WELCOME TO THE MATHER HOMESTEAD
The Mather Homestead of Darien, Connecticut was built in 1778 and owned by the Mather family through seven generations, until 2017 when it was donated to The Mather Homestead Foundation thanks to the generosity of the McPherson family. The home is rich in history and open for public enjoyment and education. Come visit us!
UPCOMING EVENTS
BARNRAISER! September 19th - picnic style!
We look forward to celebrating the completion of our new "barn," the Elizabeth W. Chilton Education Center, on September 19th at 6:00 pm. This event will be socially distanced - "picnic style" - with live gourmet boxed dinners from TOASTs, specialty cocktails from SoNo1420, wine from DB Wines in New Canaan, live music from Sweet Colleen and the Poor Excuses (bluegrass!) and fun! The new barn will house lectures, school groups, art exhibits and more, enabling the Mather Homestead to reach its vision of becoming a preeminent center for historical education in Fairfield County. Thank you to the Richard L. Chilton, Jr. Family, The Darien Foundation and the McPherson Family for making it possible. Event limited to 100 people. SOLD OUT. EMAIL US for waitlist.
Check us out in the Darien Times
Yoga 🧘 at the Homestead, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9:30 am this fall
Join us for a vinyasa flow class in the beautiful Mather Homestead barn led by instructor Mary Ann Freeman. This class is designed to make you feel lighter, longer and stronger! Geared for all levels, whether you are new to yoga or have a practice already. We will move through a creative sequence of foundational poses, emphasizing alignment and breathing techniques. BYO mat and water. $160 for series of eight classes. Starts Wednesday, September 9th and Saturday, September, 12th. Limited to 10 people for social distancing purposes. Wednesday class FULL. If spots become available, we will offer individual classes at $25 each. Secure your spot for Saturday Class.
How to Sketch Plein Air
Thursday, September 17, 4:30 - 6:00 pm
Learn the art of landscape painting! A special lesson on how to sketch plein air with Lisa Thoren. Creating outdoors, while working at a social distance, we will discover techniques to learn perspective, composition and values. Includes wine to help your creative inspiration :-).
Limited to five people. $50 per person. Sign up.
Book Club: History Take 2
Thursday, October 29, 7 pm
This coming year, we will explore the theme of “History, Take Two.” Our book selections will consider history through a variety of lenses, taking a second look at what we learned in school to help us better wrestle with the complex issues that we face in contemporary America. We will begin with Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas which was billed by The Guardian as a “fearless, brilliant history of racist thinking spanning 500 years.” As the year progresses, we will examine history from a variety of other perspectives including gender, class and more. Join us for these timely and provocative discussions. We are partnering with Barrett Bookstore on this series and hope you will support the community and shop local!
MORE about Stamped
RSVP
POSTPONED EVENTS
Scholar's Lecture featuring Rick Atkinson
POSTPONED .. stay tuned for new date
The Mather Homestead Foundation is excited to welcome bestselling author and pulitzer prize winner in both history and journalism, Rick Atkinson to the Homestead. Lawrence Rush "Rick" Atkinson IV will discuss his latest book: The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777, the first volume in the Revolution Trilogy. Other bestselling books include An Army at Dawn (winner of the Pulitzer Prize for history), The Day of Battle, The Long Gray Line, In the Company of Soldiers, and Crusade. His many other awards include the George Polk award, and the Pritzker Military Library Literature Award.
Scholar's Lecture: The National Parks, America's Best Idea
POSTPONED ... stay tuned for new date
Dayton Duncan is an Emmy award-winning writer and documentary film maker, best known for his stunning series The National Parks, America’s Best Idea. An artistic visionary who brings history to life through his books and film, he has been the creative partner of director, Ken Burns for over twenty years.
Duncan has been a consultant or writer/producer for the two most watched programs in PBS’s history, the documentary series The Civil War and Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery. Overall his impressive portfolio of films and books captures the heart and spirit of U.S. history and culture. more
Lecture will take place in the NEW Elizabeth W. Chilton Education Center.
THE MATHER HOMESTEAD LAUNCHES MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM
Become a Member!
Become a Member of the Homestead for benefits and also to support our mission:
To preserve the Mather Homestead in order to educate the community about Revolutionary times, eighteenth and nineteenth century living, and Stephen Mather’s legacy as an important conservationist and the founder of our modern National Parks System.
Click here for more information on membership
BLOGS ABOUT THE HOMESTEAD
Donn Smith - "Hidden Treasures"
Docent Donn Smith has been poking around the Mather Homestead and he has found treasures abound! Check out his blogs which document his findings including momentos from 250 years of American life -- a bible from 1743, a little girl's dress from the 1860's, Stephen Mather's camera, and lots more. Click here for blogs Click here for Darien Times article on Hidden Treasures
Gordon Hastings - "The Story of the Mather Homestead"
Docent Gordon Hastings has blogging since 2011 about books and subjects that he enjoys. Lucky for us that the Mather Homestead is a subject of interest! Click here for blogs
SUNDAY TOURS
Stay tuned for upcoming dates
Join one of our docents on scheduled Sundays at 1 pm to learn more about this remarkable property. Suggested donation: $10 per person. Tours are also available by appointment. Schedule a tour.
AROUND THE HOMESTEAD
Photo Exhibit by DHS Senior Sarah McLaughlin
Sarah McLaughlin, DHS Class of 2019, recently completed a summer internship at the Mather Homestead. Using historical photos of the house, its inhabitants and Stephen Tyng Mather's time with the National Parks Service, she created our first exhibit. Come view her work and see the Homestead through the past century. Thank you Sarah!
ANNUAL FUND!
Thank you for your support of the Mather Homestead!
We rely on contributions from the community to fund our programs and the preservation of the Mather Homestead and property. We appreciate the support of our donors! Click here to donate.
