Each year on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center offers Stowe House tours, family activities, a Salons at Stowe conversation, and noon bell ringing for peace. Hands-on activities illuminate Stowe and King’s work for social change and connect issues and activism of the past to those of the present.
We welcome families and guests of all ages to this annual event.
Held the second Saturday in June, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Community Birthday Celebration features discounted house tours and free family activities such as horse-drawn carriage rides, 19th century lawn games, and birthday cake.
The event is held on Connecticut Open House Day, a statewide celebration of arts and cultural organizations. We welcome families and guests of all ages.
The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center commemorates the impact of Stowe’s most famous novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, with a 24-hour public reading.
The biennial event takes place on the anniversary of the book’s publication, March 19-20.
From the opening words through the 45th chapter, more than 100 people each read a 10-minute section of the book. Participants include students, teachers, legislators, journalists, clergy, activists, and others who believe in the power of words to make a difference.
Since Uncle Tom’s Cabin has been translated into more than 70 languages, participants read in the language of their choice including English, Spanish, German, Russian, Chinese, Arabic and American Sign Language. Those unable to read in person send recordings of their sections.
The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center holds events that are so diverse, well, they just don’t fit in a category.
Here you’ll find upcoming film screenings, panel discussions, lectures, and theatrical and musical performances. Some take place at the Stowe Center while others are held at one of our community partners.
See the calendar for upcoming events, dates, times and locations.
Programs at your site
Let the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center bring an engaging, interactive 90-minute program to your library, civic group or community center:
Her Words Changed the World
Discover how Harriet Beecher Stowe was inspired to write Uncle Tom’s Cabin and the continuing impact of its message. Connect the past to the present and consider how you can take action on an issue, just as Stowe did.
Salons by Stowe
Join in facilitated conversation on a social justice issue such as bias, racism or white privilege. Leave feeling inspired to action.
Salons 101
Learn skills to facilitate effective group discussions, bringing critical thinking and dialogue to your organization.
Contact us for prices and reservations
Contact us to bring Stowe to Go to your school.
