Hartford's Magical History Tour!

Amistad Center’s Juneteenth Family Day

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Garden Party and

The Twain House & Museum's
Tom Sawyer Day  

Join Together for Free

Hartford's Magical History Tour

On Connecticut Open House Day (June 12^th), the three sites will join together to present “Hartford’s Magical History Tour.” All three locations will have a full day of family activities, including games, music, crafts, theater, cake, and many, many more.  There will be a free shuttle between the sites all day for maximum free fun for all ages. 

From 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on June 12^th, people of all ages are invited to enjoy a plethora of free artistic, cultural, and historical fun, including: 

The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center will celebrate the writer’s 199^th birthday at the annual birthday party for the great Nook Farm writer.  “Harriet’s Garden Party” will include tours of Stowe’s home and strolls through the surrounding gardens; costumed interpreters portraying Stowe and her twin daughters; horse and carriage rides ‘round the grounds; lawn games with the costumed Elizabeth Park Croquet Players;  Stowe readings from Uncle Tom's Cabin under the pines; Connecticut Plein Air Society painting on the grounds and art supplies for you to use; “Inspiration to Action” crafts; “Make a Birthday Quilt” activity and birthday cake for all.  All activities are free. 

The Amistad Center for Art & Culture will host their annual “Juneteenth Family Day,” a day of arts, crafts, fun, and free admission.  Family Day is sure to provide visitors of all ages an opportunity to reflect, learn and enjoy. The entire community is encouraged to enjoy the occasion and celebrate African American freedom. The Amistad Center is located within the Wadsworth Atheneum. Juneteenth is the oldest known commemoration of the end of slavery. 

To celebrate “Tom Sawyer Day,” a day of family fun to coincide with Hartford Public Library and the NEA’s Big Read, The Mark Twain House & Museum has lined up a smorgasbord of guest artists, including:  HartBeat Ensemble, Hartford Opera Theater, Hartford City Ballet, Hartford Children’s Theater, Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and many more musicians, magicians, and buccaneers.  One of the day’s highlights will be a “Stretchers” lying contest hosted by the Hartford Public Library and Sea Tea Improv as one of the culminating events of the NEA’s Big Read. Tours of the Twain House will be available for a fee.  For a complete lineup of free activities at the Twain Museum, please visit www.marktwainhouse.org.  

Nook Farm, home to both the Stowe Center and the Twain House,  will have several food vendors on site, including the brand-new “Cupcake Brake” and Woody’s Hot Dogs. 

The Amistad Center for Art & Culture is located at 600 Main Street.  Founded in 1987, The Amistad Center is an independent not-for-profit cultural arts organization, housed at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Our two organizations - The Amistad Center for Art & Culture and the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art - are partners in a unique collaboration designed to inspire and bring enjoyment of art and culture to diverse audiences in the Greater Hartford region and beyond. The Amistad Center's collection is comprised of 7,000 objects including original paintings, sculpture, artifacts, historical documents and photographs as well as memorabilia and rare books that document the African American experience.  Juneteenth Family Day is made possible by The Hartford Financial Services Group. 

The Mark Twain House & Museum is at 351 Farmington Avenue (neighboring the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center).  In addition to providing tours of Twain’s restored home, a National Historic Landmark, the institution offers activities and educational programs that illuminate Twain’s literary legacy and provide information about his life and times.   Tom Sawyer Day is made possible by the Twain House’s Bicentennial Sponsor, the Harford Financial Services Group, and Bank of America. 

The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, located at 77 Forest Street (just off Farmington Avenue, neighboring the Mark Twain House), uses Stowe’s story to inspire social justice and positive change. Programs include seasonal and themed tours; Salons at Stowe; book talks; the Nook Farm Book Club, school programs, exhibits, school programs and a content-rich website.    

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.  

All three of these family days will be a part of Connecticut Open House Day.