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Dan performs tirelessly around New York's Hudson Valley and beyond, taking the stage at the 2018 Pleasantville Music Festival, the Paramount Hudson Valley (opening for Grammy winner Marc Cohn twice), the Towne Crier (opening for Patty Larkin), Garica's at The Capitol Theater, and more. < Back David Higgins Band - October 8, 2021 Dan performs tirelessly around New York's Hudson Valley and beyond, taking the stage at the 2018 Pleasantville Music Festival, the Paramount Hudson Valley (opening for Grammy winner Marc Cohn twice), the Towne Crier (opening for Patty Larkin), Garica's at The Capitol Theater, and more. Previous Next

The Mather Homestead teen board invites middle schoolers to submit essays in November. Topic to be announced in the fall. MIDDLE SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST - 2025 The Mather Homestead teen board is excited to announce the topic for their fourth annual Teen Essay Contest. The topic: Why is it important to celebrate America 250? You may also consider; How do you think the Mather Homestead and the town of Darien should celebrate America 250? From the America250 website: America250's mission is to celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America's Semiquincentennial. About 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. Following Stephen's death in 1930, the house was lived in by his daughter, Bertha Mather McPherson, one of the first female architects in Connecticut and a founding member of the Darien Historical Society. She filled the house with a collection of period antiques and tended the gardens while raising her three children (the sixth generation of Mathers to live in the home). The home became a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. In 2017, the Mather Homestead was deemed a "Protected Town Landmark" by the town of Darien and donated by the McPherson siblings to a newly created foundation to be operated as a museum dedicated to community education. The Mather Homestead Foundation Mission Statement: The Mather Homestead Foundation is dedicated to the preservation of the Mather Homestead, built in 1778 and enjoyed by seven generations of Mather descendants, as a treasured place for public education and enjoyment. The Foundation is committed to raising 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. Mather Homestead 2025-2026 Teen Board: MIDDLE SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST - 2024 The Mather Homestead Teen Board selected the topic "What makes a house a home?" for the 2024 Middle School Essay Contest. They read and evaluated essays from 6th, 7th and 8th graders from schools as far as Wisconsin! After much deliberation thanks to the many well written and thoughtful essays, they selected Penelope Gwin (6th), Mason Wang (7th), and Pavana Attonito (8th), all students at Darien Middlesex Middle School. Congratulations to our winners and thank you to the many students who submitted essays! Read their essays: Penelope Gwin Mason Wang Pavana Attonito Penelope Gwin (6th), Mason Wang (7th), and Pavana Attonito (8th).

Thank you for supporting Mather Homestead's gardening and beautification projects! When you arrive at the Garden Te a on May 22, you will receive your tickets and indicate which prizes you hope to win. Good luck! PS ... please CARPOOL! Wear grass-sensible shoes. Floral attire encouraged. Wear SUNSCREEN ... or bring UMBRELLA!

Southwestern Connecticut, 1750-1825. Maple, ash, tulip poplar, rush seat; 43 ¾" h. x 18 ⅜" w. x 15 ¼" d. < Back “York” Side Chair Second Floor - SW Bedroom Furniture and Hard Furnishings Southwestern Connecticut, 1750-1825. Maple, ash, tulip poplar, rush seat; 43 ¾" h. x 18 ⅜" w. x 15 ¼" d. The turned chair, known in the period as a York chair, has a shaped tulip poplar crest above a solid splat (“fiddle-back) and stay rail. Maple rear posts with elongated balusters, truncated at the bottom, and above smaller balusters. Posts terminate in urn-and-ball finials. Turned front legs with double “sausage” turned front stretchers. Ash double side and a single rear stretcher joins the legs. Condition: All four feet have been ended-out by 2”; finials restored. Previous Next

Lincoln and the Press: Fake News 19th Century Style < Back Harold Holzer - April 19, 2018 Lincoln and the Press: Fake News 19th Century Style Previous Next

Washington County, UT < Back Zion Washington County, UT 1919 Established: Size: 146,597 acres Visitors: 4,623,238 in 2023 Summary Wildlife Sounds of the Park Things to Do When to Visit Ties to Stephen Mather Fun Fact Previous Next

After the sun sets and the lights dim, tour the Homestead by candlelight - spooky basement and attic included! Then test your knowledge by playing "Escape the Tories". If you are lucky enough to escape, enjoy pizza and s'mores. Recommended for ages 8 to 12. < Back Night at the Museum: Escape the Tories - October 28, 2022 After the sun sets and the lights dim, tour the Homestead by candlelight - spooky basement and attic included! Then test your knowledge by playing "Escape the Tories". If you are lucky enough to escape, enjoy pizza and s'mores. Recommended for ages 8 to 12. Previous Next

Ten kids learned about the birds on the Mather Homestead property - what are they? what do they eat? what are their nests made of? And then they made and decorated birdhouses! < Back Build a Birdhouse - May 21, 2023 Ten kids learned about the birds on the Mather Homestead property - what are they? what do they eat? what are their nests made of? And then they made and decorated birdhouses! Previous Next

A MH group enjoyed a tour of the American Wing led by Dr. Elizabeth Kornhauser, the Alice Pratt Brown Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, followed by lunch in the Met's dining room. < Back Metropolitan Museum of Art - May, 2023 A MH group enjoyed a tour of the American Wing led by Dr. Elizabeth Kornhauser, the Alice Pratt Brown Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, followed by lunch in the Met's dining room. This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. You can create as many collections as you need. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own, or import content from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, videos and more. You can also collect and store information from your site visitors using input elements like custom forms and fields. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Preview your site to check that all your elements are displaying content from the right collection fields. Previous Next

Probably England; likely modern in late 18th century style. Mahogany; two: 39 ½" h. x 27 ¼" w. x 23" d.; #105: 43 ½” x 22 ¾” 26 ½”; no. 118: 37 ¼” h. x 24 ⅜” w. x 24” d. < Back Four Upholstered Open Armchairs First Floor - Parlor Furniture and Hard Furnishings Probably England; likely modern in late 18th century style. Mahogany; two: 39 ½" h. x 27 ¼" w. x 23" d.; #105: 43 ½” x 22 ¾” 26 ½”; no. 118: 37 ¼” h. x 24 ⅜” w. x 24” d. In the Chippendale style, with an upholstered straight crest (or serpentine crest for no. 118), over a rectangular back and seat; carved ogee arms with volute handholds; Marlborough legs with H-stretcher. No. 105 in fair condition with repaired leg and loose stretcher; no. 118 has a patched left front leg. Note: Frames were not examined because upholstery was not removed, thus preventing definitive determination of age. Previous Next

This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. < Back Barn This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. You can create as many collections as you need. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own, or import content from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, videos and more. You can also collect and store information from your site visitors using input elements like custom forms and fields. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Preview your site to check that all your elements are displaying content from the right collection fields. Previous Next

The Mather Homestead Foundation is overseen by the Board of Directors: Chair: Richard L. Chilton, Jr., Stephen Berger, Diane Boston, Meredith Edwards, Jennifer L. Foster, Carol Glassmeyer, Ania Janis, Ronald LaMorte, Maeve McGovern, Ginger Morgan, Penny Rashin, John Sini, Tammy Sload, Lauren Swenson, Tiffany Van Elslander. Other boards include: Advisory Board, Junior Board, Teen Board. MATHER HOMESTEAD IN THE NEWS! Bedford New Canaan Magazine - July 3, 2024 - Bringing History to Life at the Mather Homestead - July 3, 2024.- Out & About: Mather Homestead Garden Tea Luncheon Darien Magazine - Spring/Summer 2024 - House Tour - The Mather Homestead: Bringing History to Life Now We're Talking Darien Podcast - September 3, 2021 - Jennifer Foster & Heather Raker Darien Times - August 13, 2020 - The Mather Homestead Completes Work on Education Center - May 10, 2017 - The Mather Homestead Becomes Darien Museum The Norwalk Hour - December 1, 2016 - Darien’s historic Stephen Mather homestead now town museum Darien Times - July, 2011 - The History Behind the Mather Homestead in Darien The New York Times - February 21, 1964 - Mather Homestead In Darien Becomes National Landmark