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). A list of all past Mather Homestead lectures can be found here. Past Lectures Laurence Jurdem - January 21, 2024 The Rough Rider and the Professor Photos Brown Bag Lecture featuring Past Presented - November 9, 2023 Connecticut During the American Revolutionary War Photos Witches in Connecticut - October 25, 2023 Witches in Connecticut! Photos Mattie Kahn & Reena Ninan - October 3, 2023 Young and Restless Photos Brown Bag Lecture - Cloak and Dagger: The Revolution's Secret War! Local Revolutionary War buff, Eric Chandler, educated our audience about the Spies of the Revolutionary War! Photos Connecticut's Historical Gardens - May 17, 2023 Connecticut's Historical Gardens Photos Artscapes - April 19, 2023 American Impressionism Photos Dean King - April 18, 2023 at the Darien Library Guardian's of the Valley: John muir Photos Brown Bag Lunch: Women in the American Revolution - March 10, 2023 Brown Bag Lecture: Women in the American Revolution - putting the "her" in heroics! Photos An Evening at the Mather Tavern - Feb 16, 2023 Tavern Food + Tavern Drink + Tavern History + Tavern Games = Tavern Fun! Photos Keith Simpson - Feb. 8, 2023 Lecture featuring Keith Simpson: Our Changing Landscape over 400 years Photos ArtScapes Robin Hoffman - Jan. 18, 2023 American Vistas - from the Hudson River School to the National Parks Photos Jonathan Waterman - November 16, 2022 A Journey through the National Parks Photos Plum Plums - November 10, 2022 American Farmstead Cheese & Wine Education with Plum Plums Cheese Photos Dayton Duncan - September 11, 2022 The National Parks: America's Best Idea Photos Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt III - June 23, 2022 Great Camp Sagamore and the Rustic Movement, plus stories of the Vanderbilt Family Photos Catie Marron - May 26, 2022 Becoming a Gardener: What Reading and Digging Taught Me about Living Photos Queen Bee Marina Marchese - April 28, 2022 Honey tasting with the Queen Bee Photos Dennis Drabelle - April 14, 2022 The Power of Scenery, online discussion - April 14, 2021 Photos Jonathan Olmsted - March 30, 2022 Celebrating 200 Years of Frederick Law Olmsted Photos Thomas Wickman - January 26, 2022 Winter's Past and Winter's Future Photos Akhil Reed Amar - November 10, 2021 The Words that Made Us Photos Steven Beissinger - October 7, 2021 Stephen Mather and the National Parks Photos Victoria Johnson - June 2, 2021 American Eden: David Hosack, Botany, and Medicine in the Garden of the Early Republic Photos Load More

< Back American Poetry with Samantha Gault Weds., Feb. 16, 7 pm We will discuss love poems! Previous Next

The Mather Homestead was built in 1778 and has been impeccably preserved over two and a half centuries. < Back The Mather Homestead The Mather Homestead was built in 1778 and has been impeccably preserved over two and a half centuries. Previous Next

Our first Harvest Festival included pony rides, crafts, a hunt for the Mather silver, tours of the home and more. < Back Harvest Festival - November 8, 2017 Our first Harvest Festival included pony rides, crafts, a hunt for the Mather silver, tours of the home and more. Previous Next

Docent Donn Smith has been busy in the attic and has many stories to tell about the Homestead and its inhabitants < Back Donn's Blogs Docent Donn Smith has been busy in the attic and has many stories to tell about the Homestead and its inhabitants Previous Next

The Mather Homestead has a unique combination of rich history spanning centuries and well-preserved land with access to wildlife. We are proud to promote our mission of education by offering scout programs for both Boy and Girl Scouts! See below for more information. SCOUT PROGRAMS The Mather Homestead has a unique combination of rich history spanning centuries and beautiful open property. We are proud to promote our mission of education by offering various programs for our local Scouts. Scout Badges - the Mather Homestead is a unique place to earn badges. Girl Scouts -- Daisy Eco Learner and Good Neighbor badges, Brownie Gardener badge, Stephen Mather "Fun Badge" Boy Scouts -- American Heritage and Landscape Architecture badges. Fall & Spring Clean Up - we appreciate the many Scouts who have helped us with fall/spring clean up and other projects on the property. Scout meetings - learn about Revolutionary War history by taking a tour of the homestead followed by a scavenger hunt! Or scouts can earn our "Stephen Mather Ranger Badge" by learning about the life and legacy of Stephen Tyng Mather, first director of the National Parks Service. Eagle Scouts - Scouts have enhanced the Mather Homestead property through their on-site projects. Thank you! Please reach out to discuss a future Eagle Scout project opportunity. PAST EAGLE SCOUT PROJECTS Campouts on site Please contact us at info@matherhomestead.org to discuss opportunities for your troop!

Our Yellowstone adventure included learning about Yellowstone over a dinner of bear & moose Mac 'n cheese, frolicking in Old Faithful (sprinkler!), s'mores over a campfire, and finally stories with cuddly stuffed animals. < Back Adventure in Yellowstone National Park Our Yellowstone adventure included learning about Yellowstone over a dinner of bear & moose Mac 'n cheese, frolicking in Old Faithful (sprinkler!), s'mores over a campfire, and finally stories with cuddly stuffed animals. Previous Next

The Mather Homestead was built in 1778 by Deacon Joseph Mather and passed through six generations of the Mather family before becoming a museum in 2017. 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 who preached the Revolutionary War cause, on 100 acres of farmland. The house was famously raided by Tories during in 1781and was later the home of Stephen Tyng Mather, an avid conservationist and the first Director of the National Park Service. 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. 1778 Home The historic home was built in 1778 by Deacon Joseph Mather, son of Reverend Moses Mather. It was famously raided by Tories during the Revolutionary War. The home was expanded by Stephen Mather in 1928. MORE Property and Gardens The Mather property originally consisted of 100 acres of farmland. In 1909, Stephen Mather added a sunken garden and many other features to the property, designed by Walter Burleigh Griffin who went on to design Canberra, Australia's new capital city. MORE Mather Barns Many barns have been erected on the Mather property. The current "barn," the Elizabeth W. Chilton Education Center, was built in 2020. MORE Collection The Mather Homestead is filled with a collection of period antiques both original to the home and collected over time. MORE Playhouse The playhouse was enjoyed by generations of Mather children and recently renovated for the education and enjoyment of children.

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!

The Mather family dates back to 1635 when Reverend Richard Mather sailed from England on the ship James as part of the “Great Migration." Four generations later, Reverend Moses Mather became the first minister at the Middlesex Parish, now the First Congregational Church of Darien. His son Joseph Mather built the Mather Homestead in 1778 on 100 acres of farmland. Six generations of Mathers lived in the home, most notably Stephen Tyng Mather, the first Director of the National Park Service. THE MATHER FAMILY The Mather family has a long history in the United States, dating back to 1635 when Reverend Richard Mather and his family sailed from England to Boston on the ship James as part of the “Great Migration” escaping religious persecution. Four generations later, Reverend Moses Mather moved to Darien, then part of Stamford, to become the first minister at the Middlesex Parish, now the First Congregational Church of Darien. His son, Deacon Joseph Mather built the Mather Homestead in 1778 on 100 acres of farmland inherited by his mother, Hannah Bell. Six generations of Mathers proceeded to live in the home, most notably Stephen Tyng Mather, the first Director of the National Park Service. His daughter, Bertha Mather McPherson, one of the first female architects in Connecticut, raised her three children in the home and they donated the home and property to the newly created Mather Homestead Foundation in 2017. The Early Puritan Mathers 17th century Rev. Richard Mather and his family left England in 1635 on the Ship James as part of the Great Migration facing religious persecution. MORE Revolutionary Mathers 18th century Reverend Moses Mather was the first Minister of the First Congregational Church of Darien and a fiery Patriot. His son, Deacon Joseph Mather, built the Mather Homestead in 1778 during the Revolutionary War. MORE Stephen Tyng Mather (1867-1930) Stephen Tyng Mather, the great-grandson of Deacon Joseph Mather, summered at the Mather Homestead during his childhood while he grew up in California, and became its sole owner in 1906. He became the first Director of the National Park Service and is considered the father of our modern national park system. MORE Bertha Mather McPherson (1906-1993) Bertha Mather McPherson was the only child of Stephen and Jane Mather. She was one of the first female architects in Connecticut and a founding member of the Darien Historical Society. She lived in the home from 1906 until 1993 when she passed. She filled the home with a collection of period antiques and tended the gardens while raising her three children. MORE Mather Family Tree Mather photos through the years IMG_3717.HEIC The Mather Homestead circa 1879 - when Rana and Phebe Mather (two unmarried daughters of Joseph and Sarah) lived in the Homestead. In photo Rana, Phebe and Elizabeth Mather Lockwood who also lived in the house after she was widowed. Rana Mather (1784 – 1880) Phebe Mather (1798 – 1886) Joseph Wakeman Mather (1820 – 1905) and Bertha Jemima Walker Mather (1844 – 1899) Joseph Wakeman Mather in front of the barn that burned. Joseph Wakeman Mather Joseph Wakeman Mather Stephen Tyng Mather (1867 – 1930) and Joseph Wakeman Mather (1869 – 1888) Jane Thacker Floy Mather (1868 - 1944) Stephen (with cane) and Jane Mather in front of the Homestead circa 1929. Dog Kippy. Stephen Tyng Mather in the parks. Bertha Mather McPherson (1906 - 1993) Stephen and Bertha in the parks Bertha Mather with friends in pony cart circa 1910 Prepared by Docent Donn Smith Children and grandchildren of Rev. Moses Mather (1719-1806) Children and grandchildren of Deacon Joseph Mather (1753-1840) Children and grandchildren of Joseph Mather (1789-1864) Children a grandchildren of Joseph Wakeman Mather (1820-1905) Mather Family Genealogy

CONTACT US Phone: 203-202-7602 Text: 475-755-9649 Email: info@matherhomestead.org

ANNUAL BARN PARTY Our first Barn Party in 2020 celebrated the opening of the Elizabeth W. Chilton Education Center in 2020. Now in its fourth year, the event has raised funds for various projects at the Homestead with music, food and fun for all! BARN BASH! September 23, 2023 Featuring Bluegrass, BBQ & Bevs It was a rainy but fun night at our fourth annual fall celebration and fu ndraiser featuring live bluegrass music by On the Trail, great BBQ from Fine & Dandy, and beverages from Litchfield Distillery inside the barn. We raised over $16,000 in supp ort of our Mather Homestead restoration projects - thank you! If you were unable to attend, please consider a donation in support of our restoration projects. BARNRAISER 3.0! October 1, 2022 What a fun ni ght! Many thanks to all who made Barnraiser 3.0 a great success. Fabulous food by Fine & Dandy, unbelievable entertainment b y Griffin House, and AMAZING guests!! We raised over $18,000 for restoration projects at the Homestead - thank you!! Photos right by Katharine Calderwood. BARNRAISER 2.0! September 25, 2 021 Many thanks to all who joined us for Barnraiser 2.0. We enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, masterfully prepared by S.E.A.T., whiskey tasting by Sagamore Spirit, dinner on the barn lawn, and music by Petting Zoo. Our Barnraiser 2.0 raised funds for our beautification projects. Photos right by Katharine Calderwood. BARNRAISER 1.0! September 19, 2020 We ra ised the roof on September 19, 2020 to celebrate the completion of the new Elizabeth W. Chilton Education Center, a.k.a., "the barn," and to thank our many donors including Richard L. Chilton, Jr., The Darien Foundation, and the McPherson family (descendants of the Mathers). Funds supported the new building project. .