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Bringing History to Life!

The Mather Homestead is closed for tours as we undergo a house renovation project.  

WELCOME TO THE MATHER HOMESTEAD!
The Mather Homestead, Darien's historic home on the four corners of Brookside and Stephen Mather Roads, was built in 1778 by Deacon Joseph Mather, son of Moses Mather, the first minister of the First Congregational Church of Darien and a fiery patriot. The house was famously raided by Tories during the Revolutionary War. It was later the home of Stephen Tyng Mather, an avid conservationist and the first Director of the National Park Service. The house was enjoyed by seven generations of Mathers until 2017, when the home was generously donated by Mather descendants to a newly created foundation to be operated as a museum dedicated to community education.

 

The Mather Homestead is rich in history and open for public education and enjoyment. Come visit us!

The Mather Homestead Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, oversees the Mather Homestead.  

HOMESTEAD HAPPENINGS

HOMESTEAD HAPPENINGS

Our Mission Statement

The Mather Homestead Foundation is dedicated to the preservation of the Mather Homestead, established in 1778 and home to seven generations of Mather descendants, as a treasured place for historical education and enjoyment.  The Foundation will raise awareness of the Homestead’s unique history, dating back to the Revolutionary War, and Stephen Tyng Mather’s legacy as an important conservationist and the founder of our modern National Parks System.  

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Holiday Songs, Sing-a-Long and SANTA!
    Holiday Songs, Sing-a-Long and SANTA!
    Sun, Dec 03
    Mather Homestead
    Dec 03, 2023, 4:30 PM
    Dec 03, 2023, 4:30 PM
    Join us for song & cheer! Plus a visit from Santa! Acoustic Family-Friendly Holiday Concert & Sing-Along featuring Dan Zlotnick & Al Hemberger "The Americana Voice of Westchester [County], NY" -The Capitol Theatre
  • Lecture:  the Rough Rider and the Professor
    Lecture:  the Rough Rider and the Professor
    Sun, Jan 21
    The Mather Homestead
    Jan 21, 2024, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
    Jan 21, 2024, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
    Local author, Laurence Jurdem, discusses his new book, "The Rough Rider and the Professor," which evokes the political intrigue of the Gilded Age and chronicles the extraordinary thirty-five-year friendship between President Theodore Roosevelt and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts.
  • Poetry with Samantha:  the Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot
    Poetry with Samantha:  the Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot
    Tue, Jan 23
    The Mather Homestead
    Jan 23, 2024, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Jan 23, 2024, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    We’re kicking off 2024 with bang by discussing the work of T.S. Eliot, the greatest poet of the 20th century? This poem, regarded as one of the quinessential “modernist” poems, reflects on the social and intellectual conditions of the early 20th century.
  • Make Modern Comes to Mather:  Learn to Hand Sew
    Make Modern Comes to Mather:  Learn to Hand Sew
    Sat, Jan 27
    Mather Barn
    Jan 27, 2024, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
    Jan 27, 2024, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
    We are delighted to partner with Make-Modern for a ‘learn to hand sew’ workshop. Erika Allen will teach your children how to sew by executing this beautiful quilted pillow. Ages: Kindergarden - 3rd Grade. All materials + snacks provided.
  • A Revolution of Her Own!  Deborah Sampson - performance for families
    A Revolution of Her Own!  Deborah Sampson - performance for families
    Sat, Feb 10
    The Mather Homestead Barn
    Feb 10, 2024, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
    Feb 10, 2024, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
    Deborah Sampson, the first woman to enlist, fight, and be honorably discharged from the American Military, captivates audiences in an hour-long program chronicling her life. Played by actress Judith Kalalora. Family event with audience participation!
  • A Revolution of Her Own!  Deborah Sampson - performance for adults
    A Revolution of Her Own!  Deborah Sampson - performance for adults
    Sat, Feb 10
    The Mather Homestead Barn
    Feb 10, 2024, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
    Feb 10, 2024, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
    Deborah Sampson, the first woman to enlist, fight, and be honorably discharged from the American Military, captivates audiences in an hour-long program chronicling her life. Played by actress Judith Kalalora.
  • Lecture:  The Pursuit of Happiness
    Lecture:  The Pursuit of Happiness
    Tue, Feb 27
    Darien
    Feb 27, 2024, 7:00 PM
    Feb 27, 2024, 7:00 PM
    Author Jeffrey Rosen will discuss his book, "The Pursuit of Happiness," a fascinating examination of what “the pursuit of happiness” meant to our nation’s Founders and how that famous phrase defined their lives and became the foundation of our democracy.
  • Mather Tavern Night!
    Mather Tavern Night!
    Thu, Mar 07
    MH Elizabeth W. Chilton Education Center
    Mar 07, 2024, 7:00 PM
    Mar 07, 2024, 7:00 PM
    Tavern Food + Tavern Drink + Tavern History + Tavern Games = Tavern Fun $85/75 members
  • Lecture featuring Artscapades:  American Portraiture
    Lecture featuring Artscapades:  American Portraiture
    Wed, Mar 27
    Mather Homestead
    Mar 27, 2024, 7:00 PM
    Mar 27, 2024, 7:00 PM
    Artscapades returns to the lecture for a lecture about American Portraiture. They will focus on well known artists such as John Singleton Copley, as well as a discussion of the portraits in the 1778 Mather home. BYO lunch, we’ll supply the dessert and drinks!
  • A Visit from the Second Regiment Light Dragoons
    A Visit from the Second Regiment Light Dragoons
    Sat, Apr 27
    The Mather Homestead
    Apr 27, 2024, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    Apr 27, 2024, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    Sheldon's Horse, Second Continental Light Dragoons, will visit the Homestead for a day of education and fun. Drills, demonstrations, lectures, crafts and more.
  • Field Trip:  Revolutionary Pub Crawl NYC
    Field Trip:  Revolutionary Pub Crawl NYC
    Sat, May 18
    Fraunces Tavern
    May 18, 2024, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    May 18, 2024, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    Join us for a tour of New York City’s earliest pubs … the rooms where it happened. We’ll start downtown at Fraunces Tavern, the place where George Washington gave his Farewell address to his officers in 1783, and end at Pete’s Tavern in Midtown with lots of pubs, history and fun in between!
  • 2024 Garden Tea
    2024 Garden Tea
    Thu, May 30
    Darien
    May 30, 2024, 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
    May 30, 2024, 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
    Featuring Pieter Estersohn, renowned photographer of architecture and interiors, and contributor to Architectural Digest. He will discuss his new book: “Back to the Land: A New Way of Life in the Country”.
  • Plein Air at the Mather Homestead June 1 to June 16 - please RSVP for lunch on June 11th!
    Plein Air at the Mather Homestead June 1 to June 16 - please RSVP for lunch on June 11th!
    Sat, Jun 01
    Mather Homestead Property
    Jun 01, 2024, 9:00 AM – Jun 16, 2024, 5:00 PM
    Jun 01, 2024, 9:00 AM – Jun 16, 2024, 5:00 PM
    Artists and aspiring artists are invited to enjoy the Mather Homestead property from June 1st through June 16th. Come to paint, draw, photograph and be inspired!! We will have iced tea and snacks available every day. Lunch event on Wednesday, June 11th! Raindate June 12 or 13th. Please RSVP!
  • Field trip to the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Gardens, Bethlehem, CT
    Field trip to the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Gardens, Bethlehem, CT
    Thu, Jun 06
    Bethlehem
    Jun 06, 2024, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    Jun 06, 2024, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    Join us for an adventure! We'll visit the Bellamy-Ferriday House in Bethlehem, CT which shares so many similarities to the Mather Homestead! A beautiful, historic home and gardens preserved by a 20th century woman. In their case, Caroline Ferriday. In our case, Bertha Mather.
  • Exhibit: Stephen Mather and the National Parks
    Exhibit: Stephen Mather and the National Parks
    by appointment
    The Elizabeth W. Chilton Education Cntr
    by appointment
    by appointment
    Learn about the life and legacy of Stephen Tyng Mather (1867-1930), the first Director of the National Park Service and the owner of the Homestead from 1906 to 1930. Exhibit geared towards adults PLUS "kids corner" for kids of all ages. Open hours Thurs. 6 to 7:30, Sat. 11 to 1, Sun. 1 to 3
  • Yoga with Mary Ann
    Yoga with Mary Ann
    Mon., Weds. 9:30 am
    Mather Barn
    Mon., Weds. 9:30 am
    Mon., Weds. 9:30 am
    Vinyasa style yoga in the barn.
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