< Back Valentines Flower Arranging Thurs.,, Feb. 10, 7 pm Back by popular demand, another night of flower arranging and fun! Sip on rosé Prosecco (other options available too) and eat bon bons while creating your very own Valentines masterpiece to take home. Includes all materials and, of course, sips. $85 pp. Tables of 6 $240. Previous Next

Our second year of fun with the interns for pre-schoolers! Addison Kline, Conan Thibodeau, Avery Johnson and Sophie Curtis entertained and educated at MH! < Back Intern Lunch Bunch 2023 Our second year of fun with the interns for pre-schoolers! Addison Kline, Conan Thibodeau, Avery Johnson and Sophie Curtis entertained and educated at MH! Previous Next

... as told by Gordon Hastings < Back The Story of the Mather Homestead ... ... as told by Gordon Hastings Previous Next

The Mather Homestead offers many opportunities for sponsorship. We are appreciative of your support and look forward to promoting your business! Sponsor payment may be made via check payable to "The Mather Homestead Foundation" or by credit card (link right). Please send checks to: The Mather Homestead Foundation, 19 Stephen Mather Road, Darien, CT, 06820 SUPPORT THE MATHER HOMESTEAD BY SPONSORING ONE OF OUR EVENTS! The Mather Homestead Foundation offers many opportunities for sponsorship and appreciates the support of our businesses who have contributed with financial and in kind donations. Donors are recognized in various ways - through our events, social media and publicity, and signage at the Homestead. SPONSOR OPPORTUNITY GARDEN TEA 2025 Our fifth annual Garden Tea on May 22, 2025 will feature beverages in the historic garden, followed by hearty tea boxes on the lawn, and lecture in the barn featuring Fred Landman of Sleepy Cat Farm in Greenwich. MORE about the event. The Garden Tea will raise funds for property enhancement projects identified in a recent master plan for the property created by Heritage Landscapes. We proudly recognize our sponsors both in advance of an at the tea event. We also seek in-kind donations to our raffle. Sponsorship offers a great marketing opportunity with the 150+ attendees! $5,000 Presenting Sponsor 8 Garden Tea Tickets Garden Tea "presented by xxx" Banner on corner of Brookside & Stephen Mather Roads recognizing sponsor with logo Product placement at event Company logo/name prominently displayed at the Garden Tea Recognition on website and social media - dedicated, boosted post $2,500 Rose 4 Garden Tea Tickets Company logo/name prominently displayed at the Garden Tea Recognition on website and social media - dedicated, boosted post Company promotional material included in gift bag $1,000 Tulip 2 Garden Tea Tickets Company logo/name prominently displayed at the Garden Tea Recognition on website and social media - dedicated, boosted post Company promotional material included in gift bag $500 Lily 1 Garden Tea Ticket Company name listed on website, social media and at event Recognition on website and social media Company business card included in gift bag $250 Daffodil Company name listed on website, social media and at event Company business card included in gift bag SPONSOR PAYMENT via CC THANK YOU TO OUR PAST SPONSORS! FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL 2024 Our sixth annual Fall Harvest Festival welcomed families (~500 people) from Darien, New Canaan and surrounding towns to the Homestead for good old fashioned fun including a petting zoo, pumpkin decorating, face painting, crafts, hay rides and more! JUNIOR BOARD SUMMER SOLSTICE 2024 The Junior Board welcomed 140 guests for cocktails on the patio followed by dinner in the field prepared by Ardens. A magical night! GARDEN TEA 2024 The May 30, 2024 Garden Tea welcomed 150 women for tea, lunch and a conversation with Pieter Estersohn, author of Back to the Land , and local book PR guru Nancy Sheed. FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL 2023 Our fifth annual Fall Harvest Festival welcomed families (~500 people) from Darien, New Canaan and surrounding towns to the Homestead for good old fashioned fun including a petting zoo, pumpkin decorating, face painting, crafts, fire truck rides and more! GARDEN TEA 2023 The June 1, 2023 Garden Tea welcomed over 130 women for tea, lunch and a presentation by Calvert Crary of NY/LA Flower School. APRÈS SKI 2023 Our second annual Après Ski event welcomed nearly 150 people for fun and fundraising. PLAYHOUSE RENOVATION PROJECT 2023 Our historic playhouse was enjoyed by generations of Mathers but was sadly in disrepair. Thanks to Dan Lamontagne of Creative Builders, Rings End and many other donors, the playhouse has been restored future generations of children who will come to learn and play. FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL - OCTOBER 22, 2022 We appreciate the financial support of Harbor Point Dental Group at our fourth Fall Harvest Festival. We also appreciate our in kind sponsors including Palmers Market , Stop & Shop , Stew Leonards and Cabana . Over 600 people from Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk and other surrounding towns joined us for hay rides, a petting zoo, crafts, face painting, games, tours of the Homestead, pumpkin decorating, live music and more! To inquire about 2023, please email info@matherhomestead.org or call 203-202-7602. Thank you! STEPHEN MATHER AND THE NATIONAL PARKS EXHIBIT Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 Our first exhibit welcomed hundreds of people to learn more about the life and legacy of Stephen Tyng Mather, the first Director of the National Park Service and owner of the Mather Homestead from 1906 to 1930. BUILDINGS & GROUNDS! Many thanks to the businesses who provide services pro bono in order to maintain the beautiful Mather Homestead buildings & grounds: Bartlett T ree Davis Tree & Logging .

The Mather Homestead's 1778 Restoration Project will ensure that the Mather Homestead is preserved for generations to come. HELP US PRESERVE/RESTORE THE 1778 MATHER HOMESTEAD The Mather Homestead Foundation received a grant from the Connecticut State History Preservation Office in 2022 to conduct a "Condition Assessment" of the historic house and other buildings on the property to evaluate their structural condition and recommend repairs and assign associated costs. The Foundation hired Rose Long and Carl Rothbart of Architectural Preservation Studios of New Canaan to complete the project. 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 the house in shape with projects totaling ~$500K. Phase One is nearly completed including: Replace deteriorated storms, select siding, trim, windowsill & cornices Repair windows Repoint all open joints, chimney mortar joints; recaulk where necessary Paint outside of house Remove existing lift and rebuild original stair for second egress Remove and replace kitchen floor (asbestos) Thank you to those who contributed to Phase One including the 1772 Foundation/Preservation CT, First County Bank Foundation, Baywater Properties, and over 70 other individual donors listed below . Phase Two will enable us to preserve our collection historic documents, art, textiles, books and furniture and includes: AC installation throughout the 1778 house, Preserving/restoring the most valuable and vulnerable items in the Mather Homestead collection. Thank you to the Darien Foundation for funding this important preservation work!! Phase Three New Roof for house and cottage New fence to replace rotting fence. We are currently fundraising for phase 3 and appreciative of all support GIVE to the 1778 House Renovation Phase Two: Preservation of the Collection Thank you to our donors! Alice and Sherman Baldwin Susan and Michael Barr Lois and Robert Baylis Suzanne Beatty and Sandor Babos Deborah and Mark Blackman Diane and Dave Boston Cathy and Jack Butcher Gina and Doug Cannaliato Connie and Mike Casey Jordan and Larry Castellani Megan and Rob Cioffi Sophie and Keith Davey Mary Jo and Rob Dyer Alex and Robert Eising Liz and Chris Ezbiansky Chris Filmer Lynne and Mark Florian Rob and Margaret Fryer Millyn and Eric Gaaserud Michele Gartland Carol and Ward Glassmeyer Edward Glassmeyer Jennifer Gordon Candace and Mike Grant Kirsten and Mike Gregorio Joellyn and Kevin Gray Sara Hesli Gary and Margaret Holmes Sally and Pat Houlihan Eliot and Phil Jacobs Karyne Johnson Jane Kellogg Karen Kreitzberger and David Polett Kate and Steve Larson Jennifer Mathissen Tina and Richard McCann Allan McDonnell Harry and Marjolein McLachlin Sheila McMann Tracy and Sean McManus Catherine and John McNear Brooke Megrue Ginger and Howard Morgan Liz and Greg Myers Tasha and Christian Nagler Jane and Bill Nickerson Laurie and John Orem Lesley and John Osborne Ryann and Hutch Pegler Robert Perkin Frank Persico Heather and Todd Raker Penny and Daniel Rashin Michelle and Rich Riley Lisa and Mike Rintoul Mary and Bill Rooney Megan and Chris Ruppenstein Lauren and Doug Ryder Asma Samadani and Doug Mehagian Sally and Everett Schenk Mary Lou Schwemle Michael Sgroe John and Michelle Sini Margaret and Dan Smith Kelly Stewart Katharine and Dennis Swanson Lauren and Harris Swenson Charlotte and Andrew Symons Colleen and Jon Thompson Tiffany and Brian Van Elslander Amy and Rob Walton Cathy and William Wappler Lisa Washburn Sue and Bob Weaver Terrie and Jay Wood Robin and Dick Woods Annie Roberts and Charles Ziga

Part 2 of our National Park Mystery Series led by educator Samantha Gault! < Back Book Club for Kids! Discovery in Great Sand Dunes National Park - May 13, 2023 Part 2 of our National Park Mystery Series led by educator Samantha Gault! Previous Next

Essay question: Why are the National Parks good for people Details: Open to students in grades 6 through 8. No more than 500 words. 1 winner per grade to be chosen. ESSAY CONTEST - readers page Essay question: Why are the National Parks good for kids? Details: Open to students in grades 6 through 8 No more than 500 words 1 winner per grade to be chosen. Essays will be evaluated on the following criteria: Your essay demonstrates an appreciation for the National Parks. Your essay is well written with proper punctuation and grammar. Deadline: Submit by December 5th to MHessay@gmail.com . Winners will be announced on December 16th Prizes: Book by Jonathan Waterman: Atlas of the National Parks

England, 1740-1770. Walnut, mirrored glass; pine gilding, original beveled glass. 41 5/8" h. x 15 ¾" w. < Back Looking or “Pier” Glass First Floor - Parlor Other Decorative Arts England, 1740-1770. Walnut, mirrored glass; pine gilding, original beveled glass. 41 5/8" h. x 15 ¾" w. The rectangular looking glass has an upper plate of mirrored glass that overlaps the top of the lower plate. Upper part of frame has a stepped ogee edge. A walnut-veneered scalloped crest with pierced central roundel containing a gilded foliate motif. Molded cross-banding surrounds glass, held in place by an inner carved and gilded edge. Backboards have been replaced, crest is repaired, but the original iron hanging sleeve remains in place; generally good condition given age, and of exceptional size. Previous Next

Night at the Museum returned for second year with two sessions - one for younger and one for older kids! Kids enjoyed pizza, a spooky tour of the house, games (Escape the Tories!), a spooky walk around Mather Meadows, and s'mores! < Back Night at the Museum - October 27, 2023 Night at the Museum returned for second year with two sessions - one for younger and one for older kids! Kids enjoyed pizza, a spooky tour of the house, games (Escape the Tories!), a spooky walk around Mather Meadows, and s'mores! Previous Next

Bertha Mather McPherson was the only child of Stephen and Jane Mather. She owned the Homestead from 1930, following her father's death, until her death in 1993. < Back Bertha Mather McPherson (1906-1993) Bertha Mather McPherson was the only child of Stephen and Jane Mather. She owned the Homestead from 1930, following her father's death, until her death in 1993. Previous Next

The Mather Homestead property originally consisted of 100 acres in 1778, which is what it took for a family to sustain itself. By 1906, when Stephen Tyng Mather acquired the property, it consisted of 22 acres. Stephen Mather hired Walter Burley Griffin, a renowned architect and landscape architect to create the sunken garden at the Homestead. < Back Mather Garden The Mather Homestead property originally consisted of 100 acres in 1778, which is what it took for a family to sustain itself. By 1906, when Stephen Tyng Mather acquired the property, it consisted of 22 acres. Stephen Mather hired Walter Burley Griffin, a renowned architect and landscape architect to create the sunken garden at the Homestead. Previous Next

Kids made cookies for santa and nibbles for the reindeer and played fun holiday games! Local author Steve Bowling read "Calvin the Christmas Tree" to the young audience. < Back Cookies & Cocoa - December 23, 2022 Kids made cookies for santa and nibbles for the reindeer and played fun holiday games! Local author Steve Bowling read "Calvin the Christmas Tree" to the young audience. Previous Next