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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

< Back Rosé and Roses Thurs., June 16, 6:30 pm Join us for rosé and nibbles in the beautiful Mather Homestead garden! Previous Next

Con Fuoco returned for a fall performance. < Back Con Fuoco String Quartet - October 16, 2021 Con Fuoco returned for a fall performance. Previous Next

Wool, cotton, burlap; 2’ 4” x 4’ 6” < Back American Hooked Rug with Cat and Two Kittens Second Floor - SE Bedroom Other Decorative Arts Wool, cotton, burlap; 2’ 4” x 4’ 6” From E.S. Frost* pattern, number 39. A yellow tiger cat and her two kittens within a center oval reserve, surrounded by border of red oak leaves, checkerboard and gray ground. *Edward Sands Frost of Biddeford, Maine pattern. Frost’s hook rug designs were produced and sold hook rug designs in the late 19th /early 20th century. This pattern is included in the Greenfield Village Henry Ford Museum 1970 publication, “Descriptive Catalogue of E.S. Frost & Co’s Hooked Rug Patterns.” Condition is good. Previous Next

Silk-on-Linen, framed and glazed; 17 ¼” h. x 12 ¼” w. (sight size). < Back American Schoolgirl Needlework First Floor - Entrance Hall Other Decorative Arts Silk-on-Linen, framed and glazed; 17 ¼” h. x 12 ¼” w. (sight size). Within a flower and vine border, a complex polychrome design of flowers, trees, bird, butterflies, and cat, around a 20-line verse entitled, Christ the Rose of Sharon. Needlework signature and dated in brown LC: Hannah Stuniken/ December 20, 1794. Some age toning of the linen ground, otherwise condition and color are good. Note: Although Stuniken is a German or Austrian name, the Biblical verse in English suggests the maker of this work as American. More research should be done. Previous Next

Family Games night featuring National Parks Bingo & Trivia! Plus ghosts at the Homestead (in the graveyard!) to end the night!! < Back Family Games Night - April 21, 2023 Family Games night featuring National Parks Bingo & Trivia! Plus ghosts at the Homestead (in the graveyard!) to end the night!! Previous Next

Our second Harvest Festival was bigger and better! < Back Harvest Festival - November 3, 2018 Our second Harvest Festival was bigger and better! Previous Next

< Back Tea Party! Sat., May 7, 3 pm, garden Tea in the Garden for parents and children featuring illustrator Heather Ross. Tea + tea cakes in the garden. Plus Heather will read "How to Behave at a Tea Party," illustrated by Heather and written by Madelyn Rosenberg. 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!

PAST EVENTS Tour The Mather Homestead T/W/Th 9a (1) Mar 03, 2026, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM More info Details America 250 Brown Bag Lunch with Eric Chandler Feb 26, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM More info Details Literary Evening: Pre-Revolutionary Manhattan Feb 19, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM More info Details The Art of American Independence: Beyond the Declaration Feb 11, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM More info Details Lecture featuring Kostya Kennedy. The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America Jan 28, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM More info Details Tour The Mather Homestead T/W/Th 9a Jan 28, 2026, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM More info Details A Conversation about Ken Burns' PBS Documentary Series: An American Revolution Jan 14, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM More info Details Colonial Christmas with a Visit from St. Nicholas Dec 20, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM More info Details Winter Poetry with Samantha Dec 18, 2025, 7:00 PM More info Details Merry Mather: Celebrate the Season and our Staff! Dec 07, 2025, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM More info Details Homesteading 101: Holiday Greenery Dec 04, 2025, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM More info Details Middle School Essay Contest! Dec 02, 2025, 5:00 PM More info Details Homesteading Workshop: 1776 Needlepoint Ornament - finishing Nov 19, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM More info Details Discover Connecticut's Revolutionary War Sites and the Preservation Movement that Saved Them Nov 12, 2025, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM More info Details Fall Harvest Festival - sponsored by BMW of Darien Oct 25, 2025, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM More info Details Poetry with Samantha: Phillis Wheatley Oct 22, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM More info Details Ken Burns new cinematic documentary: The American Revolution Exclusive CT Preview Oct 14, 2025, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM More info Details Night at the Museum...Celebrate America's 250th! Oct 10, 2025, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM More info Details Load More

Mather hits the road to learn about other places of interest! Past field trips have included: Weir Farm, Connecticut's only National Park. Setauket, Long Island, home of the Culper Spy Ring. Tour of the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Elizabeth Kornhauser, the Alice Pratt Brown Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture Field Trips The Mather Homestead hits the road! Fraunces Tavern, October 10, 2023 We traveled to downtown NYC for a tour and lunch at Fraunces Tavern, a historical landmark and the oldest bar in the city. It was the watering hole for many of the founding fathers. George Washington gathered his troops there to thank them for their service after the British troops left America. Read More 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. Read More Setauket, LI - June, 2023 A MH group ferried over the Sound to Setauket, LI where we learned about the Culper Spy Ring. The spies were loyal patriots who provided critical information about the Redcoats (British) to General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Setauket native Anna Smith Strong, known in the Spy Ring as "Nancy," provided information via her clothes line! Depending on what color petticoat, or how many handkerchiefs Anna hung on the line, a different message was conveyed! Read More Weir Farm - 2021, 2022 We took not one, but two visits to Weir Farm (October 2021 and 2022) to learn about Connecticut's only National Park. Weir Farm is a National Historical Park located in Ridgefield and Wilton, Connecticut. It commemorates the life and work of American impressionist painter J. Alden Weir and other artists who stayed at the site or lived there, to include Childe Hassam, Albert Pinkham Ryder, John Singer Sargent, and John Twachtman. Set amidst more than 60 acres of painterly woods, fields, and waterways, Weir described his home as the "Great Good Place." Weir’s farm is a national legacy to American Impressionism, the creative spirit, and historic preservation. Read More

We are excited to announce the winners of our first middle school essay contest. Winners include local students Zoe Younessian (seventh grade), and Pavana Attonito and Juliet Chattaway (tied sixth grade), plus an honorable mention for Benjamin Kelsey (fifth grade). Middle school students from four local middle schools submitted essays which argued the importance of the National Parks. They shared personal stories about their experiences in the National Parks, demonstrated knowledge of the National Parks system which was founded in 1872 and now includes 423 sites across the United States, and paid tribute to Stephen Tyng Mather who was the first Director of the National Park Service. Students argued that parks are important for their role in educating children and adults, with many having participated in park Junior Ranger programs. They recognized the National Parks’ important role in protecting wildlife and natural habitats, combating climate change, and fostering mental health. And finally, the students cited enjoyment of nature and accessibility for all as key reasons why parks are important. Congratulations to all of the participants who demonstrated that our local schools are doing a great job of producing talented young writers! < Back Middle School Essay Contest 2022 - Fall 2023 We are excited to announce the winners of our first middle school essay contest. Winners include local students Zoe Younessian (seventh grade), and Pavana Attonito and Juliet Chattaway (tied sixth grade), plus an honorable mention for Benjamin Kelsey (fifth grade). Middle school students from four local middle schools submitted essays which argued the importance of the National Parks. They shared personal stories about their experiences in the National Parks, demonstrated knowledge of the National Parks system which was founded in 1872 and now includes 423 sites across the United States, and paid tribute to Stephen Tyng Mather who was the first Director of the National Park Service. Students argued that parks are important for their role in educating children and adults, with many having participated in park Junior Ranger programs. They recognized the National Parks’ important role in protecting wildlife and natural habitats, combating climate change, and fostering mental health. And finally, the students cited enjoyment of nature and accessibility for all as key reasons why parks are important. Congratulations to all of the participants who demonstrated that our local schools are doing a great job of producing talented young writers! Previous Next