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Darien High School seniors will treat your kids to learning and fun at the Homestead! June 3 to 6, 12 to 1:45pm. Themes include Colonial Day, Nature Day, Art Day, and Games Day (a.k.a., field day!) LUNCH BUNCH WITH THE INTERNS Darien high school seniors will treat your kids to learning and fun at the Homestead! June 3 to 6, 12 to 1:45 $150 for four days, $35 per day Themes: - Colonial Day - Nature Day - Art Day - Games Day (a.k.a., field day!) Lunch Bunch with the Interns! When Jun 03, 2024, 12:00 PM – 1:45 PM Where The Mather Homestead, 19 Stephen Mather Rd, Darien, CT 06820, USA Details

Our lectures explore a variety of topics and a variety of formats. Some of our lectures are traditional lecture format, while others involve a bit of hands on learning (e.g., honey tasting). All Mather Homestead lectures, past and future, are listed here. LECTURES Our lectures explore a variety of topics and a variety of formats. Some of our lectures are traditional lecture format, while others involve a bit of hands on learning (e.g., honey tasting). We are eager to hear ideas you might have for lectures that would be a good fit with the Mather Homestead. Email us ! UPCOMING EVENTS Lecture featuring Cornelia Dayton - What the Court Records Reveal: Families in Revolutionary Turmoil Mar 05, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Cornelia Dayton, Professor of History at UConn and author of Women's America: Refocusing the Past, will share previously unexplored court records and what they reveal about marriage and family life during The American Revolution. The evening kicks off at 6:30 with wine and sweet and savory treats. Buy Tickets Records Erased - Professor Chris Brown on Antislavery and The Declaration of Independence Apr 23, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Chris Brown, Professor of History at Columbia University and author of Moral Capital: Foundations of British Abolitionism, will discuss the consequential decision to remove any reference to slavery from the Declaration of Independence. Wine and cheese at 6:30 followed by a lecture at 7:00p. Buy Tickets Past Lectures

We welcome the help of volunteers who can help with the following: Tours, Fall & Spring Clean Ups, Gardening, Research, Scholar Lectures, VOLUNTEER! The Foundation is grateful to the many volunteers contribute their time and energy to the Mather Homestead. We welcome the help of volunteers and offer many ways to get involved - join us as a docent, help us preserve and manage our collections, lend us your green thumb, plan events with us ... and more! Thank you to our volunteers! Board Members Other Volunteers Docent/Tour guides – available for public tours. Please contact us at info@matherhomestead.org to join the team!Lead Docent/Archivist Donn Smith has single handedly organized and documented the collection, starting with bringing documents from attic, reading through materials, blogging, organizing into folders/boxes and creating system. Gardener Andy Huntington has restored and maintained the historic gardens. We are always looking for additional help with our gardens! Darien Scouts (groups offering hours to clean or prepare an area that will be used for recreation. – fall clean up, eagle scout projects. We welcome scout help! Darien Garden Club or local nature group offering to help with planting of a garden and/or removal of invasive species.– installed foundation plantings for barn. High School Spring Interns – help with Garden Tea, Lunch Bunch with the Interns, act as docents for fifth grade tours. See application below. National Charity League, Canaan Parish - hands on mother/daughter helpers. Summer Interns – various projects. Other Event Support - contact us to help us with our events! Email info@matherhomestead.org to get involved! HIGH SCHOOL INTERN PROGRAM The Mather Homestead Foundation's intern program is open to students from Darien and New Canaan High Schools. Internship Overview MH Description : The Mather Homestead, a historic home and museum in Darien, CT, is rich with history and alive with activities and events which promote public education and enjoyment. The Mather Homestead Senior Internship Program offers high school students with an interest in history and/or national parks/conservation an opportunity to both contribute to and learn from the Mather Homestead, including its rich collection of original documents and antiques. The mission of the Mather Homestead: to preserve the Mather Homestead as a treasured place for public education and enjoyment, and to raise awareness of the home’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. Intern Qualifications : Must be proactive, responsive, dependable and punctual, enthusiastic about our organization. Other skills. We look forward to benefitting from your other skills as you design and execute a special project. Internship Overview : Interns will learn to be docents/tour guides of the Mather Homestead. Will conduct a tour for family/friends and will help with Darien’s 5th grade tours. Interns will help with various Mather Homestead events including the June Garden Tea. Interns will represent the Mather Homestead in local Memorial Day Parade. Interns will execute one week “lunch bunch” for preschoolers, helping to “bring history to life” for local kids Gardening – get hands dirty in the garden! Field trip – interns will travel to one or more local historic homes. Will formulate recommendations for the Mather Homestead Foundation based on their experience. Project – each intern will formulate their own project, fitting with their skills and interests and the needs of the Mather Homestead Foundation. Timing : Days consistent with Darien/New Canaan internship program (Darien: May 15 to June 9) 9 am to 3 pm Some other hours required but will give time off during the regular day for extra hours worked! THANK YOU TO OUR INTERNS! Summer College Intern Sophye Davey, High School Interns Snahasish Datta and Sarah Frank, Museum Assistant Emma Grayeb (left to right) High School 2024 interns: Elly Patterson (New Canaan), Luna Ersek (Darien), Campbell Bonanno (Darien), Amanda O'Flanagan (Darien), Julianne Bauer (Darien) Darien High School 2023 interns: Sophie Curtis, Avery Johnson, Conan Thibodeau, Cole Deline Darien High School 2022 interns: Alexis Lyons, Matthew Magnotta, Piper Henderson, Margaret Williams

Thank you to our 2024 Annual Fund donors. The Mather Homestead relies on a generous community of donors to fund the ongoing preservation of the Mather Homestead for the purposes of historical education. Thank you to our 2024 Donors! Your gifts provide enable us to preserve and share the rich history of our beloved Homestead. Thank you! Donate

SUMMER SOIRÉE Saturday, May 31, 2025 Photos by Andrea Ceraso Thank you to our Sponsors! SUMMER SOLSTICE Saturday, June 22, 2024 Presented by t he Mather Homestead Junior Board: Alison Arneill l Tasha Blair l Taylor Carlson l Lauren Frank l Caitlin Griswold l Sarah Guilbride Sally Houlihan l Anna Janis l Stephanie Kramer l Paige Kyle l Sarah Henderson l Jessica Merrill Kate Piselli l Lauren Swenson l Stephanie Tucker 2023 Après Ski Thank you for helping us raise $17K for our historic Playhouse! Presented by the Mather Homestead Junior Board: Alison Arneill l Tasha Blair l Taylor Carlson l Lauren Frank l Caitlin Griswold Sarah Guilbride l Sally Houlihan l Anna Janis l Stephanie Kramer l Paige Kyle Sarah Henderson l Jessica M errill l Kate Piselli l Whitney Ranson l Lauren Swenson The historic Mather playhouse was enjoyed by generations of Mathers and is now in disrepair. Our goal is to renovate the playhouse to be the cornerstone for future generations of children to come for learning and play. Heading 4 Before After

Preservation is job #1 to ensure that generations to come will be able to enjoy this remarkable Registered National Historic Landmark. Preservation projects include restoring buildings as well as transitioning the buildings and collection from "home" to "museum" and taking the necessary measures to protect and preserve as stewards of this collection. PRESERVATION Preservation is job #1 to ensure that generations to come will be able to enjoy this remarkable Registered National Historic Landmark. Preservation projects include restoring buildings as well as transitioning the buildings and collection from "home" to "museum" and taking the necessary measures to protect and preserve as stewards of this collection. 1778 House Restoration In 2022, the Mather Homestead Foundation commissioned a "Condition Assessment" of the historic house and other buildings on the property. The work was completed by Architectural Preservation Studios with the support of a grant from the Connecticut State Preservation Office. The resulting 152 page document concluded that while the ~250 year old house was well maintained by the Mather-McPherson family, there is still much work to be done to keep in the house in shape for generations to come with projects totaling $400-500,000. In 2023, the Foundation hired Scholar's Painting and Restoration to begin the first phase of the restoration project, which will be completed in 2024. MORE Collection The Mather Homestead Collection consists of antiques, artwork, artifacts and more which were enjoyed by the Mather Homestead for generations. The Foundation recently hired a consultant to conduct a "collections assessment" report. The report includes many recommendations which we will be implementing to preserve our collection for generations to come. COLLECTION Archives & Donn's Blog The Mather Homestead Foundation is uncovering and preserving stories of the past. The Collection includes six generations of papers which were carefully stored by Bertha Mather in the 1778 attic. These documents are now sorted and cataloged in our "archiving room" thanks to Docent Donn Smith. He has been pouring through these documents and capturing their stories in his "blog". A favorite is the story of Stephen Mather blowing up an unsightly sawmill with TNT on his daughter, Bertha's birthday! DONN'S BLOG Playhouse Restoration The Playhouse which was enjoyed by generations of Mathers was in disrepair and unsuitable for children. The Mather Homestead Foundation completed the renovation of the playhouse in 2023. The playhouse can now be a place of learning and play for future generations of children. Many thanks to the Junior Board for leading this project, to Creative Building (Dan Lamontagne) for contributing your time and resources to complete the project, the many donors who donated, and finally Jenny Gjervold who decorated the playhouse for play! MORE

The Mather Homestead was built in 1778 and has been impeccably preserved over three centuries. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. THE 1778 HOMESTEAD The Mather Homestead was built by Deacon Joseph Mather, a deacon in Middlesex Parish, in 1778 during the Revolutionary War, on land inherited by his mother, Hannah Bell. Deacon Joseph Mather lived in the house with his wife, Sarah. They raised eleven children in the Homestead. The family owned over 100 acres which is what it took to support a family of this size at that time. Their sustenance came from the family farm, from the wood to heat the house, to the fields that provided vegetables, flax and wheat and farm animals providing milk, eggs and meat. The earliest photo of the homestead, circa 1800s Stephen and Jane Mather Deacon Joseph passed the house to his wife, Sarah, in 1840. She died three years later and passed the house to Rana (1784-1880) and Phebe (1798-1886), their two daughters who never married. At Rana's death the house was passed to Ann Elizabeth Lockwood who sold it one year later to her first cousin, Joseph Wakeman Mather for $1,000. He built a barn on the property but lived most of the time in Brooklyn before moving to San Francisco to develop his business and raise his family. His son, Stephen Tyng Mather , inherited the house including 22 acres which stretched over the Norwalk town line in 1906. Stephen Mather used the home during vacations while he spent time out West, making his mark on our country by founding and as first Director of the National Park Service. The house again passed to Stephen Mather's only daughter, Bertha Floy Mather McPherson, who inherited the house in 1930 when he died. She was one of the first female architects in Connecticut and a charter member of the Darien Historical Society. She designed the house across the street (Brookside Road) for a relative. Bertha McPherson raised her three children, Stephen, Jane and Anne, in the home. They continue to reside close to Darien. The home is considered one of the finest examples of 18th century architecture, a wood frame structure with two stories plus a basement and attic. The home's chimney, originally providing warmth and a means to cook food, is at the center of the home. The original structure included a kitchen with the largest of the fireplaces, plus a dining room and parlor, both with fireplaces. Over time, a modern kitchen was added. The upstairs included two rooms in the front and a large unfinished space in the rear which was converted into bedrooms and a bathroom during the 19th century. Stephen Mather made changes to the house after he inherited it in 1906; he gave the house a more Colonial Revival appearance. In 1927, based on designs by architect Thomas Harlan Ellett, he added a porch on the side and a two story addition to the rear, and added the portico over the main entrance. The interior of the main block retained its original character through these changes, but the old kitchen space was converted into a living room. He also added a sunken garden, a caretaker's cottage (replaced later by a guest house) and a carriage barn. Today, the property consists of seven acres with the original residence, a detached garage, a guest house and a barn. The original furnishings, family heirlooms, masonry, woodwork and more have been preserved. 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 deemed a "Protected Town Landmark" and donated by the McPherson family to The Mather Homestead Foundation will preserve the property and operate a museum. The house's main fireplace which served as the kitchen A hinge on the house dating back to the 18th century THE MATHER HOMESTEAD THROUGH THE YEARS Bertha Mather McPherson's Album chronicling house changes 1778 to 1969 Owners of the Mather Homestead ... Six Generations of Mathers THE MATHER HOMESTEAD TODAY Mather Homestead Current Keeping Room Mather Homestead Current Dining Room Mather Homestead Current West Bedroom Mather Homestead Current Keeping Room 1/5 THE MATHER HOMESTEAD COLLECTION The Mather Homestead includes many pieces which are original to the home (late 18th century), pieces acquired over the centuries, and many pieces collected by Bertha Mather McPherson during the 20th century which are from the Revolutionary War period. View the collection

Create your own CUTTING GARDEN with help from local gardening enthusiast, Ania Janis. This four-session program provided all the tips, instructions, plans and supplies you need to create your own cutting garden at home. Session 1: Wed., Feb. 16, 7 - 8:30 pm: Intro and Cutting Garden Basics: Sweet Peas, Session 2: Wed., Feb. 23, 7 - 8:30 pm: Pinching & Watering: Snapdragons, Stock, Session 3: Wed., March 9, 7 - 8:30 pm: Succession Planting, Hardening Off: Zinnias, Cosmos & Phlox, Session 4: Wed., April 6, 7 - 8:30 pm: Direct Sowing, Planting Out: Poppies & Sunflowers All supplies included. < Back Grow Along at Mather with Ania Janis - 4 classes Spring 2022 Create your own CUTTING GARDEN with help from local gardening enthusiast, Ania Janis. This four-session program provided all the tips, instructions, plans and supplies you need to create your own cutting garden at home. Session 1: Wed., Feb. 16, 7 - 8:30 pm: Intro and Cutting Garden Basics: Sweet Peas, Session 2: Wed., Feb. 23, 7 - 8:30 pm: Pinching & Watering: Snapdragons, Stock, Session 3: Wed., March 9, 7 - 8:30 pm: Succession Planting, Hardening Off: Zinnias, Cosmos & Phlox, Session 4: Wed., April 6, 7 - 8:30 pm: Direct Sowing, Planting Out: Poppies & Sunflowers All supplies included. Previous Next

The beautiful Mather Homestead property provides the perfect backdrop for creative inspiration. Whether you are a photographer, painter, sculptor etc., we invite you to create on property. A list of all art events at the Mather Homestead, past and future, can be found here. ART AT MATHER The beautiful Mather Homestead property provides the perfect backdrop for creative inspiration. Whether you are a photographer, painter, sculptor etc., we invite you to create on property. Mixed Media Collage Making with Lisa Thorén Thu, Mar 26 Mather barn More info Buy Tickets UPCOMING EVENTS Plein Air Weeks We invite all artists and aspiring artists to head over to the Mather Homestead in order to enjoy the grounds and paint, draw, photograph, etc during the first two weeks of June. View artwork from Plein Air Weeks 2020-2025 Plein Air Class Check events schedule for upcoming classes. Learn the art of landscape painting! A special lesson on how to sketch plein air with Lisa Thoren. Creating outdoors, we will discover techniques to learn perspective, composition and values. Includes wine to help your creative inspiration :-). Plein Air Class with Lisa Darien Alumni Art Show The Mather Homestead hosted the Darien Alumni Art Show in June of 2021 and 2022. More about the Darien Alumni Art Show Plein Air Artists at Mather Plein Air Artists at Mather Plein Air Artists at Mather Plein Air Artists at Mather 1/7 Past Art Events

SPRING SCHOLARS SERIES WOMEN + ARCHITECTURE This spring, we celebrate the impact of women in architecture with a special event series honoring Bertha Mather McPherson (1906–1993), a pioneering preservationist, and her contemporary, Theodate Pope Riddle (1867–1946). Both earned their architecture licenses in 1933, shaping the built environment and paving the way for future generations. Join us for one, two or all! March 27: Lecture by the authors of Women Architects at Work: Making American Modernism (Princeton University Press, 2025 It will be followed by a panel discussion with four local women architects, including Mary Burr, Susan Lockwood, Amanda Martocchio, and Kate Perez. April 5 & May 10: Kids At Mather: Architecture Workshop and embroidery workshop May 14: Tour of the Hillstead Museum and Avon Old Farms School, designed by Theodate Pope Riddle; she and Bertha were among the 4 women registered in CT in 1933. May 15: Book Club Discussion: Dearest of Geniuses: A Life of Theodate Pope Riddle May 14-22 (TBD): Private reception in a Darien home designed by Bertha Mather McPherson June: Launch of the Bertha Mather McPherson Exhibit at Mather Homestead We appreciate the generous support of our sponsors (below). UPCOMING EVENTS Exhibit - Bertha Mather McPherson: Visionary Preservationist By appointment More info RSVP Thank You to Our Sponsors Diana Mikkidou Galik Joellyn and Kevin Gray Kate and Greg Perez Alison and Jamie von Klemperer Annie Roberts and Charles Ziga Become a Sponsor Sponsors will be recognized in the following ways: All sponsors will be listed by support level on the walls of the Bertha Mather room where the exhibit will be viewed for years to come. All sponsors will be recognized with company logo/name prominently displayed at all Women + Architecture events through signage and program. All sponsors will be recognized by level on our website and through dedicated email blasts to ~2,500 subscribers and boosted social media posts. $5,000 Preservationist Spring Scholars Series/Exhibit "presented by xxx" Private reception in a Darien home designed by Bertha Mather McPherson 8 tickets to all 5 Spring Scholars Series events 8 copies of Women Architects at Work: Making American Modernism $2,500 Architect Private reception in a Darien h ome designed by Bertha Mather McPherson 4 tickets to all 5 Spring Scholars Series events 4 copies of Women Architects at Work: Making American Modernism $1,000 Gardener 2 tickets to all 5 Spring Scholars Series events 2 copies of Women Architects at Work: Making American Modernism $500 Historian 1 ticket to all 5 Spring Scholars Series events 1 copy of Women Architects at Work: Making American Modernism

Homesteading is a term for a "lifestyle of self-sufficiency" which describes the life of the Mather family back in 1778 when Deacon Joseph and Sarah Mather built the Homestead. Our workshops give participants knowledge and hands-on experience with activities that would have been undertaken by Homesteaders. HOMESTEADING WORKSHOPS Homesteading is a term for a "lifestyle of self-sufficiency" which describes the life of the Mather family back in 1778 when Deacon Joseph and Sarah Mather built the Homestead. Their surrounding 100 acre farm provided everything an 11 person family needed to be self-sufficient. They raised animals, grew vegetables and other crops, cooked, sewed and embroidered their clothing, canned fruits and vegetables, made candles ... and more. Our workshops give participants knowledge and hands-on experience with activities that would have been undertaken by Homesteaders. Join us! UPCOMING WORKSHOPS Multiple Dates Tour The Mather Homestead T/W/Th 9a (1) Mar 04, 2026, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Join one of our expert tour guides on a walk back in time. Learn about life in the year 1778, the raid by Tories on the Mather Homestead, and the life and legacy of Stephen Tyng Mather, first director of the National Parks System, who summered here in his family home in the early 20th century. Buy Tickets Lecture featuring Cornelia Dayton - What the Court Records Reveal: Families in Revolutionary Turmoil Mar 05, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Cornelia Dayton, Professor of History at UConn and author of Women's America: Refocusing the Past, will share previously unexplored court records and what they reveal about marriage and family life during The American Revolution. The evening kicks off at 6:30 with wine and sweet and savory treats. Buy Tickets Mixed Media Collage Making with Lisa Thorén Mar 26, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM In celebration of our country’s 250th birthday, come join our creative mixed media workshop. Jasper Johns’s iconic work will inspire our collage making and painting. All art supplies are included plus wine, cheese & sweet treats for inspiration. Buy Tickets Records Erased - Professor Chris Brown on Antislavery and The Declaration of Independence Apr 23, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Chris Brown, Professor of History at Columbia University and author of Moral Capital: Foundations of British Abolitionism, will discuss the consequential decision to remove any reference to slavery from the Declaration of Independence. Wine and cheese at 6:30 followed by a lecture at 7:00p. Buy Tickets Painting Patriotism, Healing Wounds: The Art of Col. John Trumbull with Walter W. Woodward Apr 28, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM This richly illustrated talk discusses the lifelong struggle of John Trumbull to earn respect for his art by painting what he told Thomas Jefferson were some of the “noblest series of actions which have ever presented themselves in the history of man.” It’s a Connecticut family story about a talente Details Soldiers and Storytellers LIVE at The Homestead May 02, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Join us for an afternoon of story, song, and soldiers. CT’s first state troubadour will set the stage, the 5th Connecticut Regiment will reenact a Revolutionary War battle, and Sarah Mather will share her personal stories. Colonial treats and Revolutionary books for sale. Fun for the whole family! Details Field Trip to Yale University Art Gallery May 14, 2026, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM Join us for a spring outing to Yale University Art Gallery, where we will take a guided tour of the Wurtele Gallery, include their Keeping Alive the Remembrance installation, which celebrates America's founding, as well as their John Trumbull artworks. Followed by lunch at Mory's! Buy Tickets Sixth Annual Garden Tea - Tickets on Sale Soon! Jun 04, 2026, 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM This year we welcome author Allison Pataki to speak about her new book It Girl, on shelves March 10. Join us for lunch in the garden, plus raffles, prizes, and more as we celebrate America at the turn of the 20th century and the women who broke barriers. Tickets on sale soon! Details Middlesex Parish Open House Day Jun 13, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Celebrate America 250 with Middlesex Parish. Local historic museums and Revolutionary War sites will be open for tours and fun on Connecticut's "Open House" Day. RSVP Vinyasa Yoga with Mary Ann Wednesday/Saturday 9:30a Join us Wednesdays and Saturday mornings at 9:30a! Buy Tickets Request a tour of The Mather Homestead on a day and time of your choosing Date and time is TBD Join one of our expert tour guides on a walk back in time. Learn about life in the year 1778, the raid by Tories on the Mather Homestead, and the life and legacy of Stephen Tyng Mather, first director of the National Parks System, who summered here in his family home in the early 20th century. Buy Tickets Vinyasa yoga with Mary Ann - Purchase a Ten-Pack Ticket Here Date and time is TBD Refresh your mind and energy with this revitalizing practice to uplift and restore your entire system. Enjoy a well-paced flow that will offer you just the right amount of challenge while encouraging strength, resistance, and flexibility while reducing tension in the hips, back and shoulders. Buy Tickets Exhibit - Bertha Mather McPherson: Visionary Preservationist By appointment This exhibit will look at Bertha Mather's legacy as preservationist of home, family and community. Opening June 2025 and open by appointment through the summer. RSVP Exhibit: Stephen Mather and the National Parks 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 RSVP Past Workshops

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 HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TEEN BOARD The Mather Homestead Teen Board offers high school students with an interest in history an opportunity to both contribute to and learn from the Mather Homestead, including its rich collection of original documents and antiques. MORE MH Teen Board 2022-23 SPRING INTERN PROGRAM High School seniors participating in Darien High School and New Canaan High School's intern programs are invited to apply for our internship. MORE MH Interns 2023