artworks inspired by town monuments, buildings and industries mimicking the quilt style. Solve a riddle (pay close attention to the highlighted words) for the location and write down your answer ...
Ever wanted to know how a dress from your favorite period drama was made? Have questions about fashion from the past? Join our Director of Programs and Collections, Nicole Carpenter, as she creates a reproduction gown based on 18th century examples and techniques. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions about the process of creating a ...
Imagine it’s the summer of 1920. Westport is a sleepy farm community that lures New York’s most glamorous couple-F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald—to its shores. Seeking respite from their whirlwind Jazz era lives, the Fitzgeralds set up in an 18th century farmhouse that has seen Revolution and the building of a nation over many decades. ...
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Browse recent events hosted by the Westport Museum for History and Culture. For more information about these events, please contact our team.